Vision 2021: Where do we go from here?

Do you know anyone born after 1995?

I figured you did. This generation has several distinctions. They don't remember a time before smartphones or social media, and they were the first generation born in what has been called the "post-Christian" era. American society has drifted toward secularism until the Christian values and ideas that were universally known in the culture of the mid-20th century are no longer on the radar of the youngest generation at all.

Two years ago, I walked away from my church of 18 years to find a church better suited to my Gen Z children now in early adulthood. We landed at a church full of Millennials that was a welcome change for all of us, but in the highly polarized and politicized year of 2020, I found myself at odds with the values and priorities of the cohort that falls between Gen X and Gen Z. This is not a good time to be adrift, yet I find myself feeling very unmoored from any specific church. What is even more disturbing is that I find many of my friends feel the same - even those who have been in the same church for a decade or more.

I believe the church faces some huge challenges as we move toward a post-Covid and post-Trump America. I personally have carefully watched local leaders in many churches navigate the past year and I have admired all of them. I think they have done a tremendous job making the best of an absolutely terrible situation. Yet I suspect the dissatisfaction with the church is at an all-time high at a time when Christians are as polarized as they have ever been. Despite the best efforts of church leaders, many families are more disconnected from church than ever.

I think this all played a role in the horrifying scenes that played out in our nation's Capitol this week as a radicalized mob somehow believed themselves justified in actions that are so uncharacteristic of their political persuasion that security forces were completely unprepared. Cult-like religious and political influences have gained footing at a time when people were distanced from their churches and social communities due to Covid. It isn't a justification of any sort, but I think the grounding influences that tend to keep conspiracy theories and radical notions in check, were lacking.

So where does the church go from here? Obviously I am extremely unqualified to answer that question, but I think this is a question we all need to be asking. In many respects, we have to re-build. I don't think turning back the clock and simply returning to what was is really an option. The opportunity to emerge stronger and more prepared to meet the needs of a post-Christian culture is one we should embrace. And now is exactly the right time to be planning and asking God to renew our vision for a re-imagined church better equipped to serve. We have a few years in which we can turn our attention away from political races and dedicate our energy to building up our community.

I am ready to turn the corner, stop looking at what the pandemic has taken away from us, stop focusing on a political season that didn't go the way I wanted, and start looking to the future and to re-launching the programs I have the privilege to lead with completely fresh, well-planned, and improved offerings. We may not come back bigger than ever, but we can come back stronger, with a vision to do all the things we've always done even better than we did before. I hope every church will return with renewed vision, prepared to serve a younger demographic that requires new methodology.

Two weeks ago today, I received an email from a 23-year-old young man I dearly love. It said, "I do miss going to church, and I haven't found an alternative that satisfies that need. Any suggestions would be welcome." I'm embarrassed to say I had no good answer.

I've just finished a great book on this subject. I don't agree with the author on every point, but I wish every church leader would read this book and consider implementing some of the ideas to better serve the post-Christian society in which we live. "Meet Generation Z: Understanding And Reaching The New Post-Christian World"

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