Related posts

Join us for the 2023 Multiethnic Symposium

Join us for the 2023 Multiethnic Symposium


Join us for the 2023 Multiethnic Symposium

The Multiethnic Symposium will explore the changing landscape of immigration in the United States – and the unique opportunity Christians have to share the Gospel with people from all nations. Register today!

Multiethnic Symposium- 1.5 and 2.0 Generation Immigrants

Multiethnic Symposium- 1.5 and 2.0 Generation Immigrants


Multiethnic Symposium- 1.5 and 2.0 Generation Immigrants

2023 Multiethnic Symposium Registration is open! “Hope for the Church, Hope for the Future: 1.5 and 2.0 Generation Immigrants,” is set for May 2-3 on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

2023 Pre-Lenten Workshop Videos

2023 Pre-Lenten Workshop Videos


2023 Pre-Lenten Workshop Videos

In January 2023, Dr. David Maxwell, Chairman of the Department of Systematic Theology, led Concordia Seminary’s annual Pre-Lenten Workshop on his new sermon series, “Honest Repentance". Watch the vidoes here!

4 Comments

  1. Patrick Rooney on Facebook June 7, 2012
    Reply

    “Wuthnow’s basic contention is that the major sociological reasons why people get involved in religion (marriage, children, higher levels of education, etc.) have not changed. It’s only that they have been delayed or diminished. Significantly.”

    On the one hand, there is no denying these sociological reasons, and they can be a blessing for people to reconnect with the church. The question is, are we (the Church and its paid professionals) going to let sociological reasons be the only ones to cause people to “join”? I’m thinking Christ and Him crucified is the only reason we need.

    The problem with folks my age (and younger) disconnecting from “organized religious participation” is that the Church hasn’t given them any substantial reason or meaning for participating. It is well-known this generation (and the next) will not adhere to an institution just for the sake of adhering to an institution, but they will participate in an institution, even feel an important part of it, if they have personally found meaning and purpose for doing so – sociological, or, hopefully, christological.

    You Lost Me by David Kinnaman is an excellent read into this as well, from a more church view of things than a sociological one.

  2. Matt Priem June 8, 2012
    Reply

    From a church growth perspective this is a frustrating and frightening time to be a pastor. How can we possibly make the church grow in this context? This movement has been so pervasive in American Christianity that many of us are often touched with some of that frustration and fear.
    It is truly wonderful to be called back to a more cruciform perspective as we find peace and joy in striving to be a church with nothing but Jesus.

  3. Travis Scholl on Facebook June 10, 2012
    Reply

    Patrick: I wholeheartedly agree. I think the changing demographics of the church is also a call to change the “sociology” of the church, to make church more than just where you go when you’re married and having children.

  4. Sean Green June 13, 2012
    Reply

    I just finished reading the article and I found it did have some realistic points. Is our culture changing and will it continue to change? Yes. Has the generation between 18-35 (I’m 30 so I must be a part of this too)developed an ”anti-organziation” minset that pits them against the Church. Perhaps for many. But speaking for myself, being 30, I have never wanted to separate myself from the church and have retained a strong desire for confessional, liturgical worship. I also understand that the American mindset is heavily pragmatic, do what we think works to get results-which has flooded many churches.Sound doctrine, faithful preaching/teaching, these are the things that drew me to the LCMS some years ago and I believe this too will draw the younger ones in too because they are looking for something more than skin deep theology in the churches that are ablazed with felt needs, empty hymns that convey little to no doctrine, and CEO-like pastors that wish to run the church rather than shepherd it.

Leave a comment