Discrimination comes in many forms and appears in many places. But one would not expect such a concept to appear in the Seventh-day Adventist faith, and especially against the youth. From being labeled as immature to having their feelings dismissed, these are all issues that the SDA youth face within the church.
When I heard about this topic, my immediate thought was “No way, is this true?” The experiences I have had in the churches were either neutral or positive. To think that people of my belief are discriminating against themselves based on age seemed ridiculous, especially since the Bible talks about how the youth are to be examples in 1 Timothy 4:12. So it’d be absurd to think that there is discrimination against the youth, especially with how the SDA belief heavily studies the Bible, right? This one question led me to researching this topic and falling down a rabbit hole I did not expect. A rabbit hole that should have never been dug this deep.
First off, let’s answer the question of if this discrimination really exists. While there are not many research articles specifically about this issue, there are other articles that discuss this as a general concept. Described by experts Stéphane Francioli and Michael North, youngism is described as ageism towards younger adults, specifically proposing that it is projecting negative characteristics onto the youth that the older party believes didn’t apply to them at the same age. This is actually a phenomenon seen not only in the church, but in major areas of life. Another study done by experts, Michael North and Susan Fiske, says that youngism is most present in the workplace, with younger workers feeling discriminated against in the form of negative attitudes, promotion denials and lower pay, amongst other things. Does this sound familiar? It should, because this is very similar to comments from younger individuals in the church. Feeling judged or isolated simply because they are younger, leading to them leaving the church.
You might be asking now if there is evidence of this, and there is plenty. Nearly five decades ago, Roger L. Dudley found that 16% of 400 students felt alienated from religion in general, and 52% felt alienated from certain aspects of religion. Another article written in 1988 by Janet Leigh Kangas discovered that of 1,511 teenagers, 41% regretted being baptized; 19% already identified as inactive Adventists; and 21% wanted to rebel. In 2000, Roger L. Dudley conducted another study projecting 40% to 50% of Adventist teenagers leaving the church in their 20s. Still need more proof? A study done by A. Allan Martin in 2014 found that 60% to 70% of youth leave the Adventist church, and many expressed similar reasons for leaving. The youth expressed that the church felt cold, and that the place where a community should be, was instead a shallow and harsh institution. Where they thought they should find a family, was instead filled with silence and distance.
This should stop. This problem is a recurring issue that has been in the church for nearly 50 years. It’s a problem that should not even exist in the first place, according to the Bible. First Timothy 4:12 states, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” The Lord said to the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:7-8, “But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,’ says the Lord.” Or how about Jesus’ answer to who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 18:3, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
The youth leave the church because they search for a relationship and a community. Then we should build a community! Outlined in the Columbia Union News article was a guideline written out called the “ABCs and D of building young adult relationships.” A for authenticity, B for belonging, C for compassion, and D for discipleship. To reflect Jesus in all you do, making the youth feel they belong through compassion, and building discipleship. Let them be involved in actions that can benefit their community, allow them to ask questions about the faith, and encourage them to discuss.
God allows us to question Him, to ask out of honest curiosity, so that our faith can be made stronger. In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus encourages us to keep asking questions, and in Jeremiah 33:3, God tells the prophet Jeremiah to ask Him, and that He will tell remarkable secrets. By asking honest questions to God, it builds a stronger relationship with Him. Allowing the youth to ask questions in honest curiosity would make the faith stronger instead of breaking it down.
We believe in a God who welcomes questions and builds relationships with the church as His body of value and purpose. From 1 Corinthians 12:22-26, it is a body that cares for the less honorable and sees the weakest and least important as the most necessary. Where if one part suffers, then the rest of it does as well. So let’s stop suffering and care for each other just as Christ has done for us.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.