Responding to God’s activity in America
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God is moving among Gen Z. There appears to be a groundswell of young people seeking answers to life, and many are turning to religion. The number of young people purchasing Bibles has surged. Young men in particular are returning to church or are attending for the first time. Large worship gatherings of college students are taking place across the land. Hundreds are professing faith in Christ and being baptized at these events. Clearly, something unusual is happening.
This phenomenon has caught many by surprise. It wasn't long ago that Gen Z was considered one of the most irreligious generations in American history. Something has shaken today's young people.
It will take time to determine the causes and the lasting effects of this change. Many of these students have seemingly realized that they were misled or indoctrinated by secular institutions. Authority figures lied to them. They have begun to search for people and messages they can trust.
Gen Z has always been characterized by a concern for justice, yet the spiritual barrenness of much of what they have been taught has become increasingly clear. As a result, young people are searching for trustworthy voices of truth and love.
What a wonderful opportunity this cultural shift presents for the church!
Promoting truth and justice has traditionally been a hallmark of God's people. The problem for some churches is that they have been seduced by secular society in the same way university students have. Many churches have abandoned truth in favor of political correctness, and they are now promoting the same skewed opinions as secular institutions.
Nevertheless, other churches and Christian organizations are preaching God's Word boldly and uncompromisingly. The church has traditionally been a champion of social causes, such as building hospitals and orphanages. The issues that matter to young people are ones the church has long addressed.
Here are some suggestions for churches that want to impact today's youth.
First, permeate everything you do with God's truth.Young people are wary of falsehood and will notice if you veer towards it.
Second, love them. Too many Christian organizations pursue the younger generation in order to take advantage of them. Today's youth are looking for people who genuinely care about them.
Third, don't underestimate them.Older adults have disparaged Gen Z as "snowflakes." The truth is that they have high ideals. They want to make the world a better place. Many of today's youth are still trying to overcome the challenges they experienced growing up in a broken home.
Churches today are bemoaning the fact that they are losing their young people. But that doesn't have to happen. Young adults are looking for people and places they can trust. They want to invest their life in something that matters. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they viewed your church that way?
 | Richard Blackaby is the president of Blackaby Ministries International and lives in Georgia. He travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace as well as on spiritual awakening, experiencing God, and the Christian life. Richard regularly ministers to Christian CEOs and business leaders. He has written or co-authored 33 books . This article was first published on RichardBlackaby.com. Used with permission from Blackaby Ministries International. Learn More » |
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