Youth groups gained traction after the Baby Boom. Teen and youth culture took off in the 50’s and 60’s. As one born in the 70’s who grew up in the 80’s, I was pretty much at the peak of youth group activity.
As an introverted, shy kid, who was legally blind and picked on all the time, the last thing in the world I wanted to do was spend more time with kids. I hated youth group. Church kids were not much nicer than public school kids to blind kids.
I’m saying this to admit my bias before going any further: I hated youth group. I’m laying the foundation of your ability to dismiss my critique out of hand. You’re welcome.
Peak Youth Group was a lot of emotionalism and “fun.” Speakers tried to get a response out of you, either gearing you up to rededicate your life, or freaking you out with the dangers of rock music and the occult. This was all followed by games and food.
Cool youth groups mostly did fun stuff minus any moralizing or freaking anyone out. There was little biblical education. It was a social gathering, a place for kids that was safer than alternatives. I guess that’s fine, but the spiritual veneer put on it convinced many kids that socializing in church equaled Christian maturity.
Youth groups worked. If by “worked” you mean “kids came.” There were lots of kids. The best youth groups attracted popular kids, who then made the group acceptable for others to attend, even cool. The youth group I grew up in had no cool kids; it did have me though, so it never got big.
Churches saw how many bodies came for the excitement and fun of youth group. Churches adopted youth group atmosphere for church services. And it worked spectacularly, if by “worked” you mean “people came.”
The Seeker Sensitive church philosophy, really taking root in the 90’s, is nothing more than peak 1980’s youth group philosophy spread throughout the church.
People attend cool churches. The cool youth group pastors were outgoing, energetic, usually had cool hair, and swallowed goldfish for some reason. These guys eventually graduated to Big People Church and brought that same outgoing, energetic, cool haired approach to the entire church.
Although many people bemoan how many young people leave “the faith” when they escape mom and dad’s house, few seriously lay the blame on the youth group philosophy that created the mess.
Instead of examining the failure of youth group culture, we’ve turned the entire church into youth group culture. We know how that works: it’s big and fun for a time, then people leave “the faith” in droves. This will continue, especially as the world becomes more hostile to The Faith. The entertaining fun and energy which served so well to pack seats, has not prepared anyone for persecution. More churches will decline in numbers as the cost to attend rises.
Yes, I am pessimistic about the church and the future. But I’m also highly optimistic. First, because one day all this will be over and I’ll be with Jesus Christ. But secondly, persecution will eliminate pretenders and will restore the church to the New Testament ideal. There is no other answer I can see that will truly revive the church.
We reap what we sow. Although everyone whines about what we’re reaping, we seem content to sow the same seed.
I believe persecution is the only thing that will wake us up. We’re too comfortable, fat, and happy to be bothered. Making real changes in our approach will tick people off, donors will leave, and mortgages and staff won’t be paid. Too risky.
The system is a wreck. I’m anxious for the system to burn down. The sooner the better. Souls raised in entertaining happy church slip into hell every day.
It’s high time to awake out of sleep. Judgment begins with the house of God. Bring it on.
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If you’d like to hear more of my experience in not doing church well, I wrote a book. CLICK HERE to get a copy of it. There are 9 tips for how to not grow your church for only $3.50!
Failing Pastor 
I could not agree with you more. I had not thought of it this way, but I think you are right. There are other factors, but this is an accurate way to describe the current state of church. I believe ‘church’ is in the midst of a serious sifting, as you said, pretenders will be eliminated. ~Ed.
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Thank you, sir. We’re headed for troubled waters. Should be an interesting ride!
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Yes, I believe the coming years hold unprecedented developments. Thankfully, we do not place our trust in horses and chariots. ~Ed.
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Amen! I’m right there with you!
My dad and I were talking about this very thing. We both went to IFB churches for most of our lives. Up until very recently, he was still at his, and one of the eye opening moments was speaking with the guy pastoring there now. “Out of all the kids that have gone through our Youth Group, how many of them are in church and/or serving the Lord,” Dad asked. “Um! Uh! I can’t think of any,” came the reply. But, Mr. Pastor refuses to change anything, to make things more educational and biblical. Nope! Playtime is the order of the day, with a little bit of Jesus sprinkled in.
It was that way that the seminary I went to. It is that way with most IFB churches, and it is, because Numbers is the order of the day. If you don’t have Numbers, then you are nothing. It doesn’t matter that they make twofold children of Hell. No, they have attendance and profession numbers, so that is all that matters.
Shameful.
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What can be measured will always be focused on. You can’t measure spiritual growth, but you can measure any number of physical results, so they get the emphasis. The Lord is the Judge. I shudder to think what His fire will reveal. Many ash heaps lying about.
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I’m the pastor of a small church in Michigan (think 10 people is a good Sunday morning crowd small). I’m young (30) and recently went through a church split for a few reasons (yes, even when you only have 10 people you can have a church split). One of the main reasons my two deacons, who both left in the split, gave for leaving was that I was not doing enough to try to get families into the church. I asked them “How are we supposed to get families into the church?” The irony is that just that day I had preached that the only Biblical way a church should grow is through the faithful preaching of the gospel to the lost, no other gimmicks/games/etc. Their answer, however, was that families only want to come to a church that has “something for the kids.” By “something for the kids” they meant fun youth activities, which the church always had before I came, yet when I stopped doing those things and just preached the Word, a total of zero of those kids continued to come to the church.
To the failing pastor:
I hope you enjoy this story. The church I pastor was the epitome of an IFB church (back in the day when they built their sanctuary, Jack Hyles actually preached the dedication service). The church had shrunk tremendously by the time I came, but not in spite of trying to do all the things (youth activities, bread ministry, Wednesday meals, etc.). I read your book and thoroughly enjoyed it (minus the use of the phrase “Good Lord,” which I believe falls under the category of taking God’s name in vain and was unpleasant to read). So, I told the church that I was reading a book called “How Not to Grow Your Church.” I wish everyone who understands two things – 1. What the true church is and 2. The nature of people in IFB churches – could have seen the shock and awe on the faces of the church people who heard their pastor say he was reading a book with that title. It would bring at least a moment of joy to them all.
As funny as that was, what is sad is that if I had said I’d been reading a book on how to grow the church and wanted to implement the church growth advice in it I think they would have been genuinely pleased.
Thanks for this article. It’s really good and very true.
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Sounds like we have similar experiences! Bummer. Keep fighting the fight as the Lord leads you.
As to “good Lord.” Yes, you’re probably right. I apologize and will work on it. I will amend my ways. Thank you.
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We’ve had similar experiences too (see above comment).
I have worked at restarting two congregations, but both failed (for various reasons that I will not go into). The primary reason was the lack of actual spiritual life in the congregation. There was no desire for holy things. No desire to study, to obey the Word. No love for the brethren. Nothing of the things that define the real Christian as put in Matthew 7, Gal 5, and I John. It was heartbreaking. I believe our friend that wrote this article found the same things.
I literally told a previous church, “I know how to grow a church! I know how to put bodies in the pews. But, you have to compromise to do that, and I refuse! The bodies in the pews would remain dead as a doornail spiritually, and the “church” would just be another social club!”
But, too many just want the social club. They want to play “church”, instead of being authentic.
Praise the Lord for the guys out there that are still standing for the Word faithfully!
I’m 42, and have plenty of war stories to tell you. But, it all comes down to this: God’s Word is true, God is real, and He is worth following (no matter what comes). Even if Satan brings all the forces of Hell upon you, it is worth it (and I’ve felt like that sometimes, even though I know it could always be worse).
Don’t give up.
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Hey, Brothers. I will celebrate my 69th birthday in November. I also have plenty of tales to tell. I have always been fundamentally opposed to gimmickry and bloated programs to support ‘church growth,’ ‘seeker sensitivity,’ and ‘church as business/pastor as CEO’ types of focus on numbers – which usually tended be inflated beyond the truth. In any case, I am convinced a serious separation of the wheat from the tares in coming. ‘Let us hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering. He who promised is faithful.’ (Heb. 10:23) ~Ed.
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I’ve been shouting this for awhile now. Not only is it the logical conclusion, ie reap/sow, it’s precisely what He tells us is going to happen. Been sharing your articles as a sign of the times to many who’ve taken notice or are aware enough to see ‘the writing on the wall.’ The sifting is coming and most will opt for indifference or what Rev 21:8 says about the cowardly. Maranatha!
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