Re: Why we lose younger generations from our church
[a post from ICON, copied here as I'm too lazy to write this again]
There have been books written that may give some insight (e.g. "Dear
Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation", by Sarah Cunningham).
From talking to those who have left the Church both in America and India, the reasons differ in each Diocese, each Church and often times in each family. Some leave for religious reasons, some because it's not "fun" while others are disgusted with the politics of the living Church.
Underlying everything is simply a lack of understanding of the Faith.
A very smart man left a comment on a blog that applies perfectly to those who left -
"... they left to find a Jesus who fits the Jesus they have in mind".
This not only eloquently explains the most significant reason why people are leaving our Church, but also why an even larger majority who remain in the Church are classic examples of "lukewarm" Christians that God described in Revelations.
It is the failing of all of us who make up the living Church. We did not properly teach those who left, nor are we teaching the many more who stay members but are completely apathetic or ignorant. Adult catechism is rare, and our thought is by pushing the children to 45 minutes of Sunday School per week they will embrace our Faith. The 1934 Constitution does not define our Indian Orthodox Faith, but rather it's the teachings of the Apostles as taught to them by the One True Jesus Christ.
When *we* (not the parents, the entire Church!) fail to teach who Jesus was through our Church doctrine while the individual is forming their thoughts and opinions, it's not surprising their roots are not deep and they easily get drawn away. And, once a person's mind is made up, it's very difficult to teach them even if it is unquestionably the truth.
Faith, then Reason and finally Revelation.
Fr. George Pulikkottil had taught the importance of these words in that order. Without Faith, there's very little chance of finding the right path, and one cannot find Faith after thinking they have had a revelation.
That's my 2 cents on why we lose people of all generations from our Church ... a very large majority (including myself, who often feel like an infant despite being 35 years old!) don't understand our Faith.
The solution is to make sure that those who truly teach and minister are placed and supported wherever they are needed throughout the Diocese - this should be our top priority if we are sincere about the preservation of the Faith that St Thomas brought to our homeland.
Joe Varghese
St Gregorios, Oak Park
There have been books written that may give some insight (e.g. "Dear
Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation", by Sarah Cunningham).
From talking to those who have left the Church both in America and India, the reasons differ in each Diocese, each Church and often times in each family. Some leave for religious reasons, some because it's not "fun" while others are disgusted with the politics of the living Church.
Underlying everything is simply a lack of understanding of the Faith.
A very smart man left a comment on a blog that applies perfectly to those who left -
"... they left to find a Jesus who fits the Jesus they have in mind".
This not only eloquently explains the most significant reason why people are leaving our Church, but also why an even larger majority who remain in the Church are classic examples of "lukewarm" Christians that God described in Revelations.
It is the failing of all of us who make up the living Church. We did not properly teach those who left, nor are we teaching the many more who stay members but are completely apathetic or ignorant. Adult catechism is rare, and our thought is by pushing the children to 45 minutes of Sunday School per week they will embrace our Faith. The 1934 Constitution does not define our Indian Orthodox Faith, but rather it's the teachings of the Apostles as taught to them by the One True Jesus Christ.
When *we* (not the parents, the entire Church!) fail to teach who Jesus was through our Church doctrine while the individual is forming their thoughts and opinions, it's not surprising their roots are not deep and they easily get drawn away. And, once a person's mind is made up, it's very difficult to teach them even if it is unquestionably the truth.
Faith, then Reason and finally Revelation.
Fr. George Pulikkottil had taught the importance of these words in that order. Without Faith, there's very little chance of finding the right path, and one cannot find Faith after thinking they have had a revelation.
That's my 2 cents on why we lose people of all generations from our Church ... a very large majority (including myself, who often feel like an infant despite being 35 years old!) don't understand our Faith.
The solution is to make sure that those who truly teach and minister are placed and supported wherever they are needed throughout the Diocese - this should be our top priority if we are sincere about the preservation of the Faith that St Thomas brought to our homeland.
Joe Varghese
St Gregorios, Oak Park
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