15 Reasons Millennials [STILL] Don’t Go to Church

Last updated on: December 16, 2015 at 11:04 am by Andy Gill

15 Reasons Millennials [STILL] Don’t Go to Church 2015-12-16T11:04:11-05:00 Andy Gill

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I can’t remember the last time I went to Church (a Sunday service). I honestly don’t know many people (not just millennials) that have, Christian or not. But, I was asked a while back on a repost of an older post I wrote a few years back titled “Why I Don’t Go to Church,” to revisit this topic and talk about how my sensibilities have changed and since, reinterpreted these thoughts as to why I don’t go to Church still. So, I gave it a bit of thought, asked even a few friends why they don’t go, and here’s what I came up with:

Super bigoted. There’s no diversity. It’s segregated still. Even if half of your congregation is super progressive, there’s still that other half we don’t want to ever be within a 100 yards of, that is, if we can help it.
They’re offering outdated answers to our current issues.
It lacks meaning. In the words of Tony Campolo, “If we lose this generation, it will not be because we’ve made christianity too difficult, it will be because we’ve watered it down and made it too easy.”
We’re better people for not attending your Church.
You keep implying that our friends are going to hell.
We’re traumatized by threats of hellfire. Even if you’re no longer implying that, it was at one time implied, and because of that we don’t trust you anymore.
We’re hung over. Because, Saturday night.
You’re judging us, right now, for being hungover.
It’s too early. Anytime before 2:00pm on the weekend probably isn’t happening for us. Plus, we’d rather sleep in than be made to feel guilty for being hung over.
You keep asking us for our money… that we don’t have. Again, it’s implicit, when that plate is passed we feel the guilt.
Everybody is married. Let’s be honest, if you’re single, the last thing you want to be around is a room filled with happily married people.
Everyone is old.
It’s fake. And being fake is exhausting.
TedTalks about better, shorter, and more relevant (i.e. your sermons suck).
You won’t answer our questions without giving us some dumbass pithy platitude.

Okay, so admittedly I say a bunch of this in jest, but in short, it’s just not worth it. I don’t believe that the life you’ll offer me by being a part of your community is worth the cost of continuously feeling guilty, waking up early, or abiding to an outdated morality. It really has very little to do with a lack of believing in God, or not wanting to be spiritual. It has more to do with the lack of authenticity, depth, and fact that at least a third of our friends are not truly welcomed “as they are.”

Any thing you’d add, disagree with, or relate to?

[You can subscribe to my email list here]

Previous Post

December 14, 2015

The Pastor’s Salary: Should Pastors Make 500K?

Next Post

December 18, 2015 Christian Extremists: Is Jerry Falwell White Isis?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Reviews Books Buzzfeed Christian Church Church Culture Dating Dechurched eXvangelical Guest Post Humor Inspirational Justice LGBTQ Life Marriage Media Millennials Mini Post Monday Money Podcast Politics Race Reason Relationships Science Sex Socioeconomic Theology Theology Uncategorized Video Wednesday Youth Ministry

Select a Month June 2020 March 2020 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 January 2013 December 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the lesson in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Store up treasure on earth Forgive others as you are forgiven Work for salvation Obey without question

Support this
Column