Based on recent data from The Open Generation: United States, most teens are largely interested in learning more about Jesus during their life. The study is based on online, representative surveys conducted by the Barna Group.
Overall, Generation Z teens (13-17) and Generation Z adults (18-26) have a positive view of who Jesus is, according to the study. But not all who have a positive view of Christ identify as being a Christian. Of course, that is no different from the rest of the US population. Many of those in the general population have a positive view of Christ but do not identify as Christian.
As it normally does, the Barna Group in this study makes a distinction between nominal Christians and practicing Christians. The group defines them as follows:
Committed Christians—These self-identify as Christian and say they have made a personal commitment to follow Christ.
Nominal Christians—These also self-identify as Christian but have not made a personal commitment to follow Christ.
All others do not identify as Christian and/or are unsure about who Jesus is.
As one would expect, which group Generation Z teens fall into has relevant bearing on how they relate to Christ. This in turn determines the level of fulfillment they can experience through Christ.
Many if not most Americans regard the United States as predominantly a Christian nation. That creates an environment conducive to blending in by self-identifying as a Christian without making a personal commitment to follow Christ.
Based on the definitions above, just shy of one in four teens (22%) worldwide is a committed Christian, according to the study. In the U.S., this rises to roughly one in three (32%). I find these percentages of committed Christian teens encouraging. We hear so little in the news today about our teens and their desire for Christ. Another one-third is nominally Christian (33%), close to the global proportion (30%).
The Downward Trend as Generation Z Teens Become Young Adults
Looking at older Gen Z in the U.S.—adults ages 18–26—the study reveals how sharply faith may decline in young adulthood. The committed Christian category shrinks by nearly half (to 17%), while more than half of young adults (52%) do not identify as Christian or don’t know of Jesus.
The question is why does this downward trend happen among Generation Z, committed Christian teens as they become young adults? Based on the definitions above, a committed Christian is one who has identified as a Christian and who says he or she has made a commitment to follow Christ. Moreover, according to the study, 69 percent of those who fit the definition of being a committed Christian teen strongly agree that this connection to Jesus brings them joy and satisfaction.
It would seem that such joy and satisfaction would result in Generation Z teens staying with Christ as they become young adults. But the data suggest otherwise. To be sure, this is a problem area church leaders need to give due attention to.
Copyright © 2023 by Frank King. All rights reserved.