Sep
16
Written by:
Felicia Fox
9/16/2009 9:27 AM
When I was a child I collected sunglasses. My favorite pair had red lenses in them. When I wore them the whole world turned red. 
We all have our own frames of references. The way we see the world, church, and other people depends on the frames of reference we have on. For example, I am a 20-something, white, middle class female with a master’s degree. I see things differently than a middle aged black man. All of us see things differently because of who we are.
People see the church differently based on the frames of reference that are wearing. People under the age of thirty see the church differently than older people because of their frames of reference. Allow me to share with you the way a lot of my peers see the church as a whole. Church seems to be an old-timey place that is bogged down with traditions. Church is a judgmental and unaccepting place. The church likes to do a lot of preaching and talking but little action. The church is out of touch with the people of today. Many young people want to follow Christ. Many call themselves Christ followers but do not want the label of “Christian” because of the negative stereotypes that go with it.
It seems like churches are losing a generation. Maybe the reason we are is because of the frame of references we have on. Everything changes. Time stands still for no one, not even the church. If we are to minister to the generation we are losing we need to take off our old ways of seeing and doing things and begin to get back to Christ. Many young people love Christ but hate the church.
I pray that we live out the words of Bridget Willard, “Church isn’t where you meet. Church isn’t a building. Church is what you do. Church is who you are. Church is the human outworking of the person of Jesus Christ. Let’s not go to Church, let’s be the Church.” Maybe if the Church started looking more like Christ, young people who fall in love with it too.