Next Gen Faith (2)
Every week we take on a topic in youth leadership and this week we are finishing our push for the new book coming in early 2023, Next Gen Faith.
This book is coming because of a crisis I see across America in Generation Z and if we are not careful will be passed down to Alpha Gen. We have a crisis in our generation. The crisis is that we are serving a God we do not know.
One of the most alarming research discoveries in the U.S. over the last 5 years is the plummeting adherence to Christianity and the dramatic loss of a biblical worldview among the last four generations.
It doesn’t take much effort to see the decline of Christianity and the biblical worldview in the last 4 generational sets. Especially looking at Generation Z, the present teenagers and college students, where there is almost no biblical worldview (4%) and the highest number of atheists (13%) in any generational set.
In multiple research findings from Barna, Pew, FEED, Global Youth Culture Report, and the American Worldview Inventory, 84% of the silent generation, or the older grandparents today, claimed to be Christian. Then they had children that we call Generation X, or adult parents today, and the research found that only 67% of Generation X claims to be Christian.
We saw the statistics continue to spiral when Generation X had their first set of children, the millennials, who are about 24-38 years of age today. The Millennial set were found to be about 49% Christian.
Finally, research shows that the present generation of teenagers and college students we call Generation Z, the youngest set of kids from Generation X and the younger brothers and sisters of the Millennials, now consists of about 34% that would call themselves Christian.
So, in four generations we drop from 84% in the grandparents, to 67% in the parents, to 49% of older millennials, and now to the 34% of grandchildren who profess to be Christian in America.
The faith handoff from one generation to the next has failed miserably over the last four generations.
For example, 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 in the silent generation and the reason for this book.
Let me hit you with some more stats. Look at the following revealing statistics from this latest research from Barna, Pew, FEED, Global Youth Culture Report, and the American Worldview Inventory:
• 27% of U.S population is Gen Z
• 35% of Gen Z consider themselves atheist, agnostic, or no religious affiliation
• 13% of Gen Z claim to be atheist as opposed to 7% of Millennials
• 50% of Christian teens in the U.S. believe Jesus was raised from the dead
• 32% of Christian teens in the U.S. believe Jesus is active in the world today
• 46% of Christian teens say they never read the bible
• 45% of Christian teens believe all religions have equally valid truths
• 39% of Gen Z attend church weekly
• 16% of Gen Z say becoming spiritually mature is a goal in their life
• 4% of Gen Z has a biblical worldview
When it comes to the faith of the next generation, youth ministry in America needs a missiology, or, a plan.
I believe part of the problem is that we are doing youth ministry in a Nickelodeon way while our teenagers are living in a Stranger Things world. What do I mean by that?
It’s like the church treats young people two years younger than they actually are - with programming like gaga ball, nine square, pizza parties, and sermonettes. While the public school system treats them two years older than they are as young adults – demanding their understanding, discipline, teamwork, and punctuality.
I believe young people can handle theology. I believe they can handle the deeper things of God‘s character and nature. I believe they can understand the Scriptures as easily as they can understand reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Do not underestimate the ability and the willingness of teenagers to grasp Christianity and a biblical worldview. The spiritual formation of a generation is dependent upon our work as youth leaders.
The Grand Canyon
We have a crisis in this generation. That we are serving a God we do not know.
Think about that. It is like seeing pictures and movies and hearing people tell stories about The Grand Canyon all of our lives. We get this picture in our mind and have an illusory understanding of one of the 7 wonders of the world.
Maybe we even have an emotional connection with the thought of The Grand Canyon. But, in reality, if we have never stood on the rim of The Grand Canyon, we have never seen The Grand Canyon.
All of our lives we have seen the social media posts and the vacation photos and the advertising pictures of one of the 7 wonders of the world. We have watched movies and news reports and seen National Geographic or other television or magazine documentaries of one of the most spectacular iconic places on the planet.
But, in reality, if we have never stood on the rim of The Grand Canyon, looking at this iconic place as far as the eye can see, we have never seen The Grand Canyon.
Now, relate the Grand Canyon analogy to this present generation in America and their relationship with Christianity and God. A generation who has mostly never seen the photos, watched the movies, or heard the stories.
A generation who has mostly never had an emotional connection to Christianity. Maybe even a generation who have mostly never been to church or youth group. And, in reality, a generation who has mostly never stood face to face with God and seen Him.
Finally
We need to help teenagers take their place on the global landscape of Christianity and to stop worrying about the next movie to hit the screens, the next game to come out on X-Box, or the next album from an industry ICON.
I want to challenge all of The American Christian Teenagers to the greatest spiritual discipline of their lives. To build Next Gen Faith from the discipline of prayer and reading and worship and fasting and apologetics and generosity and organization and especially their relationship with the Holy Spirit.
It's as easy as the first couple of chapters in the book. As parents and leaders, we must go beyond telling young people to do this stuff. We must show them how to do this stuff. The spiritual disciplines must be taught. Make it easy for them.
For example, taken from the first couple of chapters in the book, break up prayer into days. Something like this:
MONDAY - Prayer for yourself and the spiritual disciplines
TUESDAY - Prayer for global leaders, missionaries, church leaders, and Christians
WEDNESDAY - Prayer for revival in the American church
THURSDAY - Prayer for all students, faculty, staff of middle and high schools in America
FRIDAY - Prayer for the lost and un-churched students globally
WEEKENDS - Praying in the Spirit for boldness and power to live it all over again on Monday
If we are going to meet the task of an American Awakening, and this generation is going to lead it, we must ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to build the faith of this generation and its spiritual disciplines.
History is clear that every renewal of significance in America was begun by young people. That is the reason for this book. We must increase the faith of this generation by increasing the spiritual disciplines of this generation. And the Spirit’s role to do this is no less powerful and real today.
The church today in America knows the Father. They talk openly about the Son. But, if a generation is going to bring an Awakening to this nation, they will need a relationship with the Holy Spirit, or they will miss an opportunity to take their place in our country. We cannot lose a generation of Christian young people to the faith.
Thank you for joining us again this week. You can find us on the socials by clicking on the Linktree where you can read the manuscript, listen to the itunes podcast, or watch the youtube video!