Last week someone stopped by the office, and amid our conversation the subject turned toward children and young adults not being an active part of the church like in years past. The person began to reflect on their life in their mid-twenties, remembering how the church was not a priority for them in their young adult period. My answer was simply that we in the church often make the mistake of asking our youth, and even adults for that matter, to come to where we are, never thinking it might be more productive and meaningful to meet them physically, emotionally, and spiritually where they are located. At that moment, I realized my answer was less than satisfying. The answer did not address the implied question of “why” young people no longer find church appealing enough to prioritize it.
I sense the spirit through that conversation, trying to refocus our attention. Our young people are tired. They are worn out beyond the point of exhaustion. They live life in ways we never had to. Their lives are under constant threat. Schools are no longer a place of safety from violence. Social malcontents are constantly raging against their trans, black, and LGBTQI+ friends, just to name a few areas. The institutions they were told to trust, including the church, have consistently been found lacking. So, they have been forced to find and create havens of rest, community, and refreshment outside of the church.
Wentz’s renewal is part of the rhythm of daily life. Eating and drinking to nourish and replenish our bodies; resting to quiet the mind; and sleeping after a day of activity are all ways to renew oneself. But sometimes, we need more than those efforts to sustain us. At times when I feel drained at unquantifiable depths, it is a sign I need spiritual renewal. Our young people need spiritual renewal. For Wentz’s to once again be a place of safety, renewal, and rest, we have to answer some fundamental questions as a community:
Can we authentically be a safe space to wonder, question, and disagree without judgment?
Do we genuinely care about the things and people younger folks care about (Climate change, criminal justice reform, food insecurity, systemic racism, violence, LGBTQI+ issues)? Or is our caring just a means to get more butts in the seats with the hope of filling our coffers?
Are we willing to partner with young folks and devote our time and resources to impact those areas they are passionate about?
Can we take a step back and let the young folks lead us?
We look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.—2 Corinthians 4:18