The Tower | Centerspread | Pages 4-5 | September 27, 2021
5 reasons young
RETURN
TO THE
WORD
Professors, students define
the nature of doubt and
answer the question of why
so many young Christians are
leaving the church in mass
Jocelyn Yelvington
adults are leaving
the church
Reason #1 – Churches seem
overprotective.
Youths that once identified with
Christianity feel like churches
ignore the larger problems and
focus on condemning things like
modern music and videogames.
Reason #2 – Teens’ and
twentysomethings’ experience of
Christianity is shallow.
A second reason that young people
depart church as young adults is
that something is lacking in their
experience of church. Many claim
church is boring, irrelevant or
difficult to understand
Reason #3 – Churches come
across as antagonistic to science.
Young Christians feel pulled
between the world of science and
faith. They perceive that to be a
Christian, they have to be anti-
science.
Reason #4 – They wrestle
with the exclusive nature of
Christianity.
Younger Americans have been
shaped by a culture that esteems
open-mindedness, tolerance and
acceptance. They see Christianity
as exclusive and hateful.
Reason #5 – The church feels
unfriendly to those who doubt.
Young adults with Christian
experience say the church is
not a place that allows them to
express doubts. They do not feel
safe admitting that sometimes
Christianity does not make sense.
In addition, many feel that the
church’s response to doubt is
trivial.
info by Barna Research
Jameson.
Editor
D
oes God truly love me? Am I good enough? Why would God
let this happen if He was truly good? Does God even exist?
As difficult as it is as Christians to admit, most of us have
thought every single one of these thoughts at some point in our
Christian walk. As lonely as it may feel during these times, we can rest
assured that we aren’t alone in our struggles.
According to a study done by Barna Group, 65 percent of American
adults who consider themselves Christians (or had at one point) questioned
their belief in Christ. The study also found that millennials are about twice
as likely to experience doubt as any of the other generational groups.
Senior Coby Harvison says that the newfound freedom of being a
college student contributes to some students no longer identifying with
Christianity.
“Many people that are raised Christian are believers because their
parents told them to be. They no longer have anyone to hold them to living
the Christian life they were raised in,” says Harvison.
Harvison says that if someone who once identified as a Christian turns
away from Christ, he believes that they never had saving faith to begin
with.
“The Lord works in each of his children’s hearts, so there are those
Doubt is a caution light that should stimulate a return to the Word
Martin Jameson, assistant professor of Bible
that were raised ‘Christian’ that aren’t true Christians and they ‘lose their
faith’,” says Harvison. “All true professing believers will never truly fall
away. There are many that will stumble, but never to the point of apostasy.”
Harvison says that doubt is a normative experience in many believers’
spiritual journey.
“I think every Christian has doubts about all kinds of things when it
comes to the faith,” says Harvison. “I think that doubt usually stems from
the way that they are living their life and not necessarily their faith in
Christ’s work on the cross.”
Martin Jameson, assistant professor of Bible, affirms that many believers
face doubts in their Christian walk.
“Doubt is common to believers,” says Jameson. “Many Christians will
have doubts about their relationship with God at some time. Many also
question their belief system or doctrinal convictions.”
According to Jameson, challenges to their faith can bring people back to
the Bible.
“Doubt is a caution light that should stimulate a return to the Word,” says
Virgil Porter, chair of the Bible department, provides a list of common
stumbling blocks for students struggling with unbelief.
“Sin is probably the number one reason,” says Porter. “Others include not
doing any service for God, lack of attendance to church services and Bible study,
no regular devotion time, no support from fellow believers, difficult experiences,
trying times, tragedies, bad experiences with church and spiritual leaders or other
believers.”
One shares her story of her faith being shaken due to other believers in the
church.
“Those people claimed to speak for God,” says the student. “I was so caught
up in the community and the fellowship - and honestly, the feeling of being
led by such a dynamic leader - that I was blind to the emotional and spiritual
manipulation that was going on behind the scenes.”
The student says there is a negative impact that other members of the body of
Christ can have on one’s spiritual walk.
“This all went down almost a year and a half ago,” says the student. “I am
still trying to loosen myself from the bondage of their lies and false doctrine.
My spiritual life is slowly being rebuilt brick by brick. Forcing myself back into
church regularly and into a small group has been a major step for me.”
The Barna study reports that almost half of those who are currently
experiencing or had previously experienced spiritual doubt stopped attending
worship gatherings. Likewise, 3 in 10 stopped reading their Bibles.
Jameson says that doubting students tend to run hard and fast from the very
disciplines that will help bolster their faith.
“When students struggle with doubts, they tend to do exactly the opposite of
what they should do,” says Jameson. “They ignore the Word and they stay away
from church worship services. One’s faith will be stimulated by Bible reading and
Bible study.”
Porter says that the campus offers multiple great resources to help reassure the
faith of struggling students.
“CBC does several things,” says Porter. “Bible classes are one of those things.
Instructors in Bible classes present the plan of salvation and teach about growing
in the faith and about having assurance of salvation.”
Jameson emphasizes the importance of individual relationships in the faith-
building process.
“CBC offers discipleship groups. Get connected with a small-group ASAP. The
mandatory Bible classes are a great opportunity to learn and grow one’s faith,”
says Jameson. “Christian administrators, faculty, staff and students are all great
resources to encourage you to grow your faith.”