We’re back in business—sorry for the long layoff. Perhaps some of you have already finished the book; perhaps some of you haven’t picked it up yet off the night stand. At any rate, here are a few thoughts/questions from chapters 2 and 3. Wherever you are in your reading though, your thoughts are appreciated. We’ll try to do about one chapter a week from here on out.
Carol Howard Merritt suggests going through the church, the nursery, etc and acting as if you were showing up for the first time.(p33) For instance, would you want your child playing in the nursery with the toys that are there? What about other areas of the church? How would we stack up?
She also mentions a very real problem of having a nursery provided during church events. I noticed during the two mission study events that we attended that there were very few families with children there (I had to leave one early to get home to pay the babysitter). Could we have had a better turnout and more inclusive conversation if nursery would have been provided or it would have been at a different time? (p34)(By the way, the last thing I want is for us to redo them—I think we need to get on with it ASAP and start interviewing candidates.)
Carol gives a good bit of evidence that the economic realities of young adults today are vastly different from young adults in generations past. (p45) Do you agree or disagree. Why?
Why do you think young adults (or anyone for that matter) should give their money to the church? How do we know the church and our ministers are being good stewards of our money? If there is suspicion that good stewardship of our money is not taking place, is it okay to not donate? Even though we recently had a Sunday School class on money, can you recall money being a topic of conversation at times other than when pledge Sunday is approaching? Are we missing the boat on an incredibly important spiritual matter?
Are there any other thoughts, comments, questions, or concerns you want to share?
See you in Sunday School. The topic is “Where are all the young adults?”
I haven’t read the chapter yet, but I don’t think that it is needed to offer an opinion to this question….
“Why do you think young adults (or anyone for that matter) should give their money to the church? How do we know the church and our ministers are being good stewards of our money? If there is suspicion that good stewardship of our money is not taking place, is it okay to not donate?”
I think everyone has responsibility to give money to the church – young or old. In a simple case, just like a family, money is needed to run the operations. Additionally, we are called to give. The church gives us an opportunity to pool smaller resources into a bigger work, just like the government uses our tax dollars for large infrastructure needs – or so the expectation goes.
I am beginning to think that young people feel too much that they have to be given a reason to do something, rather than knowing or understanding that doing something is right and necessary and appropriate.
By: Jason G on July 17, 2009
at 12:42 am
Okay, here goes my two cents: I think all of us, regardless of age often lack the deep commitement to follow Jesus. Whether we are talking about titheing or attending and participating in the various programs of church or seeking those outside the church. We have become a “me” Christian, doing what we wish with our time, money and personality. As we really come to grips with Jesus’ teachings, we fall very short in loving our neighbors as ourselves, leaving all our possessions and preaching the gospel; feeding the hungry; dividing our wealth with the poor; seeking justice for the oppressed, etc, etc. Jesus call to discipleship is a tough call and we water is down to satisfy the “Me”. My observations are personal and based on my own life, I am confessing so don’t see my finger pointed as anyone else. I hope and pray that I and our church if it is true of many of us will grasp the true calling of Jesus and follow Him. Alright friends, have I become a holy roller or am I on to something?
By: Mary D. Lee on July 17, 2009
at 9:32 pm
Good posts guys–I think you’re both onto to something. Along those lines, something else to think about that’s important for the Church to be aware of is the personalities that generations have. I don’t know quite what the age cut off for this is, though I know Dorothy and I are about on the fence of some of these generational characteristics. Those roughly about our age and a little older don’t like institutions–they don’t trust them. As we’ve grown up we’ve seen far too many corrupt clergy, corrupt CEO’s, and political leaders who have fallen from grace to trust institutions. And our generation is blatantly aware that many of these folks still exist in their positions of power. These institutions have to earn trust first, if that’s at all possible. The burden of proof is on the institution, so to speak. To some extent, our generation’s view of the church is that it’s a hindrance to living out the kingdom of God rather than a means.
That’s partly where that question came from, and I’m honestly not sure yet what our generation’s personality means for the church, other than it’s a problem for the church just as much as the church is a problem for many in our generation. I hope some of you have more thoughts about what all of that means for the church.
By: Russell on July 18, 2009
at 12:25 am
I found the chapter on economic understanding enlightening. I admit to having thought of many young people as “irresponsible, materialistic and excessive” without considering how different the economic climate is for them compared to what it was when I began my career after university. Given the difficulties in securing full-time permanent employment with benefits to be able to support a family, I wonder how the church is to be supported financially by future generations.
By: Margaret Jones on August 3, 2009
at 1:13 am
In chapter 3 I feel the economic problems of young families was overstated. I, of course, am a far piece from that age grouping so I could be totally wrong. I see the problems for the young as expecting too much too soon. I believe they have been caught up in the want of all things now….a house, the correct furniture, toys, clothes etc….the list is endless. It is hard to be frugal when all around you are extravagant especially when it comes to the things for our children. I don’t know how to fix the materialism problem because everyone get caught up(regardless of age) It’s terrible when we are being encouraged to spend to get our country out of a recession.
By: Mary D. Lee on August 5, 2009
at 12:41 am
I really have enjoyed what I have read so far. It is very interesting to see the authors view point about how the younger generation relate to people and to the church. Some of her points I had not considered before. I do think our church is doing some good things to interest young people, but probably not enough.
By: Jenny Ticknor on August 19, 2009
at 2:58 pm