The New York Times has a very informative article on teenagers that attend their parents' church on Sunday, then go to another church for youth services. I was impressed that the article made sense and didn't totally mangle Christianity in its portrayal. Kudos to Neela Banerjee, the journalist.
Even better, the article shed light on the phenomenon of "church-hopping" as practiced by the next generation of American, non-denominational Christians. There were some who voiced the regular concern about commitment and planting roots, but the article also presented a good case for selective church participation: for a lot of these kids, it's this choosing their own style or nothing. So while I agree that it's best for a Christian to be rooted in a local church body, I don't think a little cross-attendance among teenagers will hurt. In fact, I expect many of these kids to stick with the church they choose as they mature both naturally and spiritually.
1 comment:
I agree. And I'd so much prefer for our teens to be able to develop a healthy sense of self within a church environment, rather than down at the local bar.
Post a Comment