“What differentiates a faith culture that attracts Millennials from one that repulses them? ”
By Frank Powell
Many people are pessimistic about Millennials, but I belief the next generation is poised to transform the culture( and the world) for the very best. For many churches and leaders, however, Millennialsare( to borrow from Winston Churchill) a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.
I would agree with Churchills statement on some levels, but the riddle can be solved. Once you find outwhat builds Millennials tick, they are not that puzzling. They simply have a unique determine of passions, interests, and standpoints on different cultures and the world.
But the church has largely failed to take stock in this generation because they are different. This is a problem. A deficiency of knowledge breeds dread, and this is true of the church in relation to Millennials. Many churches do not take the time to know the next generation, so they are stuck with affixing stigmas( many untrue) to them.
There are churches, however, the hell is prospering with Millennials, and if you did some investigation I believe you would findsimilar results, regardless of the church locale.
So, what differentiates a faith culture that attracts Millennials from one that repulses them? There are many factors, but I want to highlight ten really important ones.If your faith ponders why reaching the next generation is difficult, the following points mightshed some light on your struggle.
1.) There is a strong resistance to change .
The next generation doesnt understand why churches refuse to change a program, activity, or even an entire culture if they arent effective. Millennials dont hold traditions close to their heart. In reality, for many( myself included) traditions are often the opponent because many churches let traditions to hinder them from moving forward.
Is this right? Perhaps. Maybe not. But it is a reality nonetheless. One that must be understood.
Millennials are tired of hearing the phrase this is how we have always done it. That answer is greater acceptable. Millennials want to change the world. Many times traditions comprise them back from this. Change is necessary to remain focused on perspectives and being externally focused, among many other things. The next generation understands this.
2.) A compelling vision is lacking or non-existent .
If creating an environment entirely void of the next generation is your goal, especially those with any initiative and talent, refuse to cast vision in your faith. That will drive Millennials away faster than the time I ensure a rattlesnake in the timbers and hollered like a girl. Dont judge me. I detest snakesand cats.
It mystifies me when a faith doesnt value vision and planning. In no other realm of life do we refuse to vision and programme, but for some reason the church is different.
If your vision doesnt obligate, move or stir people, your vision is too small. ~< cite class= "x-cite"> Craig Groeschel
Millennials willnot invest ina faith that refuses to daydream big because theysee example after example of an infinitely powerful God doing amazing things through normal people. You might think they are naive, but most Millennials dont believe they have to wait until they receive a certain degree or reach a certain age to start non-profits, plant churches, or lead businesses.
So, go ahead and belief the Spirit is supposed to guide us , not a man-made vision or only let sheer laziness to lead the way, but your faith will continue to be void of the next generation.
3.) Mediocrity is the expectation .
Quite simplythe next generation is not content with mediocrity. They believe they can( and will) change the world. Good or bad, theyhave a strong desire for the extraordinary. Failing is not going to drive the train. This also seems like a foreign concept to many in previous generations, but Millennials arent scared to fail. And they belief churches should operate with a similar mindset.
Failing and has become a failure are mutually exclusive. Theydream often and daydream big because they understand theyserve a God who worksbeyond theirabilities.
Millennials have a collectiveconcern for attaining the world a better place, and mediocrity fits nowhere in those plans.
4.) There is a paternalistic approach to contributing Millennials .
If you want to push the next generation from your faith, refuse to release them to lead.
This is one I have experienced personally. If you want to push the next generation away from your faith, dont release them to lead. Simply giving them a title means nothing. Titles are largely irrelevant to the next generation. They want to be trusted to fulfill the chore given to them. If you micro-manage them, treat them like small children, or refuse to believe they are capable of being leaders because of their age and deficiency of experience, wisdom, etc ., they will be at your faith for a short season.
Millennials willnot allow age to keep them from leadingand contributing well.If you refuse to release them to lead, the next generation will promptly find another churchor context where they can use their talents and endowments to their full capacity.
5.) There is a pervasive insider-focused attitude .
Traditional or contemporary venerate? High faith or low faith? A plurality of elders, board of directors, or staff-led faith? While past generations expended a lot of time in these discussions, most Millennials realise these dialogues as sideways energy. There might be a day and place for talking about acapella versus instrumental or high faith versus low faith, but the time is very rarely and the place is not from apulpit or in a small group.
Millennials wont attend churches that answer questions nobody is asking.
When the faithful saturate their schedules with Christian events at Christian venues with Christian people, the world has a hard time belief we comprise the rest of the world in high esteem. ~< cite class= "x-cite"> Gabe Lyons
What is important to Millennials? How a faith responds to the lost in theworld, both locally and globally. How a faith responds to the poor, homeless, needy, and widowed. If you want to ensure your faith has very few Millennials, answer the issues to nobody is asking, invest most of your resources on your build, and have programs that dolittle to impact anybody outside the church walls.
The next generation is pessimistic towards institutionsthe church included. Millennials are not going to give their day andresources to a faith that spends a considerable amount of money on inefficient and ineffective programs.
Church leaders can get mad or frustrated about this, or theycan consider changing things. Churches who value reaching the next generation emphasize the latter.
6.) Clarity and authenticity are not high values .
Despite what I often hear, most Millennials value transparency and authenticity. Ifyour church portrays a holier than thou attitude and most of the sermons leave everyone sentiment like horrible people, your faith is likely to be largely devoid of the next generation.
Why? Because the next generationknows something the church has largely denied for a long timechurch leaders are not in their position because they are absent of sin, lures, or failings. Millennials have watched too many scandals in the church( i.e. Catholic faith scandal) and witnessedtoo many instancesof moral failings among prominent Christian leaders.
Millennials are not looking for perfect peopleJesus already managed that. Millennials are looking for people to be real and honest about conflicts and temptations.
7.) Mentoring is not important .
This is a common misconception about Millennials. While they do not like paternalistic leadership, they place a high value on draw lessons from past generations. I have a good friend who lives in Jackson, TN and he occasionally drives to Nashville( two hours away) to sit at the feet of a boy who has mentored him for years. He does this because his mentor has been known my good friend highly values.
He is not an exception. I have driven as far as Dallas to invest a weekend with their own families I love and respect. I had no other reason for moving than to watch how they parent and let this mangive me nuggets of wisdom on following Jesus and loving others. Many might think this is ridiculous, but this is what builds Millennials unique.
Theyvalue wisdom and insight. It is a valuable treasure, and theywill traveling long distances to acquire it.
Millennials arent standoffish towards those who have gone before us. They place a high value on reading. But they want to learn from sages , not dads. If your faith is generationally divided and refuses to pour into the next generation, you can be sure your faith will not attract Millennials.
8.) Culture is viewed as the opponent .
Millennials are tired of the church viewing different cultures as the opponent. Separationist churches thatcreate safe places for their members, moving away from all the evil in the town, are unlikely to attract the next generation. The next generation istrying to find ways to engage different cultures for the glory of God.
Millennials are increasingly optimistic about the surrounding culture because this is the framework of Jesus. He loves all types ofpeople, does ministry in the town, and involves different cultures. They also know the church does not stand at the culture centre anymore.
In past generations, preachers could stand in pulpits and lecturing about the immoralities of different cultures because the church shaped different cultures. Today, this is not true.
The goal of Christian living isnt to escape the immoralities of different cultures and finish life unharmed. To reach people today, the church must be immersed in the community for the glory of God.
9.) Community is not valued .
This might be the greatest value of Millennials. Community is a non-negotiable part of their lives. And they arent looking for another group of peopleto watch the Cowboys play football on Sundaythe next generation desiresa Christ-centered community. They value a community that movesbeyond the surface and asks the hard questions.
Community keeps Millennials grounded and focused. Community challenges them to reach statures never imagined alone. Jesus lived in community with twelve humen for most of His earthly ministry. Jesus expended a lot of His time pouring into people. Community isnt an optional part of a Millennials lifeit is essential.
Personally, I have watched the value of community on so many levels. Without authentic Christian community, I wouldnt be in full-time ministry today. I wouldnt have overcome serious sins and conflicts. I wouldnt have been challenged to live amply for God.
In a culture becoming increasingly independent and unplugged, Millennials model something important for the church. There is power in numbers. As an African proverb governments, If you want to go fast, go ALONE. If you want to go far, go TOGETHER .
Millennials want to go far and crave their life to have meaning. In their thinkers this is not possible without deep, authentic, Christ-centered community. I agree.
10.) The faith is a source of divide and not unity .
Nothing frustrates Millennials more than a faith that doesnt value unity. Jesuss final recorded prayer on ground in John 17 has been preached for years. What many churches miss is one of the central topics in that prayerunity.
On four separate occasions, Jesus explicitly prays for unity. It was important to him. Hebrought together tax collectors and Zealots( only do some research if you want to know how difficult it would have been to bring these groups together ). He brought people together. This is why places like coffee shop are grounds( like my pun ?) for a lot of Millennials. They want to be in environs where everyone feels greeted and accepted.
Churches that value racial, generational, and socio-economic unity will attract Millennials. Why? The gospel is most fully reflected when all of these groups are brought together, and most of them are just crazy enough to believe the power of the Spirit is sufficientto make it happen.
Some churches and leaders dont realise the value of changing to reach this generation, but once they realize this attitude is wrong it will be too late. The Millennials are a huge part of the population today( about 80 million strong ), and if yourchurch is serious about the Great Commission, your faith likewise needs to be serious about understanding this generation.
Are there other qualities or values you think are important to Millennials? Leave a comment below! Lets continue the conversation .
I love you all! To God be the glory eternally. Amen!
About the Author : Devoted follower of Christ, college/ young adult minister, spouse to @ tiffanipowell , dad to Noah and Micah, avid blogger/ writer, sports fan. You can follow him on twitter here and read more blogs here !
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