I’ve read many articles trying to explain the mass exodus of Millennials (aged 15-35 roughly) from churches. Many of these articles accuse certain churchy behaviors like trying to be too hip with flashing lights and a coffee bar. Others say churches aren’t hip enough. Most point out that Millennials are tired of churches that are wrapped up in politics while ignoring social justice.
Long story short: there are lots of ideas and people obviously want to get to the bottom of it. Instead of looking to statistics, I’m simply going to share my story. I’m a Millennial, and I didn’t breakup with God, I consider myself to be healthier spiritually than ever before, and…
I don’t go to church.
Trust me, I did! It’s not like I dipped my toe in the water and decided it wasn’t my thing. I was the Michael Phelps of church waters.
In fact, I have a problem with that sentence: I don’t go to church. (What can I say, I’m an English major and like to talk about verbs!) I don’t go to church. As if church were a place to go!
When you read the Old Testament, you’ll find that church looked more like a hippie commune than it did a large building with stained-glass windows or a hip auditorium with strobe lights. Church was a gathering of people, connected by love. They lived together and helped each other. I know – how very Liberal!
Somehow church morphed into somewhere we GO. Then it morphed into this idea that if you don’t go, you’re ungodly. People created the modern-day concept church (with 20 minutes of worship on a stage, announcements about potlucks, a video, a special song, and a 30 minute message) and then they suggest you displease God by not attending that concept.
If you go to a church, I think that’s great! Hear me: I’m not convincing you to stop! But if you think that church is somewhere you go instead of a way you live, you may be missing the point.
To me, church is a human connection of love, not a building. Church is a lifestyle, not a weekly activity. Church is an act of service to myself, to nature, and to others, not a service to attend.
- When I travel, I get to see people who were also made in the image of God, but look nothing like me. Isn’t that funny how that works? I realize how holy they are. Church.
- When I go exploring I see the nature that God created. I realize it is holy too. Church.
- When I create, I get to be a creator like God who is the ultimate creator. I get to partake in the grand creative forces of this universe. Church.
- When I work out issues on my yoga mat, I get to know that God does not hide in a church sanctuary; sometimes God is hanging out by my small rectangle of rubber on a wooden floor. I learn that holiness is not confined to pews and a steeple. Church.
- When I read, kiss my boyfriend, talk to my family and friends, or work with my hands, I realize that all the things that fill life are precious and holy too. Church.
- When I serve living, breathing creatures. When I forgive. Church.
I’m not scared to go out searching for God in the unknown. I’ve tried it and found that God’s actually everywhere.
Please know, once again, that I do not think poorly of those who attend a church. I am a close friend with many churchgoers! And I see value in it! But for me, the value of exploring and experiencing the world, creating magical art, serving others when I can, and connecting with people who are different than me (with different religious backgrounds) was, to me, more church than a 90-minute church service.
I am a Millennial, and I didn’t leave church because of lights or coffee, and as much as I hate the politics infused in modern church and would much rather see the church being busy with social justice issues – that’s not why I left either.
I left church because I think church is bigger than a building. God is bigger than a building.
Actually, God is everywhere, which means holiness is everywhere. We just have to open our eyes to see it.
“So I’ll keep my eyes, ears, and body ready for the unexpected and the unpredicted.
I don’t want to miss out on God, thinking I already knew exactly where He was.”
– from my poem “Two Decades.“
Church is a connection of love, not a building
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