Young adults are just not joiners.
We talked about organizations like the Elks Club and how people used to be faithful members for life. That's just not the way we do things now.
In our conversation over lunch, we tried to figure out why people in our generation are not joiners. Are there too many things we want to be involved in? Are we too lazy? Have we been in organizations in the past that have taken over our time? How are we so busy and so under-committed at the same time?
I have noticed these trends in myself. I have been looking for a dance class to go to. But since I have so many evening meetings at church, I cannot commit to one single class for an 11 week term. So, I go week to week, stopping in when I get the chance.
Ours is the generation that coined the term "meh." Wiktionary defines meh: "(slang) Expressing indifference or lack of enthusiasm." It was popularized in The Simpsons.
I can't help but wonder what the church can learn from a bunch of non-joiners. This is hard for me since I'm part of the institutional church and do not see church the way outsiders may see it.
What is the church equivalent of dropping in to a dance class whenever I have the time? What do non-joiners want to hear from God?
I look forward to reading your thoughts in the comments section.