They Love Jesus, They Don't Love the Church

[CGMedley]

Why are some young people who come from Christian homes so turned off by the church?

Columnist Michael Craven offers his perspective in this week's Adventist Review.

http://www.adventistreview.org/article.php?id=1883

[Neil D]

Micheal Craven does a good job describing the problem....but his conclusion is thus-

I believe the Lord is awakening many in this generation. They seek an authentic, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ and they understand His lordship extends to every aspect of life and culture. I can’t tell you how often I encounter this positive spiritual theme and yet it is almost always accompanied by an equal frustration with the present Church.

What is desperately needed is spiritual wisdom that can carefully guide this generation between these two extremes toward real and orthodox reformation. The younger generation can offer insight that can properly contextualize the full gospel in such a way that it is once again relevant and our generation can provide sound guidance that preserves and promotes a love for Christ’s Church and orthodox theology. We must be willing to listen to each other, to learn and work together being of one mind and one spirit. This we must do for the sake of the Church and the next generation.

Where is the concrete structure here? Where are the examples of being sensitive and "willing to listen to each other, to learn and work together"? I have noted with too much frequency that adventist authors are not willing to put themselves out on the line and make starting suggestions. People don't want to be preached at...but they do want examples.....

[fccool]

I guess it has nothing to do with youth being too caught up in contemporary culture of cool and hype? To be fair to many young people in our church are active, yet many go simply because their parents said so... and once that is not the case anymore they run like the wind. Sure they do face criticism and etc, but which generation did not? Remember yourself when you were young? There's always "fathers and sons" generation gap, yet is it hindrance enough to use as an excuse to be not evolved? I guess, the question is... can you really love Jesus but not the church who is His body... no matter what the condition of it is?

Would kids who love God use such lame excuses to avoid the involvement?

I did visit a local Baptist church, and have noticed that youth involvement was phenomenal. A part of the problem with Adventist churches is the fact that the youth made out to be irresponsible and incapable... they are treated like 1rst graders in many cases. We've had a girl preach a sermon last week, and people were blown away. First of all, they were surprised that the girl "was smart", and secondly they were blown away that she had spiritual discernment for her young age.... DUH!!!!! If the young people were not pushed back in the cheap seats, then you would not find them occupied with their game boys there. It cuts both ways. But involvement is the key.