For quite some time the ‘generation
of interest’ for communities in general, and specifically faith communities,
has been Gen Y or Millennials. It’s a demographic that differs from the boomers,
builders, and busters. And just when the experts think they have it figured
out, we move onto a new subset of the population: Gen Z-Centennials.
They’re younger, and they have different goals and priorities. And so, the learning curve has to start over for those who are trying to keep up. And by the way, starting now, and for the next few decades, this subset is going to figure substantially in national conversations. That means that we as community leaders, and church leaders, want to know who it is that we are ‘leading’. In Meet Generation Z: Understanding and Reaching the New Post-Christian World, (Baker Books, 2017) James White gives us a picture of who is included in this generation, and the distinctive that separate them from previous generations.
They’re younger, and they have different goals and priorities. And so, the learning curve has to start over for those who are trying to keep up. And by the way, starting now, and for the next few decades, this subset is going to figure substantially in national conversations. That means that we as community leaders, and church leaders, want to know who it is that we are ‘leading’. In Meet Generation Z: Understanding and Reaching the New Post-Christian World, (Baker Books, 2017) James White gives us a picture of who is included in this generation, and the distinctive that separate them from previous generations.
White divides the book into 2
parts; one part addressing current realities that are facing the church in our
Post-Christian world. Here he includes
some research on what we are facing in the west, and moves on to the distinctives
of Gen Z, and how their thought processes are being shaped. Part 2 is what the
author suggests as a response, and the author talks about being countercultural
as a church. (that seems to follow the
example of Jesus---when sin entered the world things got turned upside down, Jesus
was all about turning the upside-down upside-down, thus making it
right-side-up)
But being counter-cultural means we
have to learn the culture we want to address, so that we know how to address
members of that culture, without offending them (except with Biblical Truth).
Chapter 8 includes some ideas for new approaches to evangelization in this new culture.
There are also some manuscripts of
3 messages that Dr White has preached, and his sermon on gay marriage (Appendix
A, p 161) is quite an eye-opener. That teaching tool in itself would be worth
the price of this book for anyone struggling with how to address the issue in a
loving manner, while staying true to Scripture.
White also provides “discussion questions” at the end of
each chapter. The questions can be used for personal reflection, but small
groups wanting to learn how to share the gospel would benefit, as would church
leadership teams as they plan for the future of their faith community.
I received this book from Baker Books in exchange for
posting a review. I was not required to post a positive review.
5/5
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