Mark Chan

You Lost Me Reading Questions

Chapter 1 Faith, Interrupted Pe

1. In what ways have you experienced or observed the dropout phenomenon Kinnaman is describing? Why do you think so many twenty-somethings are abandoning their childhood faith or at least regular participation in church?

Many young adults who have grown up in my church have slowly drifted away. Even some of my closest friends who I met and grew up with at church no longer attend church and have fallen away from the faith. I believe our cultures resentment towards Christianity may be a reason why so many twenty-somethings are leaving the faith as well as the church. Christianity has always been set apart from culture but I believe today it is not only set apart but has become a battle between the two. Also, in terms of lack of regular participation in church, the young generation is only interested in being entertained. They no longer see the purpose and fulfillment in attending church if does not provide the entertainment and satisfaction.

2. Do you agree with Kinnaman that the Americanized version of the historic Christian faith is cheap and weak? Why or why not?

Yes, I think to some extent this statement is true. The Americanized version of the historic Christian faith is cheap and weak because it is not rooted strongly in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Many Christians in America ride out their parents or familys faith and never make it their own. In that sense the Christianity many Americans claim to be is not strong but rather cheap and weak. In terms of Biblical terms this equates to lukewarm Christianity as opposed to the strong genuine faith and relationship that Christ calls for.

3. Do you have any friends that are significantly older than you? If so, how do those relationships compare with same-age friendships? According to the reading why is it so important to have older friends?

Relationships with those who are significantly older have their unique advantages. The most obvious advantage is that those who are older have more experience than you. According to the reading it is important to have older friends because not only will they learn from the empathy and energy of the next generation but also cultivate the younger generations quest for truth. There is also intergenerational power when believers of all generation grow in community together.

4. Have you experienced the growing gap between generations? In what ways? How might we begin to bridge this gap?

I have felt distant from many of the older leaders at my church because I believe they do not understand the culture and pressures many Mosaics are facing today. Also many Mosaics generally neglect the older generation. Companies today will only higher those just out of college and view those who are older as no longer a valuable asset. I think we can begin to bridge this gap by acknowledging the difference and agreeing that both parties can learn valuable things from one another. It is important that we recognize that both parties are equally valuable and able to bring something significant to the table.

5. Having read the first chapter how might the dropout problem and the changing faith of twenty-somethings impact the vocation you are going into? Can you imagine ways in which your specific calling can impact the faith journeys of peers and the older generations?

God-willing I will be able to use my vocation (music) to connect my creative gifts and impulses to church culture. According the text, the church has lost how to implement creativity in church. Since music is such a key component in culture, I think that music can be utilized in a way to bring Mosaics into Christian community. Especially since almost all Mosaics are interested in music, it can be an extremely powerful tool to keep them engaged in Christianity and the faith.