Are We Raising Ex-Christians?

"Ex-Christians." These are people say they are no longer followers of Jesus.

The shocking news is this - 78% of Ex-Christians were raised in church. Yes...that's a tough pill to swallow.

These are people who sat in our Sunday School classes. People who sang "Jesus Loves Me." People who can quote key Bible verses from memory. People who went on mission trips as teenagers. People who were raised in Christian homes. People who prayed at church and during the week. 

But now they are Ex-Christians. Many are agnostics or atheists.

What went wrong? What caused these people to grow up and walk away from everything they were taught as children? What caused them to turn their back on the church?  What caused many of them to turn their back on God?

What about the children we are ministering to now? What will keep them from walking away?  What will keep them from becoming "ex-Christians?"  

In my book "Fertile Soil...How to See Kids Faith Grow and Flourish for a Lifetime" I share the three big reasons why kids grow up and walk away from the faith.  I go on to share how we can see kids grow up and continue to love Jesus and His church for a lifetime. You can get the book at this link. 

Last week I heard from a family whose daughter grew up in our ministry.  She is serving Jesus and making a big impact for the kingdom.  I could share many of those stories with you.  But the question I ask myself is why did she grow up to follow Jesus as an adult while others did not?  What made the difference? 

I believe the answer is found in this - she was planted in fertile soil.  There are many factors that help create fertile soil.  Do you know what those factors are?  What should we be focusing on as we seek to help the next generation of kids grow up to love and follow Jesus?

I share those factors in the book.

My heart is heavy for the next generation.  The enemy has so many things he is using to pull them away from God and His plan for their life.

We must stand in the gap for the children God has called us to minister to.

We must pray daily that they will allow Jesus to do a great work in their lives so they are not pulled away and end up as ex-Christians.

Did you know that Brad Pitt grew up in a Christian home? He went faithfully with his family to church. But in his own words, he says when he became a teenager, he begin have some doubts and would ask the hard questions. No one was there for Him to help answer those questions.  He now calls himself an atheist. He is an "ex-Christian."

What if someone had been there for Him. What if someone had helped him search for the answers to the hard questions?  Perhaps he would not be an ex-Christian. 

Miley Cyrus is another example. Miley was raised in a baptist church and was baptized as a child.  But over the years, she was drawn away with the lure of fame and fortune. She now says she doesn't believe in God.  She is an "Ex-Christian."

Another example - Katy Perry. Raised in a pastor's home, she has walked away from the faith and know denies Jesus.  She is an "Ex-Christian."

These stories could be repeated a thousand times over.  

Gen Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) and Gen Beta (born between 2025 and 2039) are the children we are trying to reach with the Gospel.  

So much is at stake.  We must not lose these generations. 

Let us seek God's face, pray earnestly for the coming generations, and be equipped to minister to them effectively.