The Juvenilization of American Christianity

The house lights go down. Spinning, multicolored lights sweep the auditorium. A rock band launches into a rousing opening song. "Ignore everyone else, this time is just about you and Jesus," proclaims the lead singer. The music changes to a slow dance tune, and the people sing about falling in love with Jesus. A guitarist sporting skinny jeans and a soul patch closes the worship set with a prayer, beginning, "Hey God …" The spotlight then falls on the speaker, who tells entertaining stories, cracks a few jokes, and assures everyone that "God is not mad at you. He loves you unconditionally."

After worship, some members of the church sign up for the next mission trip, while others decide to join a small group where they can receive support on their faith journey. If you ask the people here why they go to church or what they value about their faith, they'll say something like, "Having faith helps me deal with my problems." Fifty or sixty years ago, these now-commonplace elements of American church life were regularly found in youth groups but rarely in worship services and adult activities. What happened?

Beginning in the 1930s and '40s, Christian teenagers and youth leaders staged a quiet revolution in American church life that led to what can properly be called the juvenilization of American Christianity. Juvenilization is the process by which the religious beliefs, practices, and developmental characteristics of adolescents become accepted as appropriate for adults. It began with the praiseworthy goal of adapting the faith to appeal to the young, which in fact revitalized American Christianity. But it has sometimes ended with both youth and adults embracing immature versions of the faith. In any case, white evangelicals led the way.

Continue reading at www.christianitytoday.com

« Previous Article

Posting Policy

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse. Read more.

If you find a comment offensive, please flag it as inappropriate by hovering over the down arrow to the right of that comment and clicking on the "Flag as inappropriate" text. Once a comment receives three "flags," it will be hidden from further view.

Buck

I hope they who are responsible for this realize that they traded TRUE Christianity for a feel good cult that has little to do with living and walking in Christ .
- Evermyrtle
  
  There does not seem to be anything here that focuses on our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. Faith is far more than something to make us feel good. The faith we need to be looking for is FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST,OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, THE ONLY SON OF GOD. Faith in anything else is nothing but a farce, something that will utterly fail you in any time of need. There is no joking when it comes to our SAVIOR. HE IS THE REAL THING, ALL THAT WE NEED. There are so many things that are used as a substitute for JESUS. THEY WON'T WORK, THEY WILL FAIL. They may make us feel good for a little but it is like a bucket "with a hole in it," it won't last!!
  
  Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of CHRIST: for it is the power of GOD, unto salvation to every one that believes.
  
  17. For therein is the righteousness of GOD revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
  18. For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
  19. Because that which may be known of GOD is manifest in them; for GOD hath shewed it unto them.
http://www.believeroftheWAY.com believeroftheWAY

The entire focus is on "me" instead of surrender. Am I the only one to see the sad irony of this article being posted on CT at the same time CT has a huge picture of Alfred E. Newman on its homepage? It is way past the time for baby boomers to grow-up. "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me," 1 Corinthians 13:11. The whole Calvary Chapel experience is designed to perpetuate adolescence with their rock bands and informal worship format. It does not foster growth. "I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready," 1 Corinthians 3:2.
http://www.divinenewsnetwork.com Min. Thomas Allen

They use the culture in the world to make themselves feel good. True worship is in spirit…

John 4:23-24, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (KJV)

1 John 2:15, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (KJV)
- msjallen
  
  Right, because emotionalism doesn't last any longer than the time it takes one to walk out of the doors of their church. Only the teaching of God's Word through the enlightment from the Holy Spirit when in fellowship (all sins confessed to God the Father) will sustain a believer in their daily lives. Our church teaches the children (up to age 12) the same Bible Doctrine taught from our Pastor-teacher on their level. My granddaughters know more about the Bible than most Christians know and goes up against the false teachings other kids come up with at their school. Our church's main emphasis it teaching Bible Doctrine so we can grow spiritually and fulfill God's plan for our lives and reaching others for the Lord.
  - wesley
    
    when your saying Bible Doctrine you are meaning memorizing verses right? there is a problem with that. last fall i took an Basic Christian Doctrine class and we had several of your memorized scripture students and they were called heretics as much as everyone else. while in school i helped out a children's ministry whose kids depending on what the youth leaders taught them for our children's ministry recited every Sunday for the most part the Apostle's creed that states all the bare essentials needed to defend the faith. memorizing scripture is good i will not deny, but they only work when interpreted correctly. those verses are the defense of the doctrine outlined in the three creeds of the faith; Apostles' creed, Nicene creed, and Athanasius' creed. every time you translate the Old Testament out of the Hebrew or the New Testament out of the Greek you experience a lost in translation. we see that is scripture Hebrews 2:7 and Psalms 8:5. These verses are in the Common English Version which is one version that truly translates them showing the real difference in the Hebrew and Greek. this is a prime example where the meaning of the text changes in the original languages.
    Psalms 8:5 You’ve made them only slightly less than divine, crowning them with glory and grandeur.
    Hebrew 2:7 For a while you made them lower than angels. You crowned the human beings with glory and honor.
    Psalms 8:5 uses Elohim which translates as God. Hebrews 2:7 uses angelos from which you can see we get angels.
William D'Andrea

Accepting Christ as Savior, is only the beginning of living in Christ. When someone begins the walk of faith, it may be juvenile, but over the years, his or her life in faith will mature.
Back in 1971, there was a major revival among the members of my Presbyterian Church's youth group; this was at the time of the "Jesus Freaks" movement. Many of the older members were put off by their "youthful enthusiasm". However, over the years, the faith of many of them has matured. Some of them are now ordained pastors, or have positions as elders and decons, matuire in the faith, knowledge of scripture, and are led by the Holy Spirit. Please don't put stumbling blocks before those who are just beginning in their walk with the Lord.
Jerry

In an attempt to bring the youth into church, many pastors fall into preaching things such no matter what you do God still loves you. No more do we hear what happens when you disobey God. This watered down message does not quench the thirst one has for the truth and as we see today Churches are closing at a record rate. Yes we have to keep up with the times, but this does not mean leaving out such important aspects of the Bible. Pastors need to stick with what has worked throughout the centuries.
msjallen

II Tim 4:2 … preach the word; be ready in season (when a lot of people are listening) and out of season (when few are listening); reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
I Peter 3:15 …but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
God’s own complete and coherent message to man was recorded in perfect accuracy in the original languages of scripture: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. They are the languages carrying Divine Authorship. Bible Doctrine is the only thing we have as believers to set us apart from the cosmic system. Ministers or pastors or whatever one is called who teaches God’s Word in our churches need to give their congregation the living Word of God consistently and accurately giving them the information that helps them to perceive, metabolize and apply it to their daily life. Even the young and new believers.
Winston

The American "Christian" church has become replete with pastors, church leaders and the sheep becoming followers of men rather than followers of Christ. If church isn't "hip" then it's "out" is the mind set of many of those errant pastors and church leaders. Church authorities (Bishop, Elders, Deacons) have abdicated their authourity to immature or self-centered pastors to become "cleric led" apostate churches … even Nicolaitans, and Jesus said he hates that. There's going to be a lot of eyes opened when they go before the great white throne of judgment in heaven. Why is it so acceptable by most churches to bring the world and unsaved into the church when it is NOT what Jesus taught to do?
jen

At first its ok to get kids into Jesus then it needs to grow. The people on here that want to just preach to kids …it doesn't work. I was pushed far away from Jesus as a teenager because i was only told 'fire and brimstone ' preaching and i wanted no part of it. Yes you preach truth absolutely. You cant preach to children the way you do adults. The church alienate d me from Christ. Jesus is the one who brought me in. If it was left to the church id still hate God and everything all together. You do have to be selfish at first because people who arent saved do not think the same way. You have to get them interested first. They need to mature once accepting Jesus but to get them in you have to grab them the way they relate. Jesus didnt go to sinners and condemn He befriended and showed love and let them realize who He was and is. Give the kids a break. I was one of them now i follow Jesus not culture. It does work
Thomas M. Campbell

God help us all!
"The world is become a bit churchy, but the church is becoming immensely worldly."
All about a good time, nothing about God!
Dennis

Apostate.Pure and simple.
keyboardshark

Many aspects of society have become 'juvenilized', as they put it, thanks to the dumbing down of the public schools, which turn out grads who cannot think beyond a 5th grade level. Our local newspaper regularly runs political cartoons (with a heavy liberal slant, of course) that do little but sling schoolyard insults at conservatives (especially Tea Party constitutionalists) and Christians that are childish beyond belief. I guess they never learned to objectively examine the facts and stick with satire that fairly presents the group that they are attempting to poke fun at, in a good-natured manner. Instead, we are left with childish slander designed to appeal to poorly educated public school students who cannot think for themselves.
DanMK

Great Christian music with a Holy Spirit annointing takes God and mans harmony, no matter if it is the old or new stuff .