Have you ever found yourself asking the question, “why do young people seem to hate the church?” Its a valid question that has been kicked around a lot over the past few years. I think the reason that young people are shying away from the church is because their generation grew up in a church with a dualistic view of faith. The attitude seems to be that there are some “sacred” areas of life, like church and quiet times; and then there are “secular” areas of life, like work, and leisure time.

The problem with this dualistic view is that to people from my generation is seems fake and hypocritical. In my experience growing up in church you talked about God at church, but not at home. You studied the Bible either at church or during your “quiet time” but nowhere else. The problem is, that is not the type of faith that I want to give me life to, and I think most of my generation agrees with that sentiment.

Religion by it’s very nature is religious at certain times and certain places, but it rarely goes further than that. But, the younger generation doesn’t want religion that is stale, compartmentalized and ultimately unsatisfying. We want an encounter with the creator, a touch from the all power finger of God, a brush with infinity. To find this I think that the first step is recognizing that for a follower of Jesus nothing is secular, but everything is sacred. God created everything, and our daily lives are to be an act of worship for and to Him, so it would stand to reason that everything we do, we do for His honor and glory, making everything that we do sacred.

I’m still thinking this through, any thoughts?