Are You a Teen Church Dropout?

Accepting Jesus at such a young age can be a beautiful beginning to a new relationship, but what happens when that relationship never fully blossoms into something to call one’s own? What if the only connection a teenager has made with Jesus has been modeled after their parents and Christians surrounding them?

Is it possible to know Jesus all your life but never really know him?

Absolutely, and you are not alone.

A survey conducted by Lifeway Research discovered that “70% of young adults (16-19 years of age) who indicated they attended church regularly for at least one year in high school do, in fact, drop out”(Stetzer). However, almost two-thirds did return within the year of their study (Stetzer).

Moreover, in their research, Lifeway recognized that “something significant happens between the ages of 17 and 19 that accounts for the vast majority of those who leave” (Stetzer).

What exactly could be the cause of so many teens leaving the church? Lifeway noted that teens are not leaving because of theological disagreements or out of rebellion.  “For the most part, they simply lose track of the church and stop seeing it as important to their life” (Stetzer).

I propose that the deeper reason a teen may not value church any longer is because they are still searching for their connection between God and themselves?  The pull of the world has become two enticing to handle, and the foundation they believed was built on rock was actually built on sand. When “the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:27)

As a new believer at any age, if you do not feed your spirit with the God’s word, spend time in his presence, and truly give your heart to Jesus, then you will be without a strong foundation to fall back on when the trials of life arise.

There is no time like the present to dig your foundation deep into His truths. For a man who digs down deep and lays the foundation on the rock, when the floods come, and the torrents strike the house, it will not be shaken for it is well built. (Luke 6:48)

How has the church failed you as a child of God? What has caused you to walk away from the church?