Is Sunday School failing?
Did you happen to catch Answers in Genesis’ “State of the Union” address last week? It presented some very interesting facts about why and when people leave the church and the Christian faith.
You can watch it online here. Answers in Genesis is a creationist ministry, and that worldview is certainly the centerpoint of their address; but no matter what beliefs you hold about evolution and creation, you’ll find some of the research results fascinating. Here’s a few bullet points, taken from Kent Shaffer’s excellent Church Relevance blog:
Among 20- to 29-year-old evangelicals:
- 95% attended church regularly during elementary school
- 95% attended church regularly during middle school

>> 40% first had doubts about the Bible in middle school - 55% attended church regularly during high school

>> 43.7% first had doubts about the Bible in high school - 11% attended church regularly during college

>> 10% first had doubts about the Bible in college
Oddly, the study discovered that those who attended Sunday school (61%) are actually more likely than non-attendees (39%):
- to not believe that all the accounts and stories in the Bible are true
- to doubt the Bible because it was written by men
- to defend keeping abortion legal
- to accept the legalization of gay marriage
- to believe in evolution
- to believe that good people don’t need to go to church
The take-home point seems to be that America’s Sunday schools and church youth education programs are failing to address kids’ serious spiritual issues until it’s too late and they’ve already left the church. While most youth ministry seems to focus on high school and college students, the above data suggests that it’s in middle school that doubts and spiritual crises kick in. And clearly Sunday school isn’t helping resolve those crises.
Kent’s post has some good thoughts and questions about these numbers. What do you think? Are these numbers a surprise to you?
In line with what I read in a new book on Amazon, “The Darwin Delusion”, I suspect that we make it harder for well-informed young people to accept the Bible as the inspired word of God when we bring it into scientific disrepute by claiming that “the Bible says” the earth is only 6,000 years old. The Affiliation of Christian Geologists agree, as did Rev William Buckland, first person to name a dinosaur.
How foolish of us to give evolutionists such an easy target with which to discredit Christianity.
This makes perfect sense. Based on my unscientific observation and personal experience the american child at 11 and 12 years of age begins to make important religous decisions on his own. They will look and they will think. It is our job to develop a relationship that respects their new found reasoning abilities. We need to guide them to the truth.
Now as far as the geologists are concerned let us remember that Adam was full grown when he was made. There is no reason God could not make the earth at any age he chooses simply by speaking. God can make a ten million year old rock exist instantly simply by speaking it into existance.
“They will look and they will think. It is our job to develop a relationship that respects their new found reasoning abilities. We need to guide them to the truth.”
Great point, Albert. Kids tend to pick up on things whether we want them to or not.
NOWHERE in the Bible does it state or imply that the Earth is six-thousand years old. Such an assumptive assertion is the mere conjuration of ignorant MEN ~ not God. Bible believers have NO IDEA how long Adam and Eve lived in PERFECTION before their “fall”. It could’ve been a day, a month, a year, or FIFTY MILLION YEARS. In Truth, WE DO NOT KNOW; so, WHY must all those fancy-educated doctor-preachers teach such FOOLISH STUPIDITY to their Merchandised Customers? Because that’s obviously what they PAY TO HEAR.
The 7th Day Sabbath was first mentioned and instituted at creation:
Genesis 2: 1-3
1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
*Also, see Exodus 20:8-11
So, the fact that most people keep the 1st day of the week Holy, may be confusing to many youth who actually read the Bible. Thus putting to question all the other doctrines of the church.
Hi Kendra, I understand your perspective about the Sabbath. But in my experience, most Christian churches that worship on Sunday (such as mine) aren’t doing it because they haven’t read the Bible or are ignorant about the Sabbath teachings in the Bible. There are some suggestions in the New Testament of Christians holding services on the first day of the week, and most churches seem to find that doing so does not conflict with the spirit of God’s command.
Hi,
I’m 12 years old. I do believe in God, I read the Bible and I go regalarly to Sunday school every week.
But my Sunday school teachers are just wrong or selfish, i’m not sure which. Last week our teacher was talking on an on that global warming is not a biblical prophecy, and there is no evidence to support it and that the covenant with God doesn’t allow another calamity,etc.
From school, and my father’s help, I know more about math and science than this guy, and he just talks nonsense week after week. I traveled to Iceland with my family and have seen the melting glaciers with my own eyes! I’ve been to Alaska and seen the same thing.
My parents always tell me that God speaks in different ways, but I don’t understand why that would include lies.
I have to question everything my Sunday school teachers say, because they don’t tell the truth.
Jason
Jason,
I would ask that you pray for your Sunday school teacher. And pray that God will be glorified in him and you. The global warming issue as two opposing sides. One, that man is causing the rise in the earths temperature and two, that the earth goes through this cycle of warming and cooling every millenium or so. I am not an authoritative expert on this matter but I do believe that God is on control of ALL things. From global warming to who’s elected president to how many of my hairs will turn gray this week! LOL Trust in God and He will keep you.