Today, my dear friend Scott Harvey posted a link to an article in Charisma Magazine titled ‘Millennials’ Least Religious Group in American History.
In this short article, Jennifer LeClaire, points out some observations made by Thom Rainer and his son, Jess Rainer, in a new book entitled Millennials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation.
These points include:
- Although Millennials still say they are “spiritual,” this group is the least religious generation in American history. Only 13 percent of Millennials considered any type of spirituality to be important in their lives. In fact, most Millennials don’t think about religion at all.
- Millennials are marrying much later, if at all. In 1970, about 44 percent of 18- to 25-year- old boomers were married. Today, only 15 percent of Millennials in that age group are married.
- Although 84 percent of Millennials say job success is important to them, they are not workaholics. They want to have fun with their co-workers on the job, and they see the need for balance between work and life.
- Although this generation distrusts politicians, they are motivated by a strong, centralized federal government. They expect the federal government to be a solution to many social problems, such as universal health care and retirement.
I admit that, although I do have this book, I have not read it. (imagine that!) I personally do not have any qualms with these observation. However, the question that comes to mind after reading this article is this:
What is so unappealing about faith in Christ to Millenials, or to anyone for that matter?
Or perhaps a better worded question/observation would be this:
Those proclaiming faith Christ started with just a few people in the far corner of the Roman Empire and exploded to over 1 million people out of an estimated population of 181 million in about 100 years; 200 years later, over 6 million. And so on.
What was it about this message of Jesus that was so compelling, to those people, as to experience increases like that over such a relatively short period of time?
Are we missing something? Is the compelling Jesus message somehow different today than its original? What is it about the Christian message that is so uninviting to this living generation?
Thoughts? Comment?
In a word – grace.
First of all, no one wants to think they need it.
Second, no one who needs it, wants it because there is no credit for it.
Finally, no one is willing to give up what they have to in order to receive it.
This is why Jesus tells us it is hard for those of us who are rich (and what American isn’t?), find it hard to enter a Kingdom based on grace instead of merit.
I’m not sure I would go so far as to inject ‘no one’ in to the discussion. I know what you mean, but there are many who want, need, and is willing.
But there must be some kind of compelling factor in the message that made such rapid growth possible in the 1st Century, and throughout history.
What do you think that was?
plenty of Americans aren’t rich.
I find that this generation takes nothing at face value. Although they like some traditions, they will not just accept what’s handed to them.
The problem as far as Christianity is concerned (I cannot speak for other organized spiritual groups) is that it’s NOT the message of Jesus that turns this generation off but the way it’s presented to them. This Millennial generation is willing to question the things that don’t match up and often times they just get “don’t look at the man behind the curtain”. It’s just not good enough.
My intention is to teach my children that Jesus accepted everyone and encouraged people to take care of each other… without strings. Jesus didn’t hand out tracts when he spoke to people.. he didn’t tell them to believe in him when he fed them. He simply loved and led them into the community by being the best example.
God’s throwing a party. And everyones invited.
Maybe that was the compelling factor.
Christianity in the first century was new, at least for the Gentiles with whom it had its greatest success. It addressed for the poorest and the most marginilzed something that they were not offerred anywhere else. It was inclusive, egalitarian, class-less, and relied taught a certain type of character rather than a ritual devotion. Christianity was a-political, and its message called into question the whole idea of the State, which is why the Romans felt it was a threat.
None of that is true of Christianity today. The Church has been the dominant source of oppression for more than a millenium, and anyone who pays attention knows that. The Church is not egalitarian, nor does it challenge the political powers of Empire. While I believe there is a difference between Christianity the message and Christianity the organized religion, selling that difference isn’t what Christians had to do in the first century. They offered something new, while the Church today at its finest moments is trying to put new wine in old wineskins.
In my opinion it’s the recognition of what the “church” has done historically in the name of God that we know is so contrary to “The Way”….
I believe many people do not seperate Christianity from organized religion. So, if more of us older adults are dropping out of churches because of the messages of intolerance and hate that seem to be spouted by some church leaders, why should the younger generations pay any attention?
Kids learn to be open or closed to ideas from their families and their peers, and church attendance in the US has dropped considerably over the last 50 years…It took me some time (more than 20 years, actually) to realize that I did not have to be a member of any specific organized religon to be a true follower of Christ.
This and a couple of bucks will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks Brandon.
Faith in Christ is growing by leaps and bounds in Africa, Asia and many other places, so I don’t know for certain that the decline in America is prophetic in nature – perhaps it’s more of a sign that the American Church and the culture at large is getting something wrong.
When the majority of a 3rd grade class does not have a father at home (and many of those students don’t even know their father at all) then something is majorly broken in ourculture and it’s not quite fair to lay all of the blame at the Church doorstep. Although Christians have certainly played their part in bringing reproach to Christ.
I don’t think your example of a (mythical) 3rd grade class of fatherless children is a very effective one: many of the Millenials turning away from religion are part of intact families. Perhaps it is easier for us to blame forces outside our control than to examine our own actions. What have YOU done to welcome others to your faith? Do YOU still feel love in your heart towards someone when they leave your congregation? Think carefully on this.