“We must be saved together. We must come to God together. Together, we must present ourselves before him…what would God say to us if some of us were to return without the others?”
| Charles Peguy |
We live in a culture that too often politicizes before it personalizes.
The statistics below are not ammunition for the ideological cannons. They are reflective of particular people - real, individual persons who responded to a survey at a particular time and place. These people have their histories and their dreams for the future. They have their hungers and desires, their strengths and gifts.
People are not percentages, but studies and polls can give us a sense of where we are.
They can alert us to needs that would have gone otherwise overlooked.
So read on. But know that behind every statistic are hundreds, thousands of stories.
We stand on holy ground.
Church Perception
An increasing number of young people are souring to the Christian sexual ethic - whether directly experienced or remotely perceived.
91% of currently non-religious millennials think churches are "anti-homosexual"
31% of millennials identifying as LBGT left the Christian faith of their childhood.
Silent Youth
While the admittance of same sex attraction occurs widely at younger ages, not all youth find it easy to share about this experience.
81% of religiously-identifying youth have not shared with someone at their church.
69% of those in isolation feel they have no one to talk to.
46% have still experienced bullying, harassment, or sexuality-based name calling from their peers, despite not being "out."
33% rate themselves as "pretty happy" or "very happy"
Trans Experience
People naturally struggle with stereotypes. But what if the questions go deeper?
45% of gender non-conforming adults age 18-24 have attempted suicide.
57% of gender non-confirming youth feel they cannot talk to their family about emotional difficulties.
53% are unsure if their church would accept them.