The “Losing Millennials/Members/Attendance” Complex In Church
Every fourth article that I read on the internet these days seems to be click-bait. “You won’t BELIEVE what happened next!”. Every third article seems to be a “Top ___” list of “Why Churches Are Loosing _______” (members/millennials/tithers….) It seems every one has an opinion. I am not going to give one on why your church or mine – or anyone’s…is losing any person. I care more about reaching people more than I will ever care about processes.
What I know to be of great importance to any demographic of people – is to be Christ-centered. It is the same focus that Paul had in the book of 1 Corinthians.
“I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”
Paul identified himself as being “free” and “belong(ing) to no one” – yet made himself as “a slave to everyone” by identifying with customs and practices of different peoples in order that he might win them to Christ.
I think we tend to worry about what our services look like for “seekers” out of fear of alienating the “church-goers” or worry about being too “liturgical” out of fear of never drawing the “seeker” to the door. If we have the focus of Paul – we are focused…not pleasing all people…but relating to all people.
The most relational thing that a church can do…is be relational as Christ was relational.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35
Ask yourself these three questions as your church looks at any type of service or church restructuring before it heeds advice to stop “losing millennials, adults, teens, etc”:
- Is our focus CLEARLY on God first?
- Are we putting PEOPLE over PROCESSES and, if so, how is that evident?
- How do the changes we are seeking fit in with the greatest commandment Jesus gave us to “Love One Another?” If they don’t truly…is it really needed?