By Gigi Kotze
26/09/2024
Who is Gen Z?
Generation Z, also known as Zoomers, refers to people born after Millennials (1981–1996) and before Generation Alpha (2010–2024). The Pew Research Center, which has studied Millennials for over ten years, decided in 2018 that 1996 would be the final birth year for Millennials. Therefore, anyone born from 1997 onwards belongs to a new generation. Initially, there was hesitation in naming this generation, with terms like iGeneration and Homelanders being considered. However, over the past year, the name “Generation Z” has become popular in culture and journalism. Dictionaries and Google Trends show “Generation Z” as the most searched term for this group, indicating widespread acceptance of the name.
Gen Z and Christianity
Barna Research found that, in the USA, young adults aged 18 to 22 are half as likely to identify as Christian and follow Jesus compared to teenagers aged 13 to 17. Over half of today’s young adults in America (52%) do not identify as Christians.
With the rise of social media and screens, we are witnessing a rapid spread of ideas, beliefs, and practices that diverge from what God has revealed in the Bible. Atheism is increasing among Generation Z, and research shows that the percentage of people with a Biblical worldview has declined with each generation.
A worldview is a set of deeply held beliefs about the biggest questions in life that help you make sense of your experiences. Worldviews address questions such as: does God exist? (God), how did everything begin? (Origins), what is wrong with the world? (Problem), what is the ultimate solution? (Solution), who am I? (Identity), why am I here? (Purpose), am I living a good life? (Morality), and what happens after I die? (Destiny). Answers to these questions should be found in the Church and boldly preached from the pulpit. Unfortunately, many churches today focus on the prosperity Gospel and messages that merely please listeners (2 Timothy 4:3–4). Jesus warned us about these issues, predicting that many would fall away and that love towards God and His Word would grow cold, as stated in Matthew 24:11–13 (NIV): “And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness [lawlessness – haters of the Law, the Word of God], the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Why should the Church focus on Gen Z?
There is no doubt that the next generation is important to God, and therefore, they should be important to us. Throughout the Old Testament, God was very intentional about ensuring that each generation would hear about all He had done. In the book of Joshua,
God instructed him to tell the people of Israel to take stones from the middle of the Jordan River when they crossed it, so they could remember what the Lord had done and share it with future generations.
Joshua 4:21–23 (NIV) states, “He said to the Israelites, ‘In the future, when your descendants ask their parents, “What do these stones mean?” tell them, “Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.” For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what He had done to the Red Sea when He dried it up before us until we had crossed over.’”
Deuteronomy 6:1 (NLT) begins with, “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you…” and continues in verses 7–9, “Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
God will always preserve a remnant in each generation who will faithfully and passionately serve Him for His own glory. Psalm 145:4 (NKJV) says, “One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” He is faithful, and the gospel will go from one generation to the next, as it will also reach every tribe, nation, and tongue. The question is: are you willing for God to use you in this area?
Tips and tricks to reach out to Gen Z
We are called to make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:19–20 (NIV) states, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” We often think of missions as taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth, but have you ever considered the next generation as an ‘unreached’ people group? We frequently develop impressive and important strategies to reach cultural groups that have never heard the Gospel—which is crucial—but who will carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth when we have entered into eternity?
One of the first things taught in mission schools worldwide is to learn the language of the country to which you are going as a missionary. This principle also applies to reaching the next generation; we first need to learn their language. Generation Z has always known a world with smartphones, Wi-Fi, and social media. These technologies have influenced their behaviours, attitudes, and lifestyles. They have grown up in a world where entertainment is key. As the global body of Christ, we need to learn to speak this language. This does not mean we dilute the truths of the Word of God; the message must remain the same, but the medium should evolve. Instead of judging everything and deeming it evil, we need to be teachable, open to change, and become innovative, otherwise, we risk losing the next generation. We need to move away from saying, “We do things this way because that is how it has always been done.” While traditional methods were effective for a time and purpose, God may want to do something new, and we must not stand in His way by clinging to things and the ways we believe they should be done.
The second lesson in mission school is to research the culture in order to be informed and engage with it effectively. Generation Z is being raised in a unique time. They are growing up during the rise of LGBTQ movements, being told they can choose their identity rather than embracing how the Creator crafted them.
The term “woke,” associated with the so-called “woke movement” and the slang phrase “stay woke,” originally meant being aware of racial prejudice and discrimination in African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). Since the 2010s, it has become slang for awareness of social issues such as racial injustice, sexism, and LGBT rights, and is linked to some American left-wing ideas about identity politics and social justice, such as white privilege and reparations for slavery. Additionally, they are growing up in an era where truth is seen as subjective, with the idea that “your truth is yours and mine is mine.” They need to understand why they need the truth and recognise that there is objective truth: Jesus is the ONLY way, the TRUTH, and the life (John 14:6). They are growing up in a time where doing “what feels right is right” and “following your heart” is promoted, rather than being taught that the heart is deceitful above all else (Jeremiah 17:9). We cannot assume that parents are Christian or that they are raising their children in the ways of the Lord and Scripture. The Church must be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15). Understanding these cultural shifts is not enough; building relationships is essential to speak into their lives.
The third thing we learn in mission school is to build relationships as bridges for the Gospel to travel across. We are all created for connection, so we should not be afraid of young people. Instead, it is crucial for older generations to approach Generation Z intentionally, building relationships by entering their world, coming alongside them, and guiding them as disciples. Jesus spent three years with His disciples, modelling the Gospel and knowing them intimately and personally. He entered into people’s places of pain, as shown with Mary and Martha when Lazarus died, and He wept with them even though He knew He would soon raise Lazarus (John 11:17–44). We need to emphasise training, deep discipleship, and building relationships. Entertaining teenagers or simply ensuring students attend church is not producing a confident faith. We can and must do better, as the time for playing church and being superficial needs to come to an end.
On 27 November 2023, the BBC released an article titled “Authentic: Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year,” which began by stating, “‘Authentic’ is the top word of 2023, according to America’s oldest dictionary. Merriam-Webster reported a ‘substantial increase’
in online searches for it this year.” This highlights a growing desire for authenticity and genuineness. In writing this article, I also spoke with a few Gen Z individuals and those who have worked with them to gain their perspectives.
WP, a Gen Zer who was involved in youth ministry, shared that one of the key ways to connect with Gen Z is through authenticity. He mentioned that “they seem to see through the nonsense and are done with the fake religiosity of traditional church.” He also noted that they dislike hypocrisy. Based on a study and interviews he conducted, he concluded that many people are not Christians because of the hypocrisy in the lives of believers and the lack of true fruit.
WP further explained how the Church can embrace authenticity: “The best way for the Church to be authentic is to be honest and unfiltered with the Gospel.” This means preaching the Gospel as it is, including addressing sin directly and presenting it according to Scripture. If there are controversial topics, they should be addressed without avoidance or conformity to political correctness. Preachers should not dilute the message or apologise for preaching the truth. He shared that sermons should not begin with disclaimers like ‘I don’t want to step on toes or offend anyone,’ nor should they attempt to soften the message with personal anecdotes such as ‘I have a family member who is gay, and I love them.’” He went on to say that we rarely hear sermons that begin with a defence of people who commit domestic violence, and that our attitude should align with Scripture. The Church must also answer questions that address people’s real needs. Many avoid church because they do not trust pastors or church leaders; thus, they need to live transparently and in communion with those who attend the church, ensuring that what is preached on Sunday or shared in Bible study matches their lifestyle. Authentic leadership involves living a life that is open and consistent with the teachings of the Gospel.
I also spoke to a young woman who says she loves Jesus and participates in private Bible study but no longer attends church. When I asked her why, she said she found the Church to be fake and judgmental, a place where she couldn’t be herself. She also felt that relevant topics like sex were not discussed. Her greatest disappointment was that an atheist showed her more love than people in the church. She observed church politics, selfishness, and people trying to serve themselves, which led to dysfunction rather than a reflection of God. In her own words, “I did not see God in the church.”
While writing this article, I reached out to Qhamani Magugu, who has worked with Scripture Union (SU), Transforming Educational Environments (TREE), and Pais SA, all organisations focused on engaging with Gen Z. He shared that, in his experience and context in Cape Town, the key to working with Gen Z lies in building authentic relationships and for youth leaders to embody what it truly means to follow Jesus. As he put it, “words carry value, but actions carry more weight.” Qhamani went on to explain that it is somewhat easier to introduce Gen Z to Jesus, who offers hope, and to create a welcoming environment in youth ministries, such as Friday gatherings. Young people are drawn to a safe space where they can hang out, and the Church can provide that. He also mentioned that studies, along with his own findings, reveal that teens today are more socially conscious. Gen Z is alert to the world around them, and they want to be involved in addressing the issues they see. He further shared that this brings us back to the idea of embodying Christ. What does that look like in the way the Church responds to daily challenges? How do we, as Christians, reflect Christ in our response to wars, climate crises, gender-based violence, unemployment, and other social issues? Gen Z seeks involvement but often doesn’t know how to go about it in a healthy, fruitful way. Here, the Church has a vital role to play. Ultimately, it comes down to relationships and discipleship, which is especially effective with teens. It’s important to be genuine, not to project a ‘superhero’ image of Christianity, as if life’s difficulties don’t affect us. We need to show our faults and weaknesses, reminding them that we are just like them—ordinary people who pursue God in our imperfections. Christianity is for everyone of every generation.
From these interviews and knowing that “authentic” was the most searched word in 2023, we can conclude that Gen Z is hungry for realness and authenticity. The Church should be a safe place that provides this, so they don’t have to seek it in the world and end up deceived.
When a Gen Zer fully grasps and understands the truth of the Gospel, they will passionately commit to Jesus. We need not be discouraged, as there are already Gen Zers who serve God faithfully. We can pray for the Lord of the harvest to send workers into this field (Matthew 9:38). If we hear the call to join the workers in this particular harvest field, may we obey, knowing that God is with us until the end of the age. If you are a Gen Zer reading this, may God use you for the extension of His Kingdom in the lives of your generation and the generation that comes after you!
Please join us in prayer:
- For the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the fields of the next generations.
- For the Church of God to be strategic in its approach to the next generation by learning their language, growing in understanding, being intentional in relationships, and being truly authentic and unashamed of the Gospel.
- That God will create a deep thirst in the hearts of Gen Zers to seek truth, His Word, and to hunger after God Himself.
Image Sources: Canva/Pexels
Resources:
Generations Defined Graph: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/01/17/where-millennials-end-and-generation-z-begins/
Biblical Worldview Graph: https://www.impact360institute.org/articles/4-percent-gen-z-biblical-worldview/
https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/generation-z-future-of-faith/