Reaching Generation X With The Gospel

David and Marilyn Parks

Generation X, twentysomethings, twentynothings, baby busters, post-boomers, slackers, whiners and 13ers--how can the church convince a jaded generation designated by such negative monikers that Christianity is for real? Does the church offer anything for this generation? Although we must resist the temptation to stereotype an entire generation, a significant percentage of them share certain traits and the church must recognize those traits if we are to reach them.

George Barna's research indicates that eighty-one percent of busters don't believe in absolute truth (Baby Busters: The Disillusioned Generation, 1992). They are cynical of institutions, organizations and those who lead them. They are a generation characterized by "alone-ness," yet they long for relationships that are authentic and transparent because they have experienced so many broken relationships. They are fearful of the future, because there is so much uncertainty--divorce, AIDS, the environment, the economy and questions about the viability of Social Security. Even their music reflects a depressing lack of confidence, optimism or hope. These fears are the least of their problems, they have no eternal hope. One author who has worked extensively with busters writes, "Perhaps no other generation has needed the church so much, yet sought it so little." ("The Gospel for Generation X," Dieter Zander, Leadership, Spring, 1995, p. 37).

Many observers are pessimistic about the potential for reaching this generation. In the September 12, 1994 issue of Christianity Today, Andres Tapia observes, "What once worked in evangelism and discipleship is failing with large numbers of Xers." In spite of such concerns, and in spite of the characteristics that make Xers a challenge to reach for Christ, Christianity has much to offer the busters. In order to reach the most diverse, multi-cultural generation in history we must be prepared to emphasize "Christ and Him crucified" as the basis and justification for the distinctive restoration plea (2 Corinthians 2:2). As Christians, we have the unique opportunity to show the Xers a Jesus who is real and meets the real needs of every generation--even the Xers (2 Peter 1:3). This can best be done by introducing them to Jesus through the gospels (Matthew 28:19-20).

Jesus calls Xers to serve the only leader who will never let them down. The Xers have become increasingly cynical of institutions and their leaders as they have seen one prominent figure after another compromised by power, popularity and money. They are frustrated by what they perceive as the hypocrisy of influential figures. Before their cynical eyes, Jesus stands as an untarnished leader. Jesus was willing to expose the hypocrisy of the leaders of his time even when such actions threatened his own popularity and following (Matthew 15:12-14).

Jesus calls Xers to a life of service. The buster generation is looking for an opportunity to do something. They are a generation of volunteers. The National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, found that twenty-five percent of undergraduates in America devote an average of five hours per week to community service. Unlike their parents who were into causes, marches and student demonstrations, the Xers are getting involved in real community service.

Jesus is the edeal example for a generation that is not into causes but is heavily involved in volunteerism. Jesus was not a long-haired hippie radical demonstrating in the streets against the establishment. Instead, he became actively involved in meeting the needs of those around him. Whether it was feeding thousands at his spontaneous sea side smorgasbord, stooping to bless a child, or calling a lonely, lost, little man down from a tree, Jesus came to serve. Even though Jesus came from God, with the power of Heaven at His disposal, He came to serve (Matthew 20:23). Peter summarized the life of Jesus in one sentence: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:38 NKJV).

Xers are a refreshing change from the self-centered boomers who preceded them. They are the first generation that does not expect to do better than its predecessors. Thus, they are less concerned with accumulating possessions than their parent's generation.

They may be more willing to serve as ministers, teachers, and missionaries as their desire for service is channeled into a desire to serve the One who was the master servant (John 13:13-15).

Jesus calls Xers to authentic and transparent relationships. Xers are characterized by alone-ness. Nearly half of all busters come from divorced or blended families. Many more have been raised as latch-key kids -- left to fend for themselves in empty houses as their moms and dads went off to chase their secular, boomer dreams.

This ... created an alone-ness, which is different from just being lonely. Alone-ness is an experience of the soul: you are surrounded by people but unable to connect with them. The search for intimacy is a driving force in their lives. As a result, many busters are searching for the family they never had. For busters, family is more frequently defined as those who will love them, not those who produced them. Often, friends are more "family" than are parents or siblings. Thus, community--open, safe, inclusive relationships in which people help each other rather than compete--is the highest value of this generation" (Zander, p. 38).

It is easy to see how Christ answers this deeply felt need. Jesus taught that real family consisted of more than biological relationships (Matthew 12:48-49). There were the disciples of Jesus with whom he had a special family-like relationship. Within the disciples, there were twelve Apostles, and within the twelve there were the three--Peter, James and John--with whom he could share his most heart rending moments (Mark 14:33).

Jesus is the ideal model for a generation that is more concerned about relationships than institutions. Even though crowds numbering in the thousands followed Jesus, He always had time for individuals. In the press of an enormous crowd, Jesus took time to minister to the needs of a single hurting woman (Mark 5:30-34). At the peak of His popularity, He took His disciples away to a deserted place for a time of rest and rebuilding (Mark 6:31-32). With such intimate relationships, it is little wonder that his disciples said, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us" (Luke 24:32 NKJV)?

At its core, Christianity is about relationships. We are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27). If we are all in Christ, who is the son of God, then we are all children of God and joint heirs with a special bond of unity with each other and the members of the Godhead (Galatians 3:26-29). This relationship moves us to a level of fellowship the Xers long for, but cannot achieve outside of Christ.

The ministry of Jesus was characterized by the very kinds of relationships for which the busters long; authentic, transparent relationships, with real people. Within the gospels, the strengths and weaknesses of the Apostles are clearly portrayed. Jesus accepted them for who they were, commended them for their achievements, dealt openly and honestly with their failures and encouraged them to improve (John 21).

Jesus calls the Xers to face the future with confidence (Revelation 3:10). It is understandable that Xers are fearful of the future. One in four busters was aborted. Many of the rest grew up in dysfunctional families or broken homes. They have seen and experienced unprecedented graphic violence on television and in the world around them. Some are being forced to pass through metal detectors just to get into school. Since birth they have been assailed with predictions of environmental and economic catastrophe. They have watched many of their own families destroyed by the pursuit of individual financial security to the neglect of family and spiritual values.

There is no certainty in their world. Tragically, our society has become so secularized that many Xers do not even have a memory of the Jesus of the Bible to sustain them and George Barna states that they aren't "looking to Christianity to answer their spiritual concerns." This fact coupled with their lack of belief in objective absolute truth may be the two greatest challenges posed by this unique generation. If we are to convince them that Christianity is for real we must convince them Jesus offers real hope for this world and the one to come (John 10:10). We must teach then that Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27 NKJV).

There is no doubt that it will be a challenging, rewarding task to reach the Xers for Christ. Some of their unique characteristics will require that we question some of our customs and traditional ways of doing things. However, there is no reason to allow the change agents to use the Xers as an excuse to subvert the, "Faith once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3 ASV).

Jesus is relevant to every generation (Hebrews 13:8). What he and his church offers meets the real needs of every generation. Jesus is a leader who can be trusted. Jesus is a reason to serve. A relationship with Jesus is transparent and authentic. Ultimately Jesus guarantees Xers the abundant life now (John 10:10). In addition, He assures them of a future in which they like Paul will be able to say: "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV).

Changes last made on: June 12,1998


David E. Parks



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