There’s one primary reason I’m encouraged about the future of the church: the younger generations I see coming up within the church.
Stephen McAlpine observes:
There’s an interesting phenomenon underway among a younger cohort of Christians in the West today. And it’s this: Faced with a plethora of challenges; a growing secularism, a hardening against the gospel, a rejection of a biblical understanding of humanity and sexuality, Zoomers are leaning in. They’re steeling themselves and saying “Okay, if I’m going to believe this thing, then I’m going to go all in.”
That’s right. After watching a couple of generations of Christians leaning back in the face of growing hostility, there’s a sense among the newer generation that if you’re going to bother with Christianity, then bother with it. Don’t faff around the edges, or try to make it softer and easier. Instead, lean in!
I see this too.
The median age of a member at the church where I serve is 32. It’s a young congregation. I recently finished a series on a difficult topic, one of the least seeker-sensitive topics you could imagine. I overwhelmingly received two types of feedback: “Good job!” and, “Stop beating around the bush! Give it to us straight up.”
I recently met with a group within the church that had more questions on the topic. They studied Scripture together. Combined, they spent over 70 hours of research trying to understand the Bible’s teachings. We had a great meeting, Bibles open, no edge, with all of us working together to come to a common understanding. They remind me of Bereans (Acts 17:11). It was one of the most encouraging meetings I’ve had as a pastor.
Perhaps the church where I pastor is unusual. But I see the same signs elsewhere. For years, I worked with young church planters. We would examine their theology, their personal lives, and their motivations. We told them it would be hard, that it would exact more from them than they expected. They had better count the cost. Most of them replied with something like Paul said: “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God “(Acts 20:24).
As Trevin Wax notes, young people are swimming in pools of superficiality. As a result, they long for depth. Wax’s advice is clear:
Today, if you want to attract young people, lead with the fine print. Shock them with the seriousness of a faith that requires rigor, a rule of life that brings structure for spirituality, grounded in the grace of the gospel. Churches that make an impression on young people take faith seriously.
I’m encouraged because God, in his grace, seems to be drawing younger generations away from superficial faith to something more challenging, biblical, and robust.
Ultimately, our faith is not in people or trends but in God himself. But I do give thanks that God is at work in younger generations. I’m encouraged.
