12/06/2017
Millennial Manifesto (in brief)
Every year we see further decline in the numbers of the younger generation who hold to biblical values and claim faith in Christ. Churches have historically worked to train up our youth to hold fast to their faith. So the shrinking numbers of young believers indicates a shrinking church.
This means our job as the church is twofold:
1. To shore up the teaching and connecting with the children, teenagers, and young adults in our churches now. We have to redouble our efforts in bridging the gap between generations. I think the status quo of creating a youth church within the church is failing to draw younger Christians into a lasting, multi-generational body of believers that grows in discipleship together. To that end, for example, our church is planning to make opportunities for the youth to serve the older generation, as well as the older adults getting involved in discipleship of the youth.
2. To expand our efforts to reach the lost by finding them where they are, rather than hoping that they will come to us. The culture around us is actively working to quash belief like never before. The prevailing wisdom is that there is nothing beyond the self to seek after.
We need to build an atmosphere of equipping the youth that are with us to be fishers of men, rather than develop a cozy Christian club that they can invite friends to hang out in. The latter of these two fosters all sorts of problems: insulating instead of reaching out, cliques of popularity, conformity, spiritual laziness and complacency. Better that we show them what a witness is and concentrate our efforts on training them to discover and use their gifts out in the world. Specifically, we accomplish this by creating opportunities for service and teaching them practical ministry.
There has been a lot of talk in the last few years that has been pretty down on the millennial generation. But I reject The Stereotype that they are on the whole cowardly, self-absorbed, entitled, and unreliable. I have found a great number within the younger generation to be energetic, deeply feeling and thoughtful, and with an unsatisfied hunger to be part of a Cause greater than themselves. I say unsatisfied meaning underutilized. If the millennial generation lacks Direction it is because we have failed to direct them. So as for me and my house, we will be committed to leading them into the service of the Lord.
