4. BECAUSE IT WILL ATTRACT
   NEW, YOUNGER PEOPLE

America used to love the taste of Christianity, but now its sense of taste seems to be changing. What was once a primary source of our national self-esteem has been demoted to a something like a special interest to be reckoned with.  Christian piety, once endemic to the American character, is now one of many tolerated preferences.

To be an evangelical is to constantly negotiate the gap between witness and world, to stand in that gap proclaiming the gospel to those with ears to hear.  We step from the shore out into the water with lifelines for the drowning, but not so far that we get swept away by the riptides (we've seen this happen to others).  We step out as far as we dare calling individuals, groups and systems toward their salvation on dry land. We are in constant danger of water erosion, but take the risks because Jesus loves the drowning and wants them rescued; we serve him in humble obedience.

There are Presbyterian evangelicals who hold that leaving the PCUSA will increase their chances of growing and reaching a new generation of young people. The idea is that once the congregation is freed from the embarrassments of recent GAs in another reformed denomination, then other shackles will mystically fall away as well and the church will continue to grow.  Charismatics may be right—our mere participation in a spiritually-corrupted system may inhibit us from greater participation in God's harvest—in which case, going elsewhere would break those bonds.  We don't hear most PCUSA evangelicals taking that line.

Frustrated with a lack of growth, evangelicals need someplace  to assign the blame (other than ourselves, of course). The denomination is an easy target: a large, fat, dirty target with a bullseye as big as the side of a barn. It is only too easy to blame our local troubles on Louisville, GA, etc. The embarrassment is enough to make some churches pull the word "Presbyterian" off their name because (pick all that apply):

A.  It is embarrassment by association.

B.  Young people see the word and think:  Beware! OLD!

C.  Most people don't know what it means or care.

D.  Denominational loyalty is passé.

E.  Denominational identity is largely irrelevant and otherwise ill-defined.

F.  Denominations are relics of the Great Generation, like Lions or Shriners.

Answer A only applies to our embarrassment when dealing with other Christians. Those out in the water could not care less what the PCUSA thinks about gay ordination or scriptural compromises. Secular people under 50 are much more likely to celebrate the fact that the PCUSA has pro-gay opinions. Only those who are already Christian—or Christian-oriented—balk at the progressive agenda. So if you think that dissociating from the semblance of immorality will help draw newer, younger people, forget it.

If you are looking to target non-Christians between the ages of 25 and 40 (a most-worthy target for our churches to seek), consider:  Do these look for a strong anti-gay policy?  If they are already Christian, perhaps, but if non-Christian, no way. May as well stay PCUSA and let the same headlines that embarrass evangelicals draw these sinners toward shore.

You can't target non-Christians with an anti-PCUSA appeal, because non-Christians are more likely to agree with sexual immorality than with scriptural obedience!  You can't argue it both ways: the PCUSA label will turn off evangelicals of other denominations, but it will not turn off your secular target market.

If you leave the denomination, you are likely to soon find out that your evangelism isn't all as compelling and wonderful as you thought. You are likely to shrink before you grow, if you grow at all.  Either way, you will be forced to face the real obstacles to growth, which is certainly a good thing.

Next: Reason 5: Your Congregation is its own entity.