In the past years of my service, I often hear some church leaders say that there are fewer and fewer young people in the church. I also see that there are not enough young believers ready to take over from older generations in many churches. Even in some desolate churches, one or two aged preachers are fixed speakers in Sunday services. The same situation is seen everywhere in the rural areas.
Why is today's rural church unattractive to young people? Let me share four reasons with you.
1. Church bullies hinder the young generation from ministry.
In some churches I have visited, bullies usurp the pulpit. As "veteran leaders" in the church, they beat young people down with their seniority, fearing the next generation to seize their positions. They are like those Pharisees and chief priests in Jesus' time.
When I studied in a seminary, a young female classmate who was under 20 had the gift of preaching with spiritual fervor. However, I didn't see her in her church in the second year after graduation. Instead, a 75-year-old male brother gave a sermon. He was the church leader, who was unwilling to resign because the church was founded by him. In the beginning, the sister, talented in preaching and loving, enjoyed the favor of the congregation. But her popularity angered the leader who regarded her as his competitor. So he tried all means to create obstacles to, oppress her, and even make rumors about her. Eventually, she was forced to leave the church and serve in another church situated in another place.
2. A lack of vitality causes a feeling of oppression and depression in young people.
Having been a rural preacher for over a decade, I also sense a feeling of oppression and depression. Affected by traditions, many churches hold "stereotyped" Sunday services. The Sunday's order of worship overall remains the same and is slightly altered. As a consequence, young people are very oppressive. Plus that most of the churchgoers are middle-aged and aged, they feel imprisoned.
When I led a youth fellowship two years ago, some young Christians told me that Sunday services and other ministries were rigid and depressing, including worship and praise and sermons. Over time, they felt that they nearly became old people.
In addition, some preachers who don't study keep delivering "cliche" sermons. Their limited knowledge fails to meet the demand of young blood.
3. Young people feel trapped and bound in too much dogmatic and formalized churches.
With their development, many churches are trapped in formalism and dogmatism. A number of elderly leaders who never receive formal theological training and lack long-term views with little knowledge have become the hindrance to church growth.
Holding that the church should be "independent" rather than imitate the world, worldly new and advanced things are forbidden to enter the church.
Some leaders set restrictions according to their own opinions: Christians are not allowed to give lucky money or set off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year; they should not use the image of a dragon or phoenix because dragons are considered the "ancient serpent" or Satan.
Moreover, Christians are banned to talk about their zodiac signs because that is idolatry. They should just say how old they are because they belong to Christ. Performers are prohibited to act as evil people on Christmas because the pulpit where God's word is declared is holy. These rules so fetters young people that they can't release their inner passion.
4. The phenomenon of "poor preachers" results in that many young people don't want to be preachers.
It is common that preachers are underpaid or unpaid in many Chinese churches. Due to the pressure of supporting their families, lots of God's workers have to choose secular jobs.
Influenced by "poor preacher" phenomenon, a large number of young Christians work outside the church to make money. Even some Christian parents encourage their children to look for secular jobs rather than advise them to become preachers.
So talented young blood work outside the church. Over time, they are attracted by the prosperous world and hardly return to the church.
- Translated by Karen Luo
