The Millenials Are Coming!

Baby boomers, Gen Xers, and now the Millenials. These are all titles researchers have given to various generations down through the years. Personally, I am a Gen Xer, born somewhere between 1965-1979 (I will let you guess where, LOL). My husband, who is just a few years older than me, is a baby boomer (1946-1964). Both of my children belong to the newest named generation of Millenials (1980-2000).

Each generation has their own particular characteristics that influenced our culture and made their mark in history. In today’s post, I want to focus on the Millenials, primarily because some of their characteristics could cause a revolution in evangelical Christianity. Secondly, this generation out numbers even the baby boomers. There are an estimated 77.9 million Millenials. Compare this to my generation of Gen Xers at just 51.5 million! Because of the sheer numbers of Millenials, they are bound to make a huge impact on society.

Let’s meet the Millenials. From the millenials by Thom & Jess Rainer, here are few of their characteristics:

They are hopeful
They are relational (technology such as texting, tweeting, facebooking makes communicating much more accessible)
They are learners
They LOVE to have fun
They value their “free” time and want to balance work/personal life
They are looking less to religion

Most Millenials believe they will make a positive difference in the world. The researchers predict that this generation will be the most “adoptive” generation ever because of this belief. Believe it or not, family is a very HIGH priority for this generation and they value parental advice.

Sounds great, right? Well, not all is great. That last bullet is a mouthful – they are looking less to religion. As a matter of fact, of those who were surveyed for the book, only about 15% would identify themselves as evangelical Christians. That is a scary figure! Most say that religion is not even on their “radar screen”. It is not that they dislike religion or religious people, they are just indifferent to it.

So how can this generation cause a revolution in Christianity? Even though only 15% identify themselves as Christians, they also are identified as “radical”. Now don’t take the term radical in a negative sense. They are radical in their love for Jesus, they long for deep Bible study, they take passages like taking care of the orphans to heart and live it out! They are very community oriented and don’t ask, “What can my community do for the me?” Rather, they ask, “What can I do for the community?”

The Millenial Christians are not content with luke warm faith. They want to live out in practicality what the Bible teaches. They don’t want religion, they want a relationship with Christ. I don’t think this is radical – I think it is totally Biblical. Would to God that my generation or the baby boomers would get a little taste of what they have!

So what are the implications for churches who are being led by a bunch of Boomers and Xers? Let me just quote a paragraph from the Rainers’ book that shook me to the core:

“Some churches in America will likely continue to decline and weaken because their leaders and members refuse to get out of their comfort zones. Not only will these churches fail to attract the non-Christian Millenials; they will forfeit the opportunity to reach Millenial Christians. Christians who are members of America’s largest generation will not embrace churches where the Bible is not taught and preached with depth and convictions.”

The Rainers’ call this generation the “hinge” generation. If the church embraces and feeds them spiritually, because of their “radical” love for Jesus, they could be powerful evangelists and bring many to Christ. This would reverse the shrinking number of Christians. However, the hinge could swing the other way if churches are unwilling to get out of our comfort zones.

So how will us Xers and Boomers receive the Millenials? They are coming and in vast numbers! Will we strive to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace? That is the Biblical command in Ephesians 4. Paul also tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:22 “I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.” Paul’s message did not change, nor should ours. The gospel must be preached and Godly principles must be upheld. However, traditions and preferences should not split generations or churches!