Gen Z kids are internally asking hard questions about Christianity. But we aren’t creating safe places where they can openly grapple to find the answers.
Gen Z kids want to know why they should trust a God whose world is ravaged by war, violence, injustice, natural disasters, pain, and suffering. Yet we’re giving them cute, Christianese responses that are insufficient.
Although Gen Z kids need a discipleship pathway that will guide them to a solid faith foundation, we’re taking them on fun field trips.
Our cute lessons won’t enable kids’ faith to survive science class as college freshmen. Cute lessons won’t empower kids to be difference-makers in their workplace. Our cute lessons won’t give kids the answers to hard questions they’re pondering. Finally, cute lessons won’t help children live for God in a world that says he doesn’t exist.
Gen Z Religion: 6 Vital Steps
If Gen Z is to grow up to love Jesus, then children’s ministry programs must…
1. Help kids discover God’s true nature and character.
When kids understand the heart of God and know him personally, they will trust him.
2. Be strategic in what we teach.
We need a plan that helps kids develop a solid faith foundation.
3. Equip kids to be able to defend their faith.
To escape the doubts that come their way, they must be able to defend why they believe what they believe.
4. Walk kids through hard questions now.
We must be proactive and help them find the right answers before they hear the wrong answers. A great place to start is with the Pranksters series.
5. Move beyond just having kids memorize Bible verses.
Instead, help them understand what the verses really mean. It would be better to have kids memorize and understand one verse than to rapidly memorize 10 verses they don’t understand.
6. Don’t be afraid of letting science and the Bible intersect.
We must show kids how science backs up the Bible. And if a variance appears, emphasize how the Bible is true and reliable.
Behind the Gen Z religion statistics are kids deciding what they believe. Gen Z kids want to know if the Bible can be trusted. They’re questioning if science and faith can be compatible. Kids are trying to figure out who Jesus is and why they should follow him. They’re looking for answers to hard faith questions.
Are our cute Sunday school lessons creating atheist, post-Christian kids? May these Gen Z religion statistics be a wakeup call for us all!
This article about Gen Z religion statistics originally appeared here.
