No Prolonged Infancies or Adolescence

There's justifiable concern in the American church about the high frequency of high school graduates who quickly leave the church/faith.

Here's a hypothesis: They tend to leave because we have continued to treat them like children, rather than transitioning them to adult roles in the church and helping them develop adult relationships along with adult responsibilities.

There is a lot in American culture which celebrates prolonged adolescence into the 20's and even the 30's. The church needs to stand against this tide.

"No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love." (Ephesians 4:14, The Message)