3 ways to reverse the spiritual decline among the next generation

It is deeply concerning for many when young people drift away from Christianity. While it may be disheartening to see this trend, it is crucial to approach this issue with empathy and a heart of prayer for the next generation. By understanding the reasons behind their departure and adopting strategies to reach out to them with the gospel, we need never give up as we seek to guide them back to Jesus Christ.

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Several factors contribute to young teens in college walking away from their faith. The challenges they face on campus, such as academic pressures, secular ideologies, and the desire to fit in, can create doubts and confusion. Furthermore, traumatic experiences or intellectual questioning may lead them to question the validity of God or even reject the Bible altogether.

I have had millennials and Gen Zers tell me they feel they’ve gotten the short end of the stick regarding faith development. According to their recollections, the Bible was little more than an Instagram post that would pop up a time or two. Older millennials recall having a hard time understanding how or why faith should play a role in their careers, personal interests, or future lives.

Yet, despite the underdeveloped faith experienced among millennials and Gen Z, they yearn to believe in something greater than themselves.

Stop and think about that for a moment.

After all the years in church, with millions upon millions of dollars spent on private Christian education, camps, retreats, and so on — nearly 20 percent of millennials under age 35 are no longer affiliated with the religion they were raised to believe. However, these same young adults who left the faith of their upbringing didn’t trade it in for another religion. Most millennials raised in a Christian home, became dissatisfied with Christianity because of their doubts, skepticism, and the hypocrisy they witnessed in the church. They simply abandoned their faith.

As the American culture grows increasingly more secular, the church is no longer a top priority for the bulk of young Americans, and a growing number of Christians don’t see the need to put down roots in a church.

However, it may surprise you that there’s still a dedicated population of young people who say church is a top priority and that faith is the single most important thing in their lives. This is promising — and is something we should get excited about.

So, here are three effective strategies you can put to use as you engage young people and help them see the truth of Christianity.

1. Build Meaningful Relationships: It is essential that young people have older people build genuine connections with them. Gaining a young person’s trust and creating a safe space for them to open up allows them to speak out about their doubts and concerns about God or the Bible. Listening to them without judgment and providing thoughtful answers will foster healthy conversations and, in return, cultivate a bond between you.
2. Engage in Intellectual Discussions: One thing is for sure. Young people need solid theological answers. It is paramount to be available to walk them through the evidence for Christianity and provide them a rational basis for why you are a Christian. Directing them to reliable theological and apologetic resources that will challenge and equip them is essential to reinforcing their belief in Christianity.
3. Be a Trusted Model: Young people need tangible role models who embody the truths of what it means and looks like to be a Christian. Pairing them with more mature believers who can walk alongside them, provide mentorship, and disciple them in their spiritual growth will significantly increase. You see how effective Paul was as a model of faith when he expressed, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9).

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Jason Jimenez is the founder and president of Stand Strong Ministries and is a respected Christian-worldview speaker, and faculty member at Summit Ministries. He is the best-selling author of “Hijacking Jesus: How Progressive Christians Are Remaking Him and Taking Over the Church,” “Challenging Conversations: A Practical Guide to Discuss Controversial Topics in the Church,” and “Parenting Gen Z: Guiding Your Child through a Hostile Culture.”