From Fear to Hope: Looking for Christ in the faith of rising generations 

A version of this article by Dr. Sharon Galgay Ketcham, professor of theology and Christian ministries originally appeared in the spring 2024 issue of STILLPOINT magazine.

There it is again. Another headline decrying the decline of faith among rising generations, and the response is just as familiar. Often driven by fear, church and ministry leaders spend significant time and money trying to figure out how to keep the attention of their youth. Have you seen this in your own faith community? 

I’ve been researching and writing about faith among rising generations for two decades and want you to know there is more to this story. 

First, let’s acknowledge some unsettling facts. The decline in religious participation is real and can mean people walk away from Christianity. In 2014 Pew Research Center 1 published a groundbreaking report on the religious landscape of the United States. When asked to identify religious affiliation, there were unprecedented rates of people who selected the box “none.” This was especially true among rising generations. A decade later data confirms that participation in religious activities—such as going to church—is less common for Gen Z (40%) than baby boomers (57%).2 There are multiple contributing factors, such as a lack of confidence in organized religion,3 abuse and scandals in prominent Christian organizations 4 and fewer childhood experiences in faith communities.5 There are also larger societal forces at play, including the technology revolution, politicization of religion and distrust of institutions.

Let’s be honest: Our conception and practices of faith formation belong to a different era that for many are not translating into a vibrant faith experience for younger generations. 

But there is more to the story. Rising generations are finding and expressing faith differently. Springtide Research Institute’s 2023 report 6 on the State of Religion and Young People found that 78% say they are at least slightly spiritual and 28% say they have become more spiritual or religious over the past two years. Springtide also reports that 55% of young people can identify “experiences that evoked a sense of wonder, awe, gratitude, deep truth, and/ or interconnectedness.” 

Let’s place this spiritually curious generation in a Gospel scene. I see them in the crowds yearning to get a glimpse of Jesus far more than playing the role of the religious leaders who are suspicious of Jesus’ influence. Faith in Jesus Christ for rising generations will look different than mine and yours. As uncomfortable as this might make us feel, we can also feel tremendous hope. 

Instead of treating the faith of rising generations as a problem to solve, let’s lean into the ways we see Christ moving. Philosopher Carl Raschke uses the metaphor of a rhizome to describe Christ’s movement in different times and places. A rhizome is an underground grass root system that grows horizontally below the surface and sends out shoots and roots as it grows. The entire root system remains connected underground even while the grass we see sprout above the surface has a unique appearance based on the soil composition in the area where is grows. Similarly, we can trust that Christ is moving beneath the surface in the lives of rising generations and will continue to make himself known. Even when the blades of grass look unusual or unfamiliar to us, they remain part of the same root system. Our role is to look closely for Christ’s presence as rising generations give voice to their passions and experiences. 

At Gordon College we are paying attention to the faith experiences of our students to discover when they experience God’s presence, how they express their relationship with Christ and what ways they seek to be open to the Spirit. So far, here is what we are seeing: 

Yep, our students are spiritually curious. Students yearn to encounter Christ and describe sacred experiences that shape their beliefs, develop trust in God and motivate their actions. While rising generations might resist having their faith prescribed, their curiosity simultaneously welcomes mentors, resources and experiences. 

They self-resource their faith. Rising generations utilize social networks through an array of digital technologies to experiment, self-resource and even participate in faith communities. They aren’t afraid of trying out a new Christian practice and look for people—online and offline—who want to join them. 

Students long for authentic spiritual conversations. They are less interested in debating theology and more interested in talking about the way their faith intersects with their mental health, gives meaning to daily life or shapes how to care for God’s creation. 

Open-handed, Christ-centered faith is appealing to them. Meeting Christians from other traditions can initially be a point of stress for students but quickly becomes a location for their faith to expand. Here’s how a few describe the change: 

• “I grew up Presbyterian and met a Pentecostal at Gordon who worshipped differently than me. I learned that the more ways I worship Jesus, the closer I grow to him and recognize God moving in my life. 

• “I come from a nondenominational background, and one of my friends is Catholic. She helped me relearn how Catholics experience God and see beauty in reverent worship.” 

• “I did not value hymns growing up, and then I met someone who was moved by the theologically rich words of hymns. Now I can use my mind in new ways to express my worship of God.” 

• “Coming out of an Assembly of God church, I now see how the Spirit moves in Congregational churches too. Seeing God in new ways reminds me of God’s faithfulness.” 

Our differences aren’t obstacles to overcome but opportunities for the Spirit to expand our faith. 

When the narratives of decline elicit fear, remember Paul’s claim: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). Christ loves and pursues rising generations, seeking to liberate them for God’s purposes—just like we experienced in our own lives. Like a rhizome Christ’s movement in their lives will look distinct as it grows in the unique soil of our day. Our role isn’t to fix the faith of rising generations. Instead, we can look for Christ among them. In addition to inviting them to participate in the faith that is meaningful to us, we can also be space-makers who welcome their contributions. Let’s change our posture and expectations of rising generations and allow our fears to transform into hope. 

1. “Religious Landscape Study,” Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project, Pew Research, May 12, 2015, www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study 

2. “Generation Z and the Future of Faith in America,” The Survey Center on American Life, March 24, 2022, www.americansurveycenter.org/research/generation-z-future-of-faith 

3. “U.S. Confidence in Organized Religion Remains Low,” Gallup.com, July 8, 2019, news.gallup.com/poll/259964/confidence-organized-religion-remains-low.aspx 

4. “Religion, Democracy & the Task of Restoring Trust,” American Academy of Arts & Sciences, November 15, 2022, www.amacad.org/publication/religion-democracy-task-restoring-trust 

5. “The Real Reason People Leave Religion,” The Survey Center on American Life, August 10, 2023, www.americansurveycenter.org/newsletter/the-real-reason-people-leave-religion 

6. “The State of Religion & Young People 2023,” Springtide Research Institute, September 21, 2023, www.springtideresearch.org/research/the-state-of-religion-young-people-2023