"Mom, Dad, Help!!!

It seems that the statistics just get worse. And if you extend them they get “worser”. Though that word usage is incorrect, it does communicate.

But you are wondering about what I am concerned is getting worser. This morning in my favorite meeting of our staff week, we discussed some statistics, trends and overall info from Religion Among the Millennials a report of the Pew Research Center. The report, dated February 2010, is most informative as to comparative trends among the US population and its generational components regarding worship attendance, religious practices, religious attitudes, etc. We intend to look closely at these over several meetings to glean what we can that might be helpful in shepherding our people.

Something additional was noted. Though not the focus of the report, we observed that the percent of people unaffiliated with a religion substantially at the beginning of adulthood was alarmingly increasing. For example, when boomers reached adulthood, 13 percent said they had no religious affiliation. When Gen Xers reached adulthood, 20 percent said they had no religious affiliation. As to millennials (those born post 1980) the percent is 26. This is startling!!

But what does it tell us and what should we do about it??

One conclusion that is easily reached is that whatever is happening in the home, the primary influence in early life, is meeting with dismal successes. Increasingly the effectiveness of the home is diminishing as it applies to the critical inclusion of religion in life.

What does that say mom and dad? It says, better redouble those efforts at living right before the kids and teaching them the value system that leads to success in life as measured by God’s word.

What does it say to the church today? It says that our shepherding must be directed in a significant part of teaching time and programming toward helping parents in parenting toward “Christ in my child’s life”.

Wow!! “I have no interest in Christ or anything thing about Christianity or any other religion. I’ll be fine without God.” This position has doubled in 30 years to over one fourth of our population at age 20. Amazing!! We’re not doing well!!

I wonder if we will just write about it, think about it and then . . . do nothing.