Is Gen Z prepared to follow Jesus in a post-everything world?
As Christian leaders, pastors, educators, and parents, we want what’s best for our kids. We want to see them grow up and follow Jesus for a lifetime.
Unfortunately, many Christian teenagers are simply unprepared for the world that is waiting for them. We all know students who have drifted, become disillusioned or just walked away from the faith. Even one heartbreaking story is enough to move us to action. No student should “outgrow” their faith. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Creating Disney World-like Environments in our Churches is not Preparing Gen Z
With the best of intentions, we bubble wrap our kids and create Disney World–like environments for them in our churches, and then wonder why they have no resilience in faith or life. Students are entertained but not prepared. They’ve had a lot of fun but are not ready to lead. In fact, this is the least Christian generation to date.
When the pressure is turned up and the tyranny of tolerance presses in, Christian teenagers tend to wilt if they do not have the confidence that only comes from knowing why they believe what they believe. As my friend David Kinnaman, author of You Lost Me and President of the Barna Group, put it while we were working on this Gen Z study together, “Is it possible that many churches are preparing young Christians to face a world that no longer exists?” My experience working with students leads me to answer yes to this question in most cases. Unbelief and atheism is on the rise in Gen Z.
Culture is Changing Fast and Teenagers are Confused.
Our culture is changing fast and teenagers are confused. The research in this new report bears that out. The focus groups Barna conducted with both believing and unbelieving students drove this point home.
When only 34 percent of Gen Z can agree that “lying is morally wrong”— that’s a big problem. Not only is our culture deeply confused about moral and spiritual truth, gender and sexuality, but we are getting to the point where no one will listen to someone else’s point of view unless they completely agree with them.
When only 34 percent of Gen Z can agree that “lying is morally wrong”— that’s a big problem.
Social media keeps us superficially engaged and overwhelmed by data, opinions and information, and Gen Z is now the test case for the long-term effects on identity. Social media is completely reinventing what it means to come of age as a teenager. There’s a lot for Gen Z to navigate.
Social media is completely reinventing what it means to come of age as a teenager.
New Barna Study Sheds Light On Emerging Worldview of Gen Z
At Impact 360 Institute we have the privilege of teaching, mentoring and equipping teenagers in biblical worldview and leadership. We get to work with students every day in our Christian Gap Year (Fellows) and summer experiences, helping them build a stronger faith.
We hear their questions, doubts, and stories, but we wanted a broader lens on this next generation to better understand how Gen Z as a whole sees the world around them.
Working with David Kinnaman, Brooke Hempell, Roxanne Stone, and the incredible team at Barna, we commissioned a comprehensive study on Gen Z that would seek to answer significant questions like:
- What do they believe about the biggest questions of life?
- What unique opportunities and challenges will Christian leaders and parents face while trying to pass on their faith to the next generation?
- What do they view as central to their identity?
- Will they carry on the Millennial trends Barna has been studying for more than a decade? How are they different?
- What is their relationship to faith, parents and institutions?
- How have culture and society shaped them?
- How are they thinking about what it means to become an adult?
While it can be tempting in our culture to only pay attention to negative trends, there are positive trends as well. What we chose to focus on makes all the difference. Because Jesus is risen and Christianity is true, we have a living hope regardless of the cultural circumstances we find ourselves in. Whether we are in the majority or being marginalized, our charge as followers of Jesus is to be faithful to pass on our faith to the next generation.
As the father of three children, I want to keep them from dead ends because I want something better for them—the kind of joy, confidence, and love that only comes from knowing Jesus for a lifetime. The goal is not just to avoid the bad stuff. It’s to pursue the good life as God defines.
Our hope is that the information in this Gen Z study and the resources you find here (videos, podcast, articles, and courses) makes you aware of the challenges so that you can prepare, but also gives you a way to frame and invest in the opportunities for incredible in the influence that awaits Gen Z.
Everything we do here at Impact 360 revolves around cultivating leaders who follow Jesus. We want to be an ally for you as you equip Gen Z. Let us know how we can help.
Click here for media interviews/inquiries on this Gen Z study.
