What is it that today's young adults are needing in a church experience? My biggest concern is that while young adults are looking for the right fit, they may lose connection. I'm thinking about early 20's people who have grown up in our churches - churches that have tried to be the church for all generations. I would like to start a conversation. This conversation is not to be about reaching unchurched and unbelieving young adults, but about being a church that feels like home for the adult children of those who are often giving leadership in these churches. Even new church plants that are filled with young couples in their late 20's and early 30's are not the community that the early 20's are finding to be the right fit.
One of the things I am learning is the importance of quality - especially in the music, but also in the whole experience of the worship event. Secondly ... authenticity. I would say that there is an interesting line between these two. Authenticity can be understood by some as going with the people that we have, and if they try to do their best, then everyone will appreciate the experience. Well, for many of these people, this is just not going to cut it. I would say that "trying to do our best" and "striving for excellence" are not the same. I think authenticity has to do with being yourself and not being pretentious, but also not being lame - in other words, striving for excellence. I invite responses to this definition.
Trying to do our best may end up very much short of our best, because not enough time has been put into planning, preparation and practice. When it comes time to lead, the response may be, "Oh well, it's good enough." As soon as someone begins to call for excellence, there may well be a push back of resistance. I remember a person in a worship team a number of years ago saying that our calling is to give our absolute best for God, and to prepare ourselves so as to be able to do that. This mindset did receive some resistance and criticism for trying to be too professional.
Striving for excellence includes a commitment to work well in advance so as to give ample time to plan well, and to practice long and hard. After leading, the group meets to discuss what could be done better next time. In striving for excellence, I am not suggesting hiring professional musicians; I still see this as working with the people you have. Although, having an associate pastor with a good portion of time given to working with worship, has its merit. Looking for and drawing people in with the right gifts is a constant commitment.
I invite any responses to my thoughts. It might be a good idea to set up a Facebook group discussion of things that are working; what do you think? I have just touched on this conversation. There are many angles to it. I invite them all.
My concern is that we be authentic, and that we know our people so that everyone feels they belong. But, my concern is also that once our young adults leave the home church in pursuit of a better fit, they may drift into an individualised "me and God" situation. Once you slip out of regular involvement in a particular church, the drive to be in Christian community every week can weaken pretty quickly.
Many, many years ago, Bono wrote the song, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." This song was a response to a challenge for one of U2's producers, Daniel Lanois. Lanois told Bono that he had not written a Gospel song. He reminded Bono that he had written many songs that spoke about God in various ways, but not one that expressed the Good News of the Gospel. This song was Bono's response to that invitation. When I first heard what was behind this song, I was cut to the heart. Bono was saying that, while he loves Jesus and is seeking to follow him, this world doesn't show enough evidence of God's people living out the Good News. There is way too much hatred, greed and injustice, and so he was saying that he is not satisfied with these conditions, and that he will long for and strive towards the inbreaking of the Good News into these situations.
