Why Millennials (Gen Y), Gen Z and Gen Alpha may be better Christians

Let me just put it out there, I am a Boomer and I think that the generations from Millennial to Gen. A may just make better Christians than we Boomers.

 I’m sure you have heard a lot about Gen’s Y, Z and A, mostly from the Boomer generation, that isn’t good.

 People love to analyze and complain about the Gen’s Y, Z and A young people (although the top of Gen Y are approaching 40). I hear it at work and at church. Possibly, one of the most often frequent complaint I hear is that they all expect participation trophies!

Matthew 10:42 [NIV] And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.

But I say: salvation is the ULTIMATE participation trophy.

 Salvation is free, unmerited pardon. It is forgiveness that you did not earn and cannot earn. Gen’s Y, Z and A, remember when you played T-ball and everybody got a trophy just because they put the uniform on and showed up, even if they never made it to bat? Even if you struck out every time. That is exactly how salvation through Jesus works. Jesus died for you. Salvation is yours. All you have to do is show up (accept Him as Savior), suit up (get baptized) and pick up your trophy. Yes, good works should be a result of your saved life, but works are not salvation.

 Again, salvation is free, undeserved pardon. You cannot earn it no matter how hard you work and how much you serve.

 Sadly, many of us from other generations struggle with feeling “worthy.” We struggle with trying to earn salvation by works. We sometimes feel we need to “do more” so God will love us more. We should be more like Gen’s Y, Z and A, and accept our participation trophy of salvation through Jesus.

 Another complaint I here is that Gen’s Y, Z and A  think they should be rewarded for every little thing they do.

 But I say: Rewards for every little thing you do is EXACTLY what God offers. You do not have to do spectacular works or great miracles. Check out Matthew 10:42 [NIV] And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward. You read that right. You will get a reward for giving someone a cup of cold water!

 Sometimes, we in the older generations spend too much time beating ourselves up about the fact that we cannot do much – even if it is due to poor health, job loss or other financial problems, or old age. We forget that anything – ANYTHING - we do for LOVE of our fellow man and/or for love of God and/or for appreciation of all God has given will result in rewards in the Kingdom.

Gen’s Y, Z and A, you’ve got rewards coming for everything little thing you do in Jesus’ name. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

 Another complaint I hear is that Gen’s Y, Z and A don’t want to “pay their dues” – don’t want to take the low level jobs and work their way up. They feel like they should be given real responsibility the minute they show up.

 But I say: Praise God that they do! We have enough people in the church who don’t feel they are worthy enough, smart enough, knowledgeable enough, have enough time for, or are called to preach the gospel or witness for Jesus.

 Daniel certainly did not feel that way. He and his friends were young (some say in their late teens) when they jumped right into making waves and standing out as captives in a strange land. They spoke up (yes, respectfully). There was no religious authority and no parents to tell them what to do. So they asked God and He answered.

 Gen’s Y, Z and A, I say don’t wait your turn. If all you know for sure is that Jesus died for our sins, go ahead and preach it. The church (that is the body of Christ or ecclesia – not a 401c3) needs you. People living in darkness need to know what you know, even if it is only a few things. Just make sure you do stay connected to God so you can keep growing and will then have more to share.

 Sadly, sometimes, we in the older generations let leaders convince us that we are still not ready to preach, teach or lead. We let ourselves be convinced that there are books and booklets to read and other hoops to jump through before we can be given permission to witness to our community. To the Gen’s Y, Z and A, I say, preach what you know and keep learning!

 Finally, some complain that Gen’s Y, Z and A they want to do “meaningful” work – they want to know why what they are doing matters. Some complain that you cannot convince a Gen Y, Z or A that handing out song books and straightening chairs is appropriate service for them.

 But I say: HALLELUJAH! Praise God that Gen’s Y, Z and A want to do something more than hand out song books and straighten chairs. The church needs people who are passionate about making a difference in the world. The Bible is full of examples of young people making a difference doing real, meaningful and gutsy things at all sorts of ages. Again, I encourage you to read about Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and also about Esther – they were all probably teenagers.

 We have plenty of folks who are willing to hand out song books and straighten chairs, even though they are capable of so much more. Maybe the older generations have bought into the fact that the “real work” is done by the ministry and broadcasters on the church sponsored programs.

 I believe that too many of us in the older generations have accepted that we are just supposed to pray, pay (tithes) and live good lives. We are content to do our week-day jobs without lying or stealing, and to leave the preaching to those ordained to it.

 Gen’s Y, Z and A: Do you want to preach the Gospel, feed the flock or help the poor? Figure out how you can and go for it. Don’t wait for permission. We older folks may get easily exhausted by your passion to make a difference. Try not to let us get in your way.

What we older folks can learn from Gen’s Y, Z and A: 

Ø  Salvation is yours. Get excited about and thankful for that participation trophy. It is yours for just showing up.

Ø  Great excited about rewards for everything you do – even if it is “only” making cards or praying for people. There are rewards for every little thing you do.

Ø  Share what you know now. Don’t wait to know everything.

Ø  Don’t wait your turn behind older generations (or the hierarchy of leadership) who don’t want to turn the reigns over to you or you may die waiting in line. If there isn’t a job for you, create one.

 What do you think of that? I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org

Mind the Gap, Part 1

If you have ever ridden a subway train in any country, you’ve seen the signs and heard the announcements to “mind the gap” when entering and exiting the train. These warnings refer to the gap between the platform and the train, which is a trip hazard and has the potential catch a heal or stroller wheel and get you stuck for a bit.

Christians have some gap-minding to do as well.

Ezekiel 22:29-30 [KJV] 29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

I believe that just as God sought someone to stand in the gap for the people of Israel during Ezekiel’s time, Christians are called to be the people who stand in the gap for the world today.

“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up a hedge, and stand in the gap before Me…”

No gap-minder showed up for Israel, so God unleashed His indignation on them (verse 31).

What about we Christians today? Are we, as the people of God, standing the gap for a world filled with oppression and robbery – world that continually vexes (annoys, frustrates) the poorest and neediest among us? Or are we failing this world that needs us so desperately to advocate for mercy, even though it is worthy of the unleashing of God’s indignation upon it?

What does it look like to stand in the gap for this world?

It looks like pouring out love for them in prayers for mercy, peace and safety, rather than seeking the time of wrath and tribulation to punish them.

Far too many Christians today would be happy to see the fulfillment of Ezekiel 22:31 [NKJV] "Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD.”

Far too many, rather than having compassion on a world largely lost to sin, would seek to forbid sinners (at least certain types of sinners) from attending church or even refuse to bake them cakes or serve them in other ways.

Sisters, we are not called to judge this world. Luke 6:37 [NKJV] "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

We are called to show mercy. Matthew 5:7 [NKJV] “Blessed [are] the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.”

The world needs a champion to stand in the gap that sin has created. This world needs an advocate, until the day it is willing to accept the Champion and Advocate of us all – Jesus – as Savior and King.

Ezekiel indicates that had someone been found to stand in the gap, Israel would have been spared.

Sweet sisters, will you be a gap-minder for this world? Will you be a prayer warrior for mercy? Will you plead for mercy, love, peace and patience to be poured out from the Father? Or will you leave this world to “fire of God’s wrath” and destruction?

I’ll continue the theme of standing in the gap in my next blog. Until then, I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.

Becoming more childlike

When we think of becoming childlike, we often think of Matthew 18:1-4 [ESV] Where Jesus calls a child to Him and says, (verse 4) Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

We think of being childlike, we think of being as humble as a child and that is certainly important. There is so much that we can learn from children. Childlike humility is not the only thing.

In Luke 18:16-17 [NIV] we find another childlike trait we can emulate. In verse 17, Jesus says, Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

We are to receive the kingdom like a little child. How do little children receive things? Well, until they learn that some things are more valuable than others and that they should want the more valuable things, children receive all gifts with equal appreciation. Whether it is a $500 remote control jeep they can ride around the neighborhood in or a $2.00 bottle of bubble solution and a cheap wand.

By contrast, adults tend to want the best gifts, even when it comes to the spiritual ones. God does not rank gifts. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 12 He says they are all essential to the health of the spiritual body. But humans rank the gifts. The gift of prophesy is certainly given more weight in many church cultures than simple, steadfast faith.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

However, after chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians wraps up with 31, which says, “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.”, chapter 13 specifically says that knowing prophesy doesn’t matter if love is not the motivator of it. Love is the more excellent way than any gift we might covet.

One more way to be like a child is to be joyful. Unless they are in dire circumstances, children are typically able to find joy in all activities. They eat with relish and joy. They find joy in coloring, swinging, running around, playing on the playground, jumping in puddles and in music – just to name a few. They don’t need fancy things to find joy.

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit [Galatians 5]. We were meant to have childlike joy. The word “joy” appears 165 times in the Bible.

So, we must be humble like a child, and we must receive all gifts with equal appreciation, just like children do and we should be joyful like children.

Recently, for our Friday night online program, Start Our Sabbath, I gave a presentation about being childlike and asked the viewers to offer additional qualities of children that we should immolate – additional ways we should be childlike.

Here are some things they came up with:

·       Children are curious. They ask questions and really want to know the answers.

·       Children are forgiving. They don’t hold grudges.

·       Innocence is a childlike trait.

The Bible counsels us to be every-learning (curious) [2 Timothy 2:5; 2 Peter 3:18], to forgive others readily and repeatedly [Luke 6:37; 17:4] and to be without guile (innocence) [1 Peter 2:1; Revelation 14:5].

Sweet sisters, we would do well to learn from and imitate these characteristics of children. Let’s strive to be more childlike.

I welcome your comments and questions. You can comment here or write me at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org