Comments on: Study Shows Why Americans Drift From Religion http://www.ricklord.org/archives/1284 Reflections from Rick Lord on Leadership, Transformation, and Things That Keep Human Life Distinctively Human Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:00:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Katherine Hutt http://www.ricklord.org/archives/1284/comment-page-1#comment-702 Katherine Hutt Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:14:25 +0000 http://www.ricklord.org/?p=1284#comment-702 I think most young people "leave" their childhood faith, intentionally or unintentionally, when they reach college age. It's part of the natural order of breaking away from their parents, not to mention conforming to the norms of college life (which rarely includes regular church attendance). They have some nostalgia for the church community of their childhood, and may attend with their parents when visiting home. But other communities and other priorities replace the church in their adult lives. They learn to live without a structured religion, even though they may have great faith and consider themselves spiritual. The failing comes in how we bring them back in again. Many young adults return to church when they become parents, because the rhythm of church life fits with their notion of good parenting (as it should!). Far fewer return to a traditional church as single adults or as a childless married couple. I remember attending church sporadically as a single adult and then as a newlywed - I was rarely greeted, never invited to anything, and managed to worship in nearly total anonymity for years. While I hungered for spiritual fulfillment, the concept of a church home eluded me. Maybe I didn't look hard enough, or maybe they didn't look hard enough for me. I love the idea of radical welcome. I love thinking that every newcomer leaves Holy Comforter thinking, "Wow, what a friendly bunch of people!" In the face of a stranger, we can see the face of Jesus: <i>"I was a stranger, and you welcomed me." (Matthew 25:35b)</i> I think most young people “leave” their childhood faith, intentionally or unintentionally, when they reach college age. It’s part of the natural order of breaking away from their parents, not to mention conforming to the norms of college life (which rarely includes regular church attendance). They have some nostalgia for the church community of their childhood, and may attend with their parents when visiting home. But other communities and other priorities replace the church in their adult lives. They learn to live without a structured religion, even though they may have great faith and consider themselves spiritual.

The failing comes in how we bring them back in again. Many young adults return to church when they become parents, because the rhythm of church life fits with their notion of good parenting (as it should!). Far fewer return to a traditional church as single adults or as a childless married couple. I remember attending church sporadically as a single adult and then as a newlywed – I was rarely greeted, never invited to anything, and managed to worship in nearly total anonymity for years. While I hungered for spiritual fulfillment, the concept of a church home eluded me. Maybe I didn’t look hard enough, or maybe they didn’t look hard enough for me.

I love the idea of radical welcome. I love thinking that every newcomer leaves Holy Comforter thinking, “Wow, what a friendly bunch of people!” In the face of a stranger, we can see the face of Jesus: “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35b)

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