Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/70

Contributor - S. Vandermolen

Title - "Alienated Youth"

Topic - Youth

Many young people, as I see it today, are in some form or another "alienated" from society, whether it be from the church, parents, teacher, moral issues or whatever. This is a fact and should be a major concern to all of us.

Why, for example, does churchgoing turn young people off? Simple boredom is probably the main reason. Today's youth seem to have very little enthusiasm for the conventionalities of institutional religion. Some of them, of course, go along with traditional church life, but most of those who do associate with the church are very critical of most of its forms and practices. This sort of thing is, of course, very alarming to many pious church goers. Authoritarian moralism with its simple "Thou shalt nots" in dealing with the moral issues seems to have broken down. Young people today ask "why shouldn't I?" and "what's wrong with it?" They are terribly impatient with dogmatic "daddy knows-best" answers.

The trouble with our churches today is that public worship is no longer the family of our people celebrating the presence of God together. It is fast becoming an interest activity for older people alone. The remedy, however, lies not solely in, the services planned by our young people of endured by them, but in services planned with the participation of young people on sessions and worship committees.

The young people appear to conduct themselves morally, and have religious practices, but they have little or no Christian vocabulary to match the complexities of contemporary life. Without a language we are silent before the relevant issues of our society.

There are those who wish to blot these issues from young people's minds. Hiding the facts of moral issue would lead to ignorance of the existence. The prudent, Victorian idea of hiding the truth would tend to make matters worse not better. I am reminded of the cliche "Filth is in the mind of the beholder". I don't always enjoy hearing about wars, drugs, racism and poverty, etc., but that doesn't mean that they don't exist. Let's not live in a dream world, but initiate our responsibilities to our fellow man. In order to help people help themselves we will have to know something about their problems and their relevance to the word of God. There is a humanistic argument as well, namely, that everyone has the right not to be exposed to articles on drugs, racial prejudices, premarital sex, etc. This is one's prerogative. But I ask you as a member of a church congregation to consider, that to deny me the right to have topics of this nature discussed in our church is to go against the basic beliefs of democracy in which we all believe. In short, by merely ignoring the discussion you are preserving your right, but in demanding the "Pioneer" or sermons to delete articles on moral issues completely, you are infringing upon my right to read it or discuss it.

The church's task is therefore to help create individuals whose concerns are social, to mould societies whose goals are human. The adoption of such a role can lead it to become a moral proponent of the open mind. It must strive to become the interpreter of every person; and in the service of such ideas, it must risk the possibility of unpopularity. A church that is willing to keep alive the search for truth, even under penalty of remaining in the minority, earns for itself, in my opinion, a vital place in the lives of men.

Today's society with its built-in tensions and varied interpretations does stimulate among the more thoughtful young people a concern for ultimate issues - issues pertaining to life's final meanings and purposes. They are then driven to consider seriously all that is meant and suggested by the word of God. And they appear to make difficult decisions with respect to the reality which that word reports to represent, decisions either to accept it as giving final meaning to human existence or to reject all God-talk as a delusion or a hoax.

But where has the church failed these young people? Because many sermons preached from the pulpit in our churches today are not relevant to the moral issues experienced, it would seem that many young people become bored and frustrated. Answers or guidance on such issues as social and racial prejudice, premarital sex, drug addiction, are not being provided by dogmatic churches.

The church, too, needs to seek creative openness. Too often young people have gone through years of religious education to learn the right answers, but have failed to make these answers a personal way of life. Learning becomes personal only when the student makes an involved search because he feels a personal need. The church should provide an atmosphere of search. It should challenge the young person to face his own needs, to be personally involved in knowing what he believes. The unimaginative, dogmatic way of learning has less and less appeal to our young people. An open knowledge of the vitality of Christ can only be gained when we are receptive to learning through personal involvement. More active participation will be needed rather than passive listening.

Another problem, as I see it, lies with the lack of communication between parents and children, i.e. "the generation gap". The older generation is inclined to accept without question, the teaching of the church. Many church members appear to be apathetic with respect to their religious faith. The neatly packaged "religious ideals" often forced upon our youth create an impression of intolerance toward vital moral issues, forcing young people to dismiss all possibility of communicating issues around the dinner table. This type of intolerance, a byproduct of narrow mindedness, can only lead to tension and frustration and hatred towards their elders. Talk is cheap and also important. Nothing points up an unhappy situation in a home as clearly as the great silent treatment between the teenagers and his folks. Parents must learn to listen. A good listener does not just hear the word but senses the feeling behind the words. A good listener, therefore, is not busy formulating a reply but tries to understand what is being said.

We want every one to "tell it like it is", or do we? Open, honest talking it over rather than the spontaneous "turning off" method makes for an harmonious home. Authority is always exercised wisely when it is exercised with prior discussion and consideration of those who are under control.

Are there taboos in your home, that is, certain things that you just don't discuss? Why? Great things can happen when parents and children open up to each other on attitudes and values that must prevail. Pray about it.

The preceding analysis, of course, should also work in reverse. Young people will have to exercise more faith in their parents. I realize that I have been somewhat prejudiced in my account, presenting basically a young adult's point of view. But then this is what I know best, as most of my work as a school principal is with young adults. I would be very much interested hearing from others about this issue, parents and young people alike. Let's discuss it openly in a constructive manner, and who knows we may all receive a spiritual uplift, that is often so desperately needed. (We'll make space for it - Ed.)

I hope it's not too late. A speck of hope lies with our young people today. Persuading them that, what we do now on Sunday mornings and/or evenings is the only proper way of worship, is the wrong approach in my opinion. If it is, when young people are old enough to choose, many will likely go their own way and leave the "old folks" "do their thing" with or without arguments about being able to lead a good life elsewhere.

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.