Revealing the Minds of Millennials

by Reba Collins and William Cowles

In May, Reba’s blog about “Why the Kids Aren’t Going to Church” generated the most readership we’ve ever had. We wondered why? We hope it’s because we struck a chord with our readers who are curious and clueless about what’s going on in the minds of their crazy, Millennial non-church-going kids and grandkids.  

What we all see is that these young adults are rejecting the religious traditions of their elders. What we don’t often get to hear is, why? That’s why we were pleased to discover two recent blogs by subject-matter experts – two 20-something Millennials who well-represent their generation’s deeply personal thoughts about religion and spirituality:

• In Half-time Huddle: Why I Lack Enthusiasm for the Church, Missourian Sarah Greek says, “I don’t want to resent the church. I’m trying to get excited about it – I’ve been trying for years – but excitement is slow in coming.” She then offers 22 thoughtful, intelligent, faithful reasons why she loves Christ but isn’t that excited about His church.

• In his slightly raw blog, A Late Night Religious Rant, New Yorker Eric Baker reflects on a traditional church upbringing that couldn’t answer his questions or assuage his doubts. “I can’t ever remember a time when I was particularly on-board with the whole religion thing,” he admits. Then, “Regardless, I consider myself ‘spiritual’ while not particularly ‘religious.’ The ultimate cheesy cop-out, I know, but I am fascinated and am often comforted by many aspects of my faithful upbringing.”

So, what do we make of their perspectives? Should we simply admire them for stating their cases so eloquently? Pray that God will guide their searches and eventually lead them to one of our churches? Or do we look inside ourselves to see why the churches we built for them to inherit aren’t meeting their needs?

Instead of trying to convince them to “see it our way,” let’s take the opportunity to see it their way. They are pretty clear about their burdens. Let’s listen to what they are saying and respond in kind.