Jack K
Puritan Board Doctor
Some facts:
The stats cited on kids who do not stay faithful are correct and well documented. The interpretation that this must be due to age-segregated programs is speculation, though some of the research does suggest it might be a factor.
The research (Barna's in particular) does show that the extent of parental involvement in a kid's spiritual upbringing is a big factor. Kids who participate in things like regular family devotions buck the trend. But this does not mean all age-segrageated programs at church are bad programs. They only become part of the problem if they contribute to parents becoming uninvolved in their kids' spiritual upbringing. I do not believe, though, that having some age segregation automatically makes parents uninvolved.
In fact, the research specifically suggests it's home life, not church life, that is the deciding factor.
Finally, to blame the youth crisis on how church programs are designed is to place way to much significance on programs. This is a spiritual crisis. If kids are not staying faithful it means they're not being converted. And where kids are not being converted it's a safe bet this is because the gospel has been lost. The gospel is not gettting preached in the church, and it's not getting taught at home.
The problem with churches today, and the reason young people are dropping out, has far less to do with how programs are arranged and more to do with how faithfully the gospel is taught.
The stats cited on kids who do not stay faithful are correct and well documented. The interpretation that this must be due to age-segregated programs is speculation, though some of the research does suggest it might be a factor.
The research (Barna's in particular) does show that the extent of parental involvement in a kid's spiritual upbringing is a big factor. Kids who participate in things like regular family devotions buck the trend. But this does not mean all age-segrageated programs at church are bad programs. They only become part of the problem if they contribute to parents becoming uninvolved in their kids' spiritual upbringing. I do not believe, though, that having some age segregation automatically makes parents uninvolved.
In fact, the research specifically suggests it's home life, not church life, that is the deciding factor.
Finally, to blame the youth crisis on how church programs are designed is to place way to much significance on programs. This is a spiritual crisis. If kids are not staying faithful it means they're not being converted. And where kids are not being converted it's a safe bet this is because the gospel has been lost. The gospel is not gettting preached in the church, and it's not getting taught at home.
The problem with churches today, and the reason young people are dropping out, has far less to do with how programs are arranged and more to do with how faithfully the gospel is taught.