Next Gen Church

If there's one thing to lose sleep over with all of the crazy going on in world, it's the fact that our future lies in the hands of Millennials.

Just making jest. I actually like Millennials a lot. I happen to be one, depending on what generational timetable you subscribe to. Here's one I tracked down for reference.

Generation Name	Births Start	Births End	Youngest Age Today*	Oldest Age Today*
The Lost Generation The Generation of 1914	1890	1915	103	128
The Interbellum Generation	1901	1913	105	117
The Greatest Generation	1910	1924	94	108
The Silent Generation	1925	1945	73	93
Baby Boomer Generation	1946	1964	54	72
Generation X (Baby Bust)	1965	1979	39	53
Xennials	1975	1985	33	43
Millennials Generation Y, Gen Next	1980	1994	24	38
iGen / Gen Z	1995	2012	6	23
Gen Alpha	2013	2025	1	5

To be honest, I wasn't always fond of Millennials. I used to think “What a bunch of lazy, bean bag, Instagrammers…” and then I went to work and was like, “Man, I want to work less, have more freedom to do what I want...  maybe I can build a career off my social media presence or something? Heck, I'd love to work from a beanbag.” My paradigm has recently taken a hard left when it comes to the value system this generation holds.

Someone sent me a link to an article talking about how Millennials will be the next CEOs, and it proceeded to walk through what that could mean for the culture of our companies in the not-so-distant future.

This got me thinking. What do Millennials, and the other generations to come, mean for future of the church?

Companies invest top dollar in market research and understanding the trends in order to stay relevant. As a gamer, I follow the gaming industry like a hawk on the prowl. I constantly have my eye on the hottest upcoming games, what each publisher is working on, and what the big three - Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo - are up to. And, lemme tell you, they're up to some sweet sauce. There are a few titles I'm itching to get my hands on (Anthem, anyone?), not to mention the buzz starting to stir around yet another generation of consoles (Scarlett, PS5...).

You see, these companies - Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo - have to be on the cutting edge of what the market wants if they want to stay relevant. One wrong step and they'll go the way of Atari.

I believe the church has to think the same way. How do we stay relevant to future generations?

What's our Next Gen Strategy?

I just happen to also be a "strategy nerd," so I know, in order to answer that question, we must start with better understanding the next generation.

The Millennials grew up in a time when:

• Almost every home (except 3rd world countries) had an internet connection and a computer
• 2008, the largest economic decline since the great depression
• 911 Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon
• The invasion and occupation of Iraq
• Enron - energy trading scams and corporate fraud on a national level
• Higher belief in global warming due to unusually severe storms, hotter weather, colder weather, more droughts etc.
• Conversations evolving around weapons of mass destruction
• The explosive growth in online companies such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, eBay, PayPal
• A revolution in the way we work, including widespread acceptance of flex-time, work from home, freelancing
• The US is divided 50:50 with different and opposite fundamental beliefs and values
• Way too many crazy people are shooting their fellow Americans
• Turmoil with Congress
• Housing prices growing beyond most young people's reach

iGen'ers are:

• Much more tolerant of others - different genders, cultures, sexual orientations, races
• Less likely to go to church
• More likely to think for themselves and not believe authority figures in church or government
• Delaying having serious romantic relationships
• Less time spent in shopping malls
• Less likely to go out to see a movie
• More likely to use Instagram than Facebook
• Less "in person" and "face to face" contact with others due to more time connecting via smart phones
• Less reading of books, and newspapers
• May stay up till 2 AM using smart phone and social media
• Possibly more depressed than prior generations
• Feeling more lonely, and not needed
• Possibly a higher suicide rate
• 100% of them know how to do "the floss"

Fascinating, isn't it? Tomorrow's world could will look very different.

After much pondering, I came up with 7 ways that I think the church can adapt to stay relevant to these upcoming generations. 

#1: BRING CHURCH TO THEM 

Unless we drastically change the look and feel of church, which, to be fair, some churches are actually pulling off, I don't think we're going to make much progress getting Next Gen into pews. We must bring church to them. I believe they're hungry for authenticity, therefore we should shift our strategy from introducing them to religion and to shining so bright and behaving so counter cultural, like Jesus did, that they can't help but notice and become curious. It's time for the church to leave the building.

My hypothesis is that, with Next Gen growing more tolerant of all kinds of diversity, Christianity will become another diversity factor to them, which is actually good news to us, because we've had a bad rap for a while. We just have to be authentic about our relationship with Jesus or they'll see right through us and turn running. And rightfully so.

# 2: LISTEN MORE, TALK LESS 

As much as we are tempted to "tell it like it is" when we hear someone going on a tirade on the latest controversial issue, we must exercise restraint. These are not times to prove our wit but rather invitations to get curious and show love where they may be confusion. God made us with two ears and one mouth for a reason. 

#3: LEAN IN TO OUR DIFFERENCES 

There are 7.4 billion people and climbing on our planet and our isolated personal worlds are continually shrinking. Surface-level (e.g. race, age, gender) and non surface-level differences (e.g. religion, sexual orientation, personality) are being thrust into the spotlight and if you don't yet have an outward position on them, you're about to find out what your subconscious thinks.

Next Gen is growing up in a multicultural norm. My practical advice to you is: find someone different than you and engage in a conversation. I guarantee they'll immediately become more human to you and you'll realize you have so much in common. This simple act will flush out biases you didn't even know you had.

I also have to callout women in particular. It's a shame the church is behind society on this one. We cannot stand to make any significant progress in spreading the gospel of Christ throughout the world without recognizing and empowering half of it. Guys, when’s the last time you received some advice from a woman and accepted it?

#4: GIVE THEM A REASON TO LIVE 

This one gets me particularly worked up. There's a tragic trend of mental health issues and suicide prevalent in Next Gen that we need to attack head on. They are desperate for purpose and that's exactly what Jesus offers. If we can introduce these lost and lonely children of God to their loving father, I'm convinced they'll find hope once again. 

Spreading the light to these people doesn't have to be complicated. A simple compliment - "I like your shoes" - could be the glimmer of life that saves someone's life. Statistically, about 1 out of 3 people you cross paths with in your day have or are contemplating taking their own life so, if you're thinking something positive, SAY IT.

Proverbs 18:21 // Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. 

#5: GET CREATIVE AND ADAPT

We must embrace creativity and innovation in order to keep the church relevant. Different fish require different types of bait, and Millennials are definitely a different breed than your super-traditional crowd. I believe the church should have the most creative minds on the planet. After all, we were made in the Creator's image.

This is why I wrote the book Nerdvotional. I have a heart for nerds, or people who may be isolated, lonely, or feel super different than the cool crowd. Being one of these people myself, I know how the Good News has transformed my life and that walking with Jesus is the ultimate adventure. Nerdvotional is my attempt at getting some light into the dark basements and corners of the world. 

Matthew 9:14-17 // Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

#6: HAVE SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGES 

It seems the church has lost with trying to convince the world that homosexuality is wrong. I'm not saying it isn't unbiblical and that it doesn't break my heart when I see people I love looking for acceptance and covenant with someone who can't fully fulfill it. I'm just saying that the church has been trying to win this as an argument of logic and theology and I think we've lost that battle. 

I think we have a more foundational problem as Christians and in the church that we need to start with: our marriages. Our divorce rate within the church isn't any better than those who are not Christians. How are we going stand for the benefits of heterosexual marriage when we aren't even keeping those covenants ourselves. I think if we SHOW the world what true healthy, life-long, marriages are like, they'll be more interested in listening to our theology.

#7: DELIVER ON THE PROMISES THE BIBLE MAKES 

Last one. Next Gen is caring less about religion and finding purpose elsewhere but we can show them a validated gospel where other sources can’t deliver. I'm talking about praying for breakthrough in their lives, healing, miracles, showing them an alive, loving, and active God. 

In Matthew 14 we hear the story of how Jesus fed the multitudes (more than five thousand) with five loaves of bread and two fish. But it wasn't Jesus who handed it out; it was his disciples. Jesus blessed the food and handed it over to his people to deliver. Jesus puts the miracles in our hands to deliver. This is our role in the gospel. This is our Great Commission (Mark 16), that we would go into all the world, preach the gospel, and that these signs and wonders would follow as we do.

LAST THING

To the older generations, you have wisdom to share. Have patience enough to actually listen to what Next Gen has to say so you can have credibility when you need to drop your wisdom bombs on them.

To the younger generations, Next Gen, you’re insanely smart and resourceful, but you don’t know everything. Remember this. You still have much to learn. Be willing to listen to your elders once in a while. They've seen a few things and can help you avoid the pitfalls you're headed towards.

It's an exciting time to be a Christ follower. A new day is dawning. And the church won't look like it did yesterday, but it can be more brilliant than ever before if we learn and grow together.