W. Bradford Wilcox has written an interesting piece in The Wall Street Journal stating the expansion of government and the increasing delay of marriage among young people are two important reasons for the increasing secularization of America. Citing recent statistics which state that only 25% of Americans 21 to 45 attend church, down from one-third in 1970s, Wilcox quotes Princeton sociologist Robert Wuthnow:
The most powerful force driving religious participation down is the nation's recent retreat from marriage, Mr. Wuthnow notes. Nothing brings women and especially men into the pews like marriage and parenthood, as they seek out the religious, moral and social support provided by a congregation upon starting a family of their own. But because growing numbers of young adults are now postponing or avoiding marriage and childbearing, they are also much less likely to end up in church on any given Sunday. Mr. Wuthnow estimates that America's houses of worship would have about six million more regularly attending young adults if today's young men and women started families at the rate they did three decades ago.
We've known for a long time that major seasons of life, including marriage and children, lead to a quest for God. It stands to reason that when people put off marriage and parenthood, that quest is delayed. God can be found, but people need to look for Him. If people aren't looking, how can the church engage them so they'll begin the quest? Ministry gets more challenging by the day!
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