my first thought is that like you said, we are quick to point out the problem, but maybe sometimes we expect someone else to take care of it...or we're just lazy and don't wanna fix it ourselves...i may be way off but that's my first thought

Well, I'm not really a sit-by-the-sidelines kinda gal. So, not sure if I can attest to this tendency. However, I think many just hope or expect someone to fix it for them. Just like we say, "I'm hungry," (stating the problem) and then find the nearest take-out to meet our need. We want someone to fix it for us, not actually but, prepare, plan, and cook it ourselves. Perhaps, we've been accustomed to people and things meeting our every need, we don't know how to fix anything--dinner included.

I like to fix the problems I see (or at least try) - I know, I'm old school.

I'm not stalking you, I promise, but it's funny you say this because I was just talking about this today with my students. Sorry I don't have some great answer. I'll have to think about it some more and get back to you. I just thought it was ironic.

i don't necessarily think that we feel okay about the paradox we live in. as a christian, i definitely never feel ok about neglecting to solve problems that we constantly butt heads with... i think the issue comes not from our lack of desire to solve the problems of our world but more from the inevtitable outcome of trying to do so. we are just getting to the point that its acceptable to discuss problems such as homosexuality, alcohol, compassion for our post modern neighbor, and the lost that are dying from mal-nutirtion in africa without hearing the name of christ. all of which have been topics mentioned over the last several centuries but not seriously examined as fixable. its like the church has defined these problems as so harsh and so rampid that we should not try to take them on one by one...like if we can't fix the problem as a whole, we shouldn't try to work on them individually. at least, thats the mind set that i grew up with. trying to change the world's problems means that we have to change ourselves. it means we have to be intentional about our relationships and our money and our priorities. and even if i and the five other twentysomethings that want make a difference realize all of this...its overwhelming to know that as a whole, the church does not realize the wholistic view of ministry that we are so eager to be to apart of. and with liitle to no accountability or encouragement, its hard to fight the battle of changing the world. does this make sense?

I think too many of us like to move with the winds of change, but we don't have the drive to actually cause it. Look at politics, people will go crazy for a candidate that promises change (on all sides of the political spectrum), but they won't get out and do the things in their own spheres of influence that would cause the change that they want to see. The mantra of too many people our age is "it's not my problem," as in, I'm not the one responsible for the change that is needed. When we say "that needs to be changed" too often what we are really saying is "If someone else will work on changing that, they will have my support."

I think Jonathan is on to something about the laid back approach many people have. I've thought about it a bit more and I think it ends up being the path of least resistance. We end up talking ourselves out of it because it will be too hard, it will fail, or no one will get on board. I know for me I've been wanting something done at our church for a while, and I am finally to the point that I want to take the steps to make something happen, but I am still terrified that it will miserably fail. It's a similar feeling that I have when I vote or hear about abortions. I think if there was something that was well organized where people could feel like they were part of something successful, maybe we could get more participation in changing those things that need to be changed. We're social beings and no one likes to feel like he/she is standing alone.

I'm not twentysomething, so I'm not concerned with solving your problem, LOL. Do you think this is a generational issue? Have you noticed a problem isn't worth solving unless it directly affects you? Do you think we have traditionally looked at disease, war and poverty as judgment on society's sins, and since we are innocent, we are immune? But, even in your own generation, haven't you noticed a shift toward the direction of compassion? I suspect there are lots of twentysomethings (and older) that want to be part of the solution, but don't know how because they've never been shown how.

We don't do anything, because it is easier to point out problems than to be the one offering solutions. If you offer a solution to a problem, it usually involves you having to give up some of your personal time to devote to the cause. We are selfish and many times feel we are too busy. On the other hand, I sometimes feel the older generations don't want to hear our solutions. You hear the "we've never done it that way before."

Because (and I'm sure the older generation would love to hear me say this) we're lazy. It's easy to get into our Christian clicks and not care about what's happening in the real world. Christ said not to be OF the world, not "don't act like you don't live in it." We can't seem to find the fine line between being involved to change it and being involved as part of it. And, we think it's the older folks job to fix church problems. Getting involved would take time out of our day that we could devote to other things like facebook, texting, gaming, and hanging out with friends. You know...the essentials. Basically, we've allowed our time to be swept away by other things, when we should be devoting it to world/church overhauls. Renovating for Christ if you will. Myself included, we need to get off our comfy cushions of Christianity and do something with it like He commanded us to.

I am not okay with this paradox. There are problems that I have pointed out or complained about that I have yet to do anything about, but this bothers me. The majority of problems that fall into that category are ones that I am kept from engaging by the limitations of my time, ability, or limits placed by those in authority of the "cause."

The problem is the season of our society. Every generation in America becomes a little more oblivious to the fact that although freedom to pursue the life that you want to is a great thing, tradition slowly goes out the door. Our culture is so accepting of other concepts, principles, and ways of life that every generation America loses a little more of its identity. It is okay to practice what you believe and to let others do the same, but what is the end result, and what does this have to do with pointing out problems and doing nothing about them? The answer is simple... acceptance. What was once repulsive or unbelievable is now okay. Thoughts, concepts, and even language that was once never mentioned in private is celebrated, and little by little the limit of offensiveness is drawn back, so its no longer a problem. What was once a problem for a group of young people, in ten or twenty years becomes the norm of the next. America is losing its identity, its heritage, the stuff that makes it great, and slowly the acceptance of our culture, what we have been indoctrinated with, allows us to become okay with anything... and we do nothing in the end.

Thats very good to know... thanks

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