Young people's objections today are, generally speaking, all related to the question of authority. Does the Bible have authority over other competing ideas? Is Jesus the only way to salvation? Does a ministry leader have the authority to teach, lead, or discipline other Christians? Does God have the right to send anyone to hell? Do the ancient Scriptures have the right to speak into current moral issues such as forbidding sex outside of heterosexual marriage? Anytime authority issues are touched upon, as they often are in Scripture, young people need to have these kinds of objections answered in a way that is considerate and clear.

The big needs that young, unchurched people bring to our church tend to be very practical. Sexual abuse and sin and addiction to such things as pornography, drugs, alcohol, food, and gambling are rampant. Other issues include anorexia and bulimia and simple overspending and debt. As far as we can ascertain, as many as a third of our women were molested or raped. We are finding that underlying many of people's struggles and sins are abuse issues that have never been dealt with.

My guess is that most Christian leaders are well aware of these issues but struggle mightily in knowing how to help these people. Any church, however, that wants to see converts and help them mature has to labor continually in intense pastoral care for those who have sinned and been sinned against. Theology needs to be made very practical here so that Jesus is understood to be at the center of his people's forgiveness, transformation, and new life.

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