The information taken for the article was based upon the Barna Poll; a poll taken in 2010 among over 1000 randomly selected people.
The word for a while now has been “change”. Change in society, change with our government, change in religious practices.
As a “young adult” reading the article entitled, “Six Megathemes Emerge from Barna Group Research in 2010″, I found it painful that their study has determined that my generation is greatly undereducated about theology, as compared to the older generations.
The Busters and Mosaics, as we are called, are the largest group of people who do not understand a lot of the basic truths about the Bible.
My translation: We are in big trouble as the future leaders of our churches.
The ways that Christian theology is translated nowadays is completely different than it was 50 years ago. Whether that is good or bad is up to each individual church, but the outlines of theology are being skewed so much by society that the article goes on to say, “The theological free-for-all that is encroaching in Protestant churches nationwide suggests the coming decade will be a time of unparalleled theological diversity and inconsistency.”
I know that in my church, the younger adults have been encouraged to be more involved in order to ensure a stable and knowledgeable leadership for the future. However, it is not just involvement that will help you keep up with the demands of your church. Creating new missions or ministries that reach the community in a different way is what we need to focus on. As the world changes, we need to make sure that the Word of God and theology do not get pushed aside.
The rest of the article goes on to say that fewer people than in the past are interested in spiritual principles (again, young adults). Pragmatic solutions are what are more desired now. This is an issue that I’m sure many of you are struggling with in your ministry, since with the changing viewpoints of society bring changes in how churches need to appeal to people.
What are ways your church has kept up with the Busters and Mosaics in your community?