Next Gen Faith (1)

One of the most alarming discoveries in the U.S. over the last 5 years is the plummeting biblical worldview among the last four generations. I have personally witnessed this spiraling decline of a biblical worldview in the young people called Generation Z, the present teenagers and college students in America.

When it comes to the faith of the next generation, we need a plan. We have all seen the decline of the biblical worldview in the last 4 generational sets. Let’s look at the statistics.

The Silent Generation - 84% call themselves Christian

Gen X - 68% call themselves Christian

Millennials - 49% call themselves Christian

Gen Z - 34% call themselves Christian

But what is most alarming is what happened next. The youngest children of Gen X, Gen Z teenagers today, spiraled into a 4% biblical worldview. This capped off a four-generational slide from a 65% biblical worldview to a 4% biblical worldview and the reason for this book.

Apply this spiraling biblical worldview to teenagers today.

One of the most important movements needed in youth ministry today is discipleship. There is far too much time spent on the modernization of youth ministry.

When in actuality we must get back to the basics. Disciple-making. Not event planning, or service coordination, or social media footprints, or even networking.

And that begins with the basics of theology. And the reason for my new book, Next Gen Faith, coming out in January 2023. Next Gen Faith is a resource for youth leaders on 12 spiritual disciplines for teenagers.

Disciplines like prayer, reading, worship, fasting, generosity, simplicity, administration, and our relationship with the Holy Spirit. This project may be the most important work of mine in my youth ministry.

Especially with the rise of atheism in Generation Z. The stats say that 13% of Gen Z are atheists. Double and triple the percentage of any other generation in history.

We are seeing a major rise in something that should concern the youth leadership in the church. It is the rise of atheism in the youth culture. Atheists and the increased 'nones' in culture who have no interest or investment in a religion have changed Americas landscape.

The Huffington Post has sent the alarm - a clear shot across the bow of religion. In a recent article about religion, the Post has stated that "the obvious implication is that this is a manifestation of the New Atheism movement," said Ryan Cragun, a University of Tampa sociologist of religion who studies American and global atheism.

As youth leaders it will require that we understand the religious lean of this generation. Although we may be familiar with our faith and how prominent it is in our own circles, the religious dominance of Christianity is lessening in teenagers and especially in America.

So, what do we do about teen atheism on the rise? Here are my 4 action steps for youth leaders wanting to impact a culture in transition:

1. We must be biblically centered in youth ministry

The biblical literacy of teens in the church is disappointing. And that is the fault of youth ministry as much as it is the family. To define good and evil and truth and error in our generation may be the easiest way to love them with strength and compassion.

When the programs become more important the theology, we will see a shallow student produced in our ministries. Our teens can understand a whole lot more than we think they can.

2. There is no replacement for the Presence of God in youth ministry

As Brennan Manning has well said, "Christians who declare Jesus with their lips but deny Him by their lifestyle are why an unbelieving world simply sees us as unbelievable."

We need a manifest presence of Christ in our lives. The Holy Spirit is the presence of Christ in our youth ministry. There is a power in 'withness'. Being. One of the main roles of the church should be to connect Gen Z to the presence.

3. We must see the miraculous and the divine in youth ministry

One miracle of Christ in our culture will convince our generation that God is NOT dead. How can an atheist generation argue with the reality of the supernatural?

In a day when the supernatural is common-place (Stranger Things, The Walking Dead, Supernatural, numerous movies, and an infatuation with the surreal and para-normal) the supernatural aspect of the kingdom should be central to our life and message.

4. All of this is dependent upon our willingness as youth leaders to be more spiritually mature

Spiritual authority rises out of spiritual discipline. The practice of prayer, fasting, giving, and simplicity place us in a position of spiritual influence. And this spiritual health will show itself in the life of our youth ministry.

The leadership model that we place in front of our students will impact them greatly, and, in turn, empower them to reach an unbelieving world. Teenagers don’t need influencers, entertainers, or futurists - they need a new set of icons who are spiritually mature.

Finally

We need youth leaders who define the reality of God to our generation more clearly than we have ever explained it before. Atheism rises when the godly do nothing. Atheism will diminish when the godly take their place. Our righteous presence in the middle of a searching society can create a draw. We must turn the 'nones' into Christian commitment.

When the youth of America see mere Christianity, they will be drawn to religious faith again. They will be drawn to Christ - as Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, ‘Christianity is not about the Bible or religion or theology, it is about Christ.’

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