Editor,
I recently read that as many as two-thirds of Christians turn away from God sometime in their 20s.
The article gave a number of reasons for this mass exodus, but overall, I think people are turning away because we see God and church as inhibiting our personal liberty in some way, shape or form.
I must confess that in college I felt the same way. Growing up in a religious home but never having read the Bible, I felt it was just a rule book that would not allow me to be who I wanted to be. It would not allow me freedom, and I was not about to miss out on all that was out there.
After all, I was going to college. No curfew, no supervision, no real rules … I had the world at my doorstep. I could go where I wanted to, do what I wanted to, see what I wanted to, say whatever I wanted to. There were few, if any, mechanisms to keep my life in check.
A second confession is that this led to some really bad decisions. Decisions I regret. But after all, I was in college, so it didn’t matter, right?
Well, in fact, it does matter, and without trying to speak down to anyone, I would caution you that the decisions you make will have lasting implications.
But back to the article. It says people are turning away from God because they feel restricted. The pastor says don’t do this, the Bible says I can’t do that, he preaches that I shouldn’t go here, they say that I shouldn’t wear that.
Well, yes, those things are true, but if you read the book, you will see that in addition to all the guidance it gives on how to live your life, it also promises you a wonderful life. I can attest to it.
Have I given up some things that are not the best for me? Yes. But I have also been blessed by God in ways I can’t describe here. I have excelled in my career, I have a great family, I have been provided wealth and I have been able to experience some amazing things this world has to offer.
And I did all this while knowing and serving God and participating in church.
I don’t know what your life is like. I don’t know your name, whether you have ever been to church, believed in God or are hearing about him for the first time. But I do know that to get everything you want in this world, to have the life you want and to experience to the fullest what this life has to offer, you need to have a personal relationship with God.
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If you would like to know more about my life, I invite you to contact me at UNMBible.com or show up some Sunday to New Heights Baptist Church. God is waiting for you whenever you want to turn to him.
Ryan Anderson
UNM student
