In a survey released last year, it was found that 72 percent of millennials were “more spiritual than religious.” According to Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, the group that conducted the study. Rainer explained to USA Today that young adults today do not pray, worship, or read the Bible.
In studying the data of 1,200 18-29 year olds, Rainer found that among the 65 percent who described themselves as Christians, “many are either mushy Christians or Christians in name only; most are just indifferent,” said Rainer. “The more precisely you try to measure their Christianity, the fewer you find committed to the faith,” he added.
The study found that 65 percent rarely or never pray with others, and 38 percent almost never pray by themselves. In addition, 65 percent rarely or never attend worship services, while 67 percent don not read the Bible or sacred texts.
REM were a great band, though I am not sure how many listened carefully to the lyrics. I am sorry to hear they have hung up the keyboards and instruments, but I suspect they were rather ‘old-school’ for the Millennials.
A lot of people have noticed and been wondering what to do about the Millennials, the 20-something missing generation in the churches. I suspect that churches look after the adult congregation and the children up to 18 well; however the college-age/first job generation are not specifically thought about. Those churches which do think about them and the essential need to provide social and sports opportunities as well as filling the hunger for information and teaching which they have are doing rather well. Such churches who are engaging them in England include: All Souls, Langham Place which runs sports teams and has specific ministry for them; and the newer churches, such as Hillsong and community churches. These are the churches which have embraced their needs and culture in order to reach and engage them, and the rest of us have a challenge to think about.