On occasion, I can get really worked up scrolling through Facebook with political posts, the just-in-case-I-now-have-to-pay-for-Facebook-copy write-disclaimer posts and ones on how I should “really” be feeding my child. While they do frustrate me, I quickly forget about them after exiting the website. However, there are a number of posts I can’t forget that make me upset and sad. They have one thing in common: leaving a church.
I’ve seen far too many posts explaining why young adults do not attend worship services or are leaving faith behind completely. These articles peak my interest so I do read them. Essentially, those posting on Facebook point out churches are not accepting and are not changing with the times.
The mentality that a church cannot be accepting of an individual can be selfish; churches do not exists to justify sins and ignore wrongdoings. Unfortunately, that is what people are looking for. This is the beginning of the conversation as to why people are leaving church. A component of going to church and following faith is admitting to sin. Without a doubt, it is incredibly difficult and scary. People do not like being told what they have done is wrong and this can be done at church. Just look at social media websites, it is clear young adults are becoming more self-centered. Following faith and attending church can be intimidating because it involves forgetting ourselves and putting your eyes toward the Lord. We need to be reminded that one reason we go to church is because we all sin, all who go to church are not perfect.
Churches can be and are accepting. Congregations shift their focus from their own wants and desires to their hope in the Lord. They help each other. They engage with one another and build accountability. Churches are communities with the same goal and it has been that way for thousands of years. Churches exist to serve One Lord; it is not to serve oneself. To say churches are not accepting is an excuse to keep focus on yourself.