Chase Jesus, Not Millennials
Sitting out here in the woods, you never know what your mind will filter down to. And yes, I should be making the most of the smell of the wet leaves and the sunlight glistening on the creek. I'll get back to that, no worries. But I'm trying to process something that's been in the back of my mind for awhile but resurfaces now and then. Maybe if I take a little time to type it out on my phone here, I can figure out what's going on in my head.
I am a pastor's kid. I am actually a youth pastor's kid. Which is why these thoughts are challenging to me. At my core, I believe we need to be very intentional about making room at the table for all who follow Jesus. Cultured, uncultured; old, young; women, men; all colors of skin. Sometimes there are some of these groups that feel a bit exiled from the table. Young for example. Established and invlolved members forget to make space, to make a path for others behind them. It's nothing personal, if you don't count pride or insecurities. Anyway, I DO believe this should change. Let's make space at the table. Let's make pathways to involvement. Let's disciple the way Jesus did.
My discomfort starts with the word "Millennial." It's starting to feel like a commodity or leverage to give weight in our discussions about what matters in the church. It goes something like this:
Church leader: "Project A is the kind of thing that will reach Millennials, therefore..."
Church member: "Where are all the Millennials? What are our pastors doing anyway? They need to fix this."
Millennial: "I'm a Millennial, and here is what I think. It's more valuable than what anyone else thinks because you want me and I speak for my entire generation. I have all the wisdom of 22 years (oh wait, am I really a Millennial? I might actually be Gen Z but nobody knows about them so let's stick with the buzzword.) Therefore you should take my advice. Make sure to give me credit, and if it doesn't work, it's because you didn't move fast enough."
Alright, alright I hope the message didn't get lost in the sarcasm. Here is my point. Let's always be committed to chasing and lifting up Jesus--and not a group of people we want to reach, even the coveted Millennials. Jesus said that if we lifted up Him, He would draw everyone to Himself. The salvation of our church is not Millennials--it's Jesus. And if a Millennial finds Jesus and is given space and support to share in their own language--and if Millennials are teachable in their enthusiasm and creativity, and with the empowerment of the Spirit, I reckon they would be pretty unstoppable.
So yes. Let's chase Jesus more than Millennials. He's the only One who knows where we are going. Thanks for listening. And now back to the sunshine and breeze through the empty trees.
Your sister in Christ,
A Xennial
I am a pastor's kid. I am actually a youth pastor's kid. Which is why these thoughts are challenging to me. At my core, I believe we need to be very intentional about making room at the table for all who follow Jesus. Cultured, uncultured; old, young; women, men; all colors of skin. Sometimes there are some of these groups that feel a bit exiled from the table. Young for example. Established and invlolved members forget to make space, to make a path for others behind them. It's nothing personal, if you don't count pride or insecurities. Anyway, I DO believe this should change. Let's make space at the table. Let's make pathways to involvement. Let's disciple the way Jesus did.
My discomfort starts with the word "Millennial." It's starting to feel like a commodity or leverage to give weight in our discussions about what matters in the church. It goes something like this:
Church leader: "Project A is the kind of thing that will reach Millennials, therefore..."
Church member: "Where are all the Millennials? What are our pastors doing anyway? They need to fix this."
Millennial: "I'm a Millennial, and here is what I think. It's more valuable than what anyone else thinks because you want me and I speak for my entire generation. I have all the wisdom of 22 years (oh wait, am I really a Millennial? I might actually be Gen Z but nobody knows about them so let's stick with the buzzword.) Therefore you should take my advice. Make sure to give me credit, and if it doesn't work, it's because you didn't move fast enough."
Alright, alright I hope the message didn't get lost in the sarcasm. Here is my point. Let's always be committed to chasing and lifting up Jesus--and not a group of people we want to reach, even the coveted Millennials. Jesus said that if we lifted up Him, He would draw everyone to Himself. The salvation of our church is not Millennials--it's Jesus. And if a Millennial finds Jesus and is given space and support to share in their own language--and if Millennials are teachable in their enthusiasm and creativity, and with the empowerment of the Spirit, I reckon they would be pretty unstoppable.
So yes. Let's chase Jesus more than Millennials. He's the only One who knows where we are going. Thanks for listening. And now back to the sunshine and breeze through the empty trees.
Your sister in Christ,
A Xennial
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