Why Are Our Youths Turning Away from the Church?

In recent weeks, many Christians around the world have been shocked. Pastor EA Adeboye, one of the most respected pastors in Nigeria, has faced ridicule and mockery online, especially from young people. What is happening? Why are our sons and daughters so bold to dishonor their fathers without fear or regret? It breaks my heart.

“And there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord.” (Judges 2:10)

Around the same time, I heard that the son of a well-known Nigerian Christian leader has left the faith. Just days later, we learned that another respected pastor's son is not following his father's path. Most recently, I read with deep sadness that the child of a beloved Nigerian Christian leader has turned away from Christianity and embraced African traditional religion. I was heartbroken. I picked up my phone to call friends and mentors in ministry.

In my 42 years of following the Lord, I have never seen a generation of youths as angry and disillusioned as this one. But is their anger justified or misplaced?

The Clash of Truth and Culture

Today’s Pentecostal movement is at a crossroads. Our children are hungry for truth. But they are growing up in a world shaking with strong ideological forces:

1. Feminism, which challenges traditional marriage values;
2. Globalism and socialism, pushing for a one-world religious mindset;
3. Humanism, which redefines salvation as just kindness;
4. Universalism, which dilutes the uniqueness of Christ.

The church is trying to preach the gospel amid this cultural chaos. But many church leaders have changed the gospel to fit these cultural trends. This has led to a weak Christianity that lacks the power of the cross, holiness, and spiritual authority.

Young people who grow up in this environment see no reason to accept a gospel that lacks authenticity and power.

The Failure of Spiritual Leaders

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

Scripture backs this up:

“If the axe is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success.” (Ecclesiastes 10:10)

Spiritual leaders are meant to be the blacksmiths of God’s kingdom. They are the guardians of doctrine and guides of spiritual growth. They should work hard in prayer until “Christ be formed” in their people (Galatians 4:19). Sadly, many have left this calling and focused on making money instead.

I once saw the children of an elderly man, who had served a major Nigerian church, crying as they watched their father mistreated by the same church he had served. Their pain was clear. They said if they could go back, they would rethink their commitment to Jesus and the church their father brought them into. They felt they had been shown a false version of God.

These children may never follow the God of their father. They are part of the angry generation the church is raising. Even though the church in Nigeria has seen God’s blessings in the last 50 years, there is a lack of alignment with Biblical truth among many church leaders. The church has done much good, but the issues of insecurity and bad leadership in Nigeria have hurt its reputation among young people.

On one hand, they are correct. Many church leaders have close ties with government officials. People expect the church to influence politicians to lead with justice and fairness. This is not an unreasonable expectation. The church should guide the nation morally. On the other hand, the church cannot do the job of elected leaders. It is not the church’s duty to protect Nigerians or set economic policies.

The Crisis: A Generation Facing Apostasy

Tens of thousands of young people today stand at the edge of turning away from the faith. Many are tired of hypocrisy, greed, and confusion among leaders. Others who say they are Christians do not live like true followers of Christ.

They attend church but lack a real relationship with Christ. They can plan events but struggle to pray. They spend money freely but do not engage in fasting. They can give but do not grow spiritually.

If the fathers do not fix the broken gospel, this generation will fall into apostasy. The church’s influence may vanish. A servant of God recently warned that Christianity in Nigeria could fade away by 2030. If it can disappear in Turkey, Nigeria is not immune to this.

When the Fathers Have Weapons But the Children Do Not

“Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord.” (1 Samuel 2:12)

“So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people… but they were found with Saul and Jonathan.” (1 Samuel 13:22)

What a tragedy. On the day of battle, the children had no swords. The sword represents the Word of God, which is sharp and true. Many youths today do not know the Word. They have not been trained in scripture, prayer, holiness, or spiritual battles. Instead of the world coming to the church for strength, the church is going to the world. Culture is shaping scripture instead of scripture shaping culture.

Our children are going to the Philistines to find strength. Many are already singing the Lord’s song in a foreign land.

The Risks of Careless Living by Church Leaders

Throughout history, the church has seen many great ministers whose children left the faith. This often happened because of careless living, hypocrisy, and imbalance in ministry.

1. William Franklin Graham Jr. (Billy Graham), Franklin Graham’s Rebellion

Before becoming an evangelist, Franklin Graham rebelled against Christianity. He later stated he left his father’s faith because he saw Christians who “talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk.” His story shows how inconsistency can drive children away from God.

1. Charles and Andy Stanley, A Painful Family Rift

Before becoming a pastor, Andy Stanley left the church for a time, hurt by the moral failures connected to his father’s ministry. This situation shows how church conflicts can harm the next generation.

1. John Piper, His Son Abraham Piper’s Public Atheism

Abraham Piper, son of theologian John Piper, became a public atheist and critic of Christianity. His story warns us that children can grow up around deep theology but lack personal experiences with Christ. May God bring him back.

1. Paul and Jennifer Washer, Their Son’s Struggle

Paul Washer has shared that one of his children turned away from the faith for a time, despite being raised in a godly home. This shows that even the best parents must fight for their children through prayer and teaching.

These stories are not for judgment but for caution. They remind us that:

1. Ministry without balance harms families.
2. Hypocrisy destroys faith in children.
3. A leader’s private life affects their family’s spiritual future.
4. The next generation watches more than they listen.

When leaders don’t live what they preach, children become angry and confused.

The World Is Getting Tougher; The Church Is Getting Colder

The fathers are aging. The children are hurting. The world is getting tougher. God’s followers are fading.

New ideas are replacing absolute truth. Society is becoming more like the Roman Empire, accepting all religions except Christianity. Persecution is increasing worldwide. The future of the African church depends on today’s youths. But will they take up the sword? Will they sharpen their own weapons? Will they stand for Christ in a hard world?

The Need for Prayer, Teaching, and Real Christianity

What does this generation understand about:

Prayer?
Holiness?
True discipleship?
Genuine repentance?
Helping the poor?
Faithfulness and self-control?
The gifts of the Spirit?
Eternity?
Sharing the gospel?

The message of the gospel is broken. The next generation is close to turning away. We need to call them back urgently.

The Importance of Godly Parents

Susanna Wesley prayed for her children every day, leading to revival through her prayers.
Morrow Graham influenced Billy Graham’s life.
Katharina Luther supported Martin Luther’s calling.

History shows that when God wants to renew a nation, He raises a blacksmith. Jonathan Edwards was such a person. His sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” started the First Great Awakening. Today, as Dr David Jeremiah pointed out, we have changed that message to “God in the hands of angry sinners.”

Who are these angry sinners? They are the angry generation the church is unwittingly raising.

A Message to the Angry Youths

To the youths who are quick to criticize their fathers:

The causes of wrong do not excuse the results of wrong.

You may feel angry, and rightly so, but you do not have the right to judge your fathers. Only God can do that.

Like Samuel, you must rise above the failures of Eli.

Use the light you have to ignite a greater flame.

Every person must carry their own cross.

A day is coming when we will all stand before God’s judgment.

Conclusion: The Call to Return to Truth

Let those who steal, steal no more.

Let hypocrisy stop.

Let leaders repent.

Let the church come back to truth.

The next generation is going to fight without weapons.

If we do not live the truth, they will not catch the fire.

If we do not show righteousness, they will not walk in it.

“One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:4)

May God raise blacksmiths again.

May He bring the hearts of fathers back to their children and the children back to their fathers.

May the church wake up before it is too late. God bless the Body of Christ.