An Open Letter to Pastors: Our Youth Are Losing Their Faith
- Joel Hopkins
- Aug 25, 2023
- 4 min read
This is an open letter to pastors and church leaders: Our youth are losing their faith at an alarming rate.
In the midst of a rapidly changing world, where the winds of secularism and diverse worldviews blow strong, we, as leaders in the Body of Christ, find ourselves standing at a critical crossroads. The prophetic call to "Blow the trumpet in Zion" has never been more relevant, as we witness the unsettling reality of the crumbling foundation of our youth's faith. These are not mere statistics; they are the heart-wrenching indicators of a generation grappling with doubt, skepticism, and a wavering Christian Worldview.
For you, this startling reality may not be hitting home. I hope that’s true. But sadly, it means your church is the exception. The truth is that the challenges faced by Christian youth and young adults are more daunting than ever before. This is not hyperbole. As the young people in your church step into schools, universities, and the broader world, their Christian Worldview is being subjected to constant challenges, and they are buckling.
As the walls of tradition and biblical values erode, we stand on the precipice of a challenge that demands our unwavering attention. Our young people, the future torchbearers of the Faith, are facing an uphill battle in the broader culture. It is imperative that we respond to the urgency of the situation by equipping them with the tools they need to stand firm in the face of adversity.
Sounds exaggerated? Don’t take my word for it. Let’s look at what Barna's research has brought to light.
The Research
Only 49% of US Christian teens believe Jesus was crucified.
Only 44% of US Christian teens believe Jesus was raised from the dead.
Only 21% of US Christian teens believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and has no errors.
(2023, January 23). The Open Generation: United States. Barna. Retrieved August 23, 2023, from https://barna.gloo.us/reports/open-generation-us
I know what you are thinking. I thought the same thing when Mackenzie shared these statistics with me. “There is no way that’s right,” I replied. I had to look it up for myself. According to the Barna report, these are accurate. This, my friends, is catastrophic. When a significant majority of young believers reject the death and resurrection of Christ while also discounting the inerrancy of Scripture, it indicates a disturbing erosion of their faith's core principles. This weakened spiritual grounding creates a critical vulnerability to secular influences that contradict, confuse, and corrupt.
Truth be told, however, while these statistics are startling, a simple assessment of our culture makes them obvious. The secular youth and young adults in our society are clearly confused, while the young people of our own stock are struggling to be the influencers without being influenced themselves. This statistic makes me ask, what on earth is the Body of Christ teaching in its youth groups if this is the result? “What are we not teaching?” is probably a more accurate question.
But all is not lost.
The Lord is providing His Church with an opportunity. The same Barna report that lays out these concerning statistics also highlights a field ripe for harvest.
Over 80% of Gen Z’ers are open to learning more about Jesus.
This is how we change the culture. By reinforcing the biblical worldview among our youth and young adults and teaching them how to effectively defend and articulate the reasons for their faith, we can begin to see a wave of young people abandon the nonsense and turn to Jesus. So, where do we start?
Talking about relationships, music, friends, etc., are all important. But in light of the research and the opportunity we have with Gen Z, it's now time to run a full-court press on the foundations of Christianity. Take an apologetics-based (art of defending the Christian Faith) approach to teaching in your youth and young adult groups. First, focus on “D.D.R.” The Deity, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. Instruct and equip your young people with the vast scientific, historical, and literary evidence that supports the claims about Jesus and the existence of God.
Next, teach them about the Bible. Not just that it is true, but why it is true. Demonstrate to them that the worldview espoused in the Bible most accurately addresses fundamental aspects of the human experience, such as love, compassion, justice, and morality. My Pastor describes the Bible as the instructional manual for life, and he’s right. Its teachings provide timeless truths that resonate with the core of our being, offering guidance for navigating the complexities of life in any era. It perfectly describes the human condition while most completely prescribing the cure.
Lastly, show them how the Christian Worldview offers a unique and comprehensive perspective on the cultural issues that humanity faces today. It provides profound insights and solutions that address the cultural dilemmas of our modern world - abortion, gender dysphoria, racism, greed, and corruption. Spend time on each of these significant cultural issues and demonstrate how the Christian Worldview alone uniquely offers a framework that provides clear guidelines for ethical decision-making and helps navigate these moral dilemmas, fostering a more just and virtuous society. Contrast the time-tested Christian Worldview against the flimsy and relativistic post-modern and humanistic worldviews to demonstrate their inadequacy.
By focusing on these areas, you will help your youth and young adults build an unshakable foundation and provide them with the tools and confidence they need to defend their beliefs in school cafeterias, lecture halls, coffee shops, and beyond. And, as we do this, we will see not only our young people strengthen in the Faith, but we will also see the morally destitute and disenfranchised youth of the world come pouring into the solid foundation of eternal truth and unconditional love found in Jesus.
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 13:20–21
Rev. Joel Hopkins
IndexingFaith Ministries
Resources
Access articles on these topics (use these as primers for your youth leaders)