Friday, September 7, 2012

Let's put the blame somewhere else...

Winchester Congregational Christian Church (WCCC), in Winchester IN, is adding a new full time position – Young Adult / Worship pastor. WCCC is a growing, conservative, evangelical, Bible believing church in rural east central Indiana . We are passionate about reaching lost souls for Jesus Christ. We believe the Lord is calling us to focus on reaching the young adult generation (college age - early 30s - “Millenniums”) that is falling away from the church in droves.

Do you see a problem here?
Read this ad by this church again.  They say "We are passionate about reaching lost souls for Jesus Christ."

On the surface that sounds all good and well.  A body of believers should be passionate about reaching lost souls for Jesus Christ.  It's what a church should do.  I guess the part that seems to rub me the wrong way is what follows.  We believe the Lord is calling us to focus on reaching the young adult generation that is falling away from the church in droves.

Here comes the question. Why are they falling away in droves.  Is God's Word not being properly taught in this church?  Is this church another product of the entertainment church that caters to the wants and needs of the people?  When a church compromises God's Word in order to appease the lost person, it will cause true Christians to leave (just ask Willow Creek Church in Chicago about this one).

Since when does God say that the church should focus on a particular age group to share the gospel to?  Which begs the question...

"We believe the Lord is calling us to focus on reaching the young adult generation..."

Is it the Lord calling them to focus on this age group or is it the desire to see the church grow in numbers? Especially the age group that would have young families, with children which would make all areas of the church to grow?

For a church that says they are passionate about reaching the lost, if that passion were true, the whole congregation would be out reaching the lost for Jesus.  People would not be leaving in droves but would be coming to the Lord.  Church is for the body of believers, not for the unchurched.

Where does the blame lie for people leaving the church?