Zoomers and ChristianityThrough Their Eyes

The 21st century has seen its fair share of significant events that have left an indelible mark on Christianity. One such phenomenon is the advent of the Zoomers Generation. Born between 1997 and 2012, ‘Zoomers’ or ‘Gen Z-ers’ are known for their strength and inquisitive minds. By nature, Zoomers do not ascribe to anything, including ‘new’ values and rules, without first asking questions and being satisfied with the answers. They are a collective who intend to have their voices heard and not be shut down without adequate room to air opinions and observations. In various ways, Zoomers have shocked and baffled many older Christians with their general outlook on life, mannerisms and actions.

Christianity is most times passed down from generation to generation like many other teachings and ways of life. For many Zoomers, there are several unanswered questions about the faith. They may simply go through the motions as instructed to appease parents and elders until they discover Christ for themselves, either through the consistent guidance of older Christians or through an experience that leads to a personal relationship with Him. That gives a new perspective on life and reassures that God is real and present. As young people begin to establish their footing and navigate life’s wild ride, many find that they have doubts about religion and its nuances. This investigative report dives into the psyche of Generation Zs’based on their responses to a specially engineered questionnaire, to gain an uncensored, honest understanding of their views on Christianity.

Currently, the Zoomer generation is aged between 10 and 25. The majority of respondents fell between 18 and 22, providing an image of this intriguing post-adolescent stage of life.

When asked how they discovered Christianity, 87% of respondents stated that family members were the influence, corroborating the earlier observation that overwhelmingly, most Gen-Zers interact with Christianity because of parental sway. Our questionnaire indicated that 68% of the focus group were Pentecostals, while the remaining belonged to other denominations. More than half the respondents were baptised, but only a third are spirit-filled, which begs the question of the zeal among this generation for the Holy Spirit. On church attendance, 40% said that they do so weekly, 13% monthly, 20% quarterly, 20% on special occasions, and the remaining 7% never attended. Although church attendance isn’t the sole marker of a good Christian, it does help to bridge knowledge gaps and encourage persons through a sense of community.

by Martin Watson

When the question of ministry arose, it was discovered that only a quarter of the group serve in ministry and do so in the areas of dance, music, and media. The areas of service are no surprise, given the artistic and digital nature of most Gen-Zs. However, it should be of great concern that 75% of Gen-Zs in our churches are not involved in other ministries. Is this an indication of a great generation divide or Gen-Z’s lack of interest in church participation? This finding also signals the drastic difference between attendance and involvement.

Interestingly, on the importance of a personal experience that proves God is real and present, a whopping 67% answered in the affirmative. Testimonies of these experiences ranged from God being a provider in times of dire need, recovery from illnesses, specific prayers being answered continuously, and the memory of being lost as a child in a large social gathering while a small, still voice outlined the way back to family members. One respondent even went into detail about an experience with God that “broke the grip the devil tried to have on my life” to the point of deliverance where God’s peace and love is now “incomprehensible and too deep” for words.

On personal evangelism, a little more than half relayed that they share their faith broadly through social media. However, the topic of Christ and a personal relationship with Him seldomly occurs. Most seemed satisfied to steer clear of frequent conversations on religion. Most respondents stated that their friends’ views on Christianity ranged from essential to their everyday lives to not believing in Christ. Most are intrigued about faith but not enthusiastic about embracing all its practices.

Nearly half of the respondents believe that being a young Christian in this generation is challenging, citing views such as “the older generation just doesn’t get it” and “with what’s going on in the world, it’s just hard to keep the faith and think straight”. Conversely, roughly 30% disagree, stating “it’s very easy” and that youths need to be very resolute in their pursuit of Christ.

Respondents shared that the church can help make being a young Christian easier via sermons and activities conducive to youth. One notable respondent added we should “treat young Christians with respect. Do not shame them for simple mistakes or berate them for their opinions. Show guidance with kindness without being offensive.” Most respondents also shared the sentiment that Christianity needs to evolve lest our youth feel isolated and alienated from the church.

It should be said that Gen Zs are not a lost generation. As the research indicates, many love God and want to serve Him, but they require more than the traditional approach. Zoomers require creativity and the use of modern technology. Just as our music has evolved through various musical styles such as rap, they believe that the message of Christ can be packaged in a language they understand or identify with. Many believe that there is no need to be in a physical church to worship God (as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic), but rather, fellowship can be done together in a digital space.

I believe that Christianity will never be out of style, there are some Zoomers like me who will hold firm to our faith and glorify God, and as a result, “Christianity will always live on.”