Millennials and the church today.
Why aren’t millennials going to church? Where are all of the young adults? How is the church going to survive in the coming years with a missing generation? Many have tackled these questions, including pastors, sociologists, and research study groups. Some argue that millennials view the church as hypocritical and irrelevant. Others suggest that the church lacks a sense of community and does not allow space for doubt, questions or growth. Certainly there are elements of truth to some of these arguments, and they deserve the church’s attention.
In this article we will offer a few of our own thoughts, as millennials ourselves, as we wrestle with the following
two questions: 1) Why aren’t millennials going to church? 2) What can the church be doing to reach millennials?
Why Aren’t Millennials Going to Church? Discerning Truth in a Pluralistic Society and Unfamiliarity with Christianity
Today’s young adults are confronted with a myriad of voices and opinions. Like many human beings seeking meaning and purpose, young people are left with the questions: Who do we follow? What belief system should we adhere to? For many young adults, these are difficult questions to answer.
A truth that goes beyond individual experience, brings people together in community, directs the ebb and flow of our universe, and sets us free to live as beloved children, is a foreign concept for many of our peers.
Many choose to believe in a little bit of everything. I can recall a conversation about faith in high school during which belief in aspects of each world religion was advocated as the safest way to ensure access to whatever afterlife lay beyond. In contrast, many resort to agnosticism or atheism because navigating various religions and denominations seems overwhelming and complicated. Sometimes it seems easier to explain that the letters of “presbyterian” can be rearranged to spell “Britney Spears” than it is to explain the historical and theological significance of being a Presbyterian to our non-Christian friends and acquaintances!
In a world where “truth” is increasingly defined through individual experience, young people have become skeptical of so-called organized religion. A truth that goes beyond individual experience, brings people together in community, directs the ebb and flow of our universe, and sets us free to live as beloved children, is a foreign concept for many of our peers.
“It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.” The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis.
Despite being written over 50 years ago, these words of the demon Uncle Screwtape to his protegé Wormwood ring eerily true today. The church can seem foreign to many young adults, especially if they did not attend as children or teenagers, or did not have parents or other adults in their lives who acted as spiritual teachers or mentors. What is the point of church? Who is Jesus? What is worship, prayer, communion and baptism? What is the Bible all about and what does it mean? Navigating the language, traditions and texts of the church can be incredibly daunting and overwhelming. Without guidance and clear explanations, it’s easy to see how giving up on the church is a viable option for some young adults, especially when there are so many other demands on their time. Unfortunately, the end result of this is a generation that is distanced from the church, and unfamiliar with the true meaning of the gospel.
What can the church be doing to reach millenials?
1) Clear Biblical Teaching.
This first point might seem obvious, yet this does not diminish its importance. The gospel of Jesus Christ is attested to in the authoritative and inspired words of Scripture, and it is this gospel that the church proclaims to the world. Many millennials are longing for direction and purpose in the midst of confusion and uncertainty. Thus preaching that is sound, clear, and rooted in the Scriptural witness is essential. Taking this a step further, it is also important that the church clearly teaches individuals how to read, study, and meditate upon Scripture themselves.
When completing our undergraduate studies, we both were members of Erindale Christian Fellowship — an InterVarsity campus ministry group. We attended a small-group Bible study and were introduced to the method of inductive manuscript study. We read the Scripture passages and were encouraged to highlight, make notes, circle strange words and jot down questions. Scripture came alive for us as we attended that group. It became exciting to read Scripture together, to discover what riches could be found, and to deepen relationships with each other (in fact, many of us who were part of the fellowship together still meet for a weekly Bible study). We see the potential for our peers to come, question, wrestle, discover and grow in relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit through study of His word that is guided by church leaders, using methods that are engaging and invite the participation of those who come.
Our generation already lives in a world that promotes the loud and “glittery.” The Church does not need to become “relevant” for young people.
2) Genuine and Meaningful Worship.
“The leaders of the future will be those who dare to claim their irrelevance in the contemporary world as a divine vocation that allows them to enter into a deep solidarity with the anguish underlying all the glitter of success, and to bring the light of Jesus there.” In the Name of Jesus, Henri Nouwen.
Many churches are looking to engage the millennial generation with up-beat worship, multi-coloured lights, videos interspersed throughout the service and an eye-catching Instagram account. These tactics may work initially, but many millennials are looking for more than the “glitter of success,” as Nouwen puts it. The Church does not need to become more “glittery” to attract young people. Our generation already lives in a world that promotes the loud and “glittery.” The Church does not need to become “relevant” for young people. The allure of the gospel is its “irrelevance in the contemporary world,” as Nouwen puts it. The countercultural messages of Jesus are powerful and sufficient.
It is difficult to make generalizations for a specific age group without ignoring individual preferences for worship and teaching styles; however, from our own experiences, and the experiences of our peers, Christian millennials will respond well to worship services that are genuine and are firmly rooted in Biblical truths. For example, a full worship band is not needed every Sunday to ensure that young people are entering the church doors. A simple musical arrangement between a pianist and vocalist can be an effective way to lead God’s people in song. In addition, meaningful and reflective song lyrics are valued by young people, and yes, these lyrics can be found in hymns!
3) Personal Connection: An Invitation to Community & Discipleship.
Technology has had a negative effect on the quality of face-to-face connections that young people experience with each other and other generations. Whether it is at a bus stop or in a restaurant, it seems that our screens are more interesting than the people in our physical surroundings. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly evident that over-indulging in screen time and browsing social media can also have negative impacts on mental health.
What a wonderful opportunity for the Church to promote face-to-face interactions in our world! Not only can we invite others into our Church community on Sunday mornings, but small groups and community meals are excellent ways of inviting young adults into a community. Countless times throughout Scripture, we find Jesus enjoying fellowship with people, including his disciples, Pharisees, tax collectors, Mary, and Martha, during meals. Although we are not privy to all of the conversations Jesus had during mealtimes, no doubt there were times of teaching and speaking the truth to those he was with.
During our university years, we would frequently meet up with our campus minister at Starbucks. Not long after graduating, we discovered that our campus minister actually budgeted for these Starbucks meetings with students throughout the year, as much of his ministry involved sitting with us, praying with us, and paying for our Starbucks orders. He was “Jesus” to us and so many of our friends during our exciting, confusing and stressful university days, and his way of ministering to us, just as Jesus demonstrates, was so meaningful, yet so simple. For a generation that is starving for personal connection, perhaps a simple invitation and a listening ear is all that is needed to plant the seed of faith.
Although the church is going through challenging times, we both are looking to the future with hope. There are great opportunities for the church to invite the young adults in their communities to new life in Jesus, and also to be participants and leaders of the church. Perhaps the first step is to listen — listen to the needs of those young adults in the community, listen to their struggles and joys, listen as they share what it is that they are seeking, and continually pray that renewal will be brought about in His church.
Jillian and Lauren McWhinnie are supporters of Renewal Fellowship. Jillian is also a member of Renewal’s board of directors.