"Adultolescence" - Americans 18-29 a Self-focused, Confused, Anxious Age Group

Some very keen insights. Anyone else see these tendencies within the framework of your ministry?

that it’s all kind of negative. he doesn’t really analyze the positives of that generation?

Reading this review caused me to reflect on the state of religion in the first century AD. With so many options on the table at that time (pantheon worship, emperor worship, mystery cults, Gnosticism and its variants, and a host of other philosophies), coupled with so many other emerging trends and developments in society at large, nothing really satisfied. This increased emptiness and search for true satisfaction primed the world for the empowered gospel message. “Lost in Transition” and other generational studies of the “millennials,” “Gen Xers,” etc. all seem to point to a growing emptiness and dissatisfaction in general, very similar to the first century and other seasons in between. To me, it seems as though a door of opportunity is opening wide for the gospel to “take root.” The years just ahead of us are an opportunity that churches cannot miss.

Thomas Overmiller
Pastor | StudyGodsWord.com
Blog | ShepherdThoughts.com

[Anne Sokol] that it’s all kind of negative. he doesn’t really analyze the positives of that generation?
Smith’s purpose is not to give a thorough analysis of the generation, complimenting it on its positives, criticizing it for its negatives. Instead, he seeks to provide understanding for those of us in ministry who are stuggling with “adultolescents” and their widespread turning away from our churches. I, for one, am interested in knowing how they think…what makes them tick…why they’re turning away from our churches. When I read the article in light of the half-dozen or so “adultolescents” who grew up in and have since left our church, I gained some good insight.

[TOvermiller] Reading this review caused me to reflect on the state of religion in the first century AD. With so many options on the table at that time (pantheon worship, emperor worship, mystery cults, Gnosticism and its variants, and a host of other philosophies), coupled with so many other emerging trends and developments in society at large, nothing really satisfied. This increased emptiness and search for true satisfaction primed the world for the empowered gospel message. “Lost in Transition” and other generational studies of the “millennials,” “Gen Xers,” etc. all seem to point to a growing emptiness and dissatisfaction in general, very similar to the first century and other seasons in between. To me, it seems as though a door of opportunity is opening wide for the gospel to “take root.” The years just ahead of us are an opportunity that churches cannot miss.

Very encouraging perspecitve… truly a “gospel… is the power of God for salvation,” glass is half full attitude!

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

I fall into this age group (barely) and my take on the exodus of young people from our churches is disillusionment. The rules and lives of those enforcing them seems shallow, it’s a turn off. Many people I went to school with are no longer in fundamentalist type churches. The behaviorism of the schools and churches they grew up in did not change their hearts. So when they are able to make their own decisions, those who want to be involved in church look for genuine relationships and places where the rules are not the focus. Unfortunately I think many see older church people (pastors, teachers, etc.) as rule enforcers; not people who really love and care about them as people. Since there is seemingly no point questioning rule enforcers; this squelches the dialogue many young people want to have.

The author of this article makes an excellent point about the delay of marriage affecting church attendance. The Bible does not condemn singleness yet in our churches single people often seem like the oddballs. This should not be. If a young professional does not feel welcomed or find other people with whom have some commonality with, they will go someplace where they will feel welcomed.

I attend a fundamental church in my area, and there are several young couples that attend. There is a focus on letting the Spirit work in our hearts and lives. I think some adultolescents out there just have learned how long their skirt should be or what kind of music they should listen to, but have not learned to listen to the Spirit’s direction in their lives. This leads to their anxiety. If we could concentrate on teaching young people to let the Spirit be their guide and not what others think, it would help these directionless adults.

Just this adultolescent’s take

[Keri L.] I fall into this age group (barely) and my take on the exodus of young people from our churches is disillusionment. The rules and lives of those enforcing them seems shallow, it’s a turn off. Many people I went to school with are no longer in fundamentalist type churches. The behaviorism of the schools and churches they grew up in did not change their hearts. So when they are able to make their own decisions, those who want to be involved in church look for genuine relationships and places where the rules are not the focus. Unfortunately I think many see older church people (pastors, teachers, etc.) as rule enforcers; not people who really love and care about them as people. Since there is seemingly no point questioning rule enforcers; this squelches the dialogue many young people want to have.

The author of this article makes an excellent point about the delay of marriage affecting church attendance. The Bible does not condemn singleness yet in our churches single people often seem like the oddballs. This should not be. If a young professional does not feel welcomed or find other people with whom have some commonality with, they will go someplace where they will feel welcomed.

I attend a fundamental church in my area, and there are several young couples that attend. There is a focus on letting the Spirit work in our hearts and lives. I think some adultolescents out there just have learned how long their skirt should be or what kind of music they should listen to, but have not learned to listen to the Spirit’s direction in their lives. This leads to their anxiety. If we could concentrate on teaching young people to let the Spirit be their guide and not what others think, it would help these directionless adults.

Just this adultolescent’s take
While I agree with Keri’s take on why some young people leave fundamentalist churches, particularly those with Christian schools, the article was written by an evangelical for an evangelical magazine. Broader evangelicalism has been anything but rules oriented. Further, the book Souls in Transition referenced in the interview was not based on a study of fundamentalist young people who grew up in strict churches and Christian schools, but rather on the generation as a whole. So there’s more going on here than mere disillusionment with fundamentalist leaders and institutions.

I realize this is an article based on the views of evangelicals. I have far less of an idea why the evangelical young people are leaving their churches. I was speaking to fundamentalist side of this problem to the readers of this site which are supposedly fundamentalist. I believe the points I made were valid for people in my age group raised in fundamentalism and I think there can be overlap.

most active group is our College/Career singles group. But then, most of our families moved away in the 60s. So, what kept the church going was the singles who had moved here during WW2. In the 70-80s, the active group was the “Lamplighters” the single seniors.

Hoping to shed more light than heat..

[BryanBice] [ I, for one, am interested in knowing how they think…what makes them tick…why they’re turning away from our churches. When I read the article in light of the half-dozen or so “adultolescents” who grew up in and have since left our church, I gained some good insight.
I also wonder. I wonder if it is because (in the broad world of evangelicalism) they are disillusioned with leadership they perceive as wanting to please the masses (as in seeker sensitive churches) and are searching for something that doesn’t change with the winds of time. Most thinking people really don’t want to follow someone who sticks a finger in the air to determine the direction of the trends and they tries to jump in the front and then calls himself a leader.

Or maybe they simply aren’t even saved and have no desire for God and biblical things. Why should an unsaved person prefer “church” over entertainment or play or simply relaxation, i.e. time at home?

The author had a good point regarding the christian campus organizations. I have 2 daughters at state colleges. The Intervarsity Christian Fellowship program has been a great blessing to them. Both have chosen to take the IV leadership training and are leading small group Bible studies and are excited about the work they see God doing. Unfortunately, the fundamental churches in the area do not try to engage college students, and the girls were left looking for other churches to invite their friends to. Of course, I might add that many of the fundamental churches around here also imply that christian colleges are the only good choices for christian kids.