"The Millennium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past,Reframing the Future of the Church" by M. Rex Miller

As I read M. Rex Miller's book, The Millennium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church, I thought about how a church and youth ministry will emerge from this new cultural ethos. I have come to realize that the church will want to embrace the digital mediums (as opposed to the broadcast culture we are exiting.) With new forms of communication through digital means, it is fascinating to think how such eclectic groups of people can be formed as communities with common interests.

Miller helps us understand how we can reconnect Word with Spirit and how the digital world will shape us:

• "We now have the means to allow our desires to journey virtually anyplace, to consider anything we choose." (77)

• "In a not-so-distant future, digital's desire for direct, unmediated, hands-on experience will replace broadcast's passive gestalt. Digital's reliance on networks and personal relationships will replace broadcast's bias toward collective main-event experiences. Digital's open-source technologies, organization, and thinking will replace broadcast's branding and proprietary claims. Digital's ability to reframe the past will replace broadcast's tendency to discard the past. (78)

• He sees worship as a "Gathering...an interactive, intimate, multisensory, improvisational, immersive, mystical, highly engaged experience." (96)

• He sees truth as "Contextual....truth is malleable and relevant with particular contexts of meaning. Context becomes the simulator for our understandings of reality. Community (virtual or otherwise) tests and validates reality." (97)

• He sees faith as "Pragmatism...belief resides in the medium of digital community. Faith begins with the context of a community, both physical and virtual. The community narrative creates a microworldview expressing origin, points of validation, and destiny. Doctrinal differences blur, yet microworldviews separate. For example, faith communities emerge centered around sustainable living, traditional family values, or alternative lifestyles, each with its own genealogy of thought, filtering process, and rites of initiation." (98-99)

• He sees the gospel as being "Recontextualized....unprecedented individual access to church history, traditions, and styles creates a desire to freshly encounter past traditions and gospel truths, sampling and synthesizing them into new expressions." (99)

• He sees the "Godhead (Body or church)....expressed with a new awareness of the church....leadership acts as a catalyst for members of the church to minister to one another and to community....in acts of healing, confession, correction, and charity." (100)

• He sees God's location...."Everywhere...all creation is a reflection of God. Because God is everywhere, we can access God through many means." (101)

• He see the connection with God through the "Heart of God...we see God's heart expressed in a yearning for connection and community and getting back to something simpler." (101)

How Young People View Their Lives, Futures and Politics

Below are links to some very interesting research conducted by the Pew Research Center, "2006 Generation Next Study."

"Young Americans Profiled in PBS Documentary - A unique generation is coming of age in America. They’ve been called many things, millennials, boomerang kids, generation Y . . . we are calling them Generation Next. They are the 42 million young people aged 16-25 who were born after the Cold War, weaned on technology, came of age rocked by 9/11 and who now face a future marked by complex global challenges."

Link to research: http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/300.pdf

Link to NPR's site on Generation Next:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105020155

Generation Next: A Snapshot

Organization: MacNeil/Lehrer Productions

Few generations have grown up during a period of such rapid and dramatic change. Born between 1980 and 1990, Generation Next has already seen extraordinary political, military, economic, technological and social changes. They have lived in a post-Cold War world and a time of relative economic prosperity in America, but they have also experienced September 11th and the fear of another attack, two Gulf Wars, Columbine, Hurricane Katrina and the increasing polarization of public discourse. All this has occurred in the midst of a communications revolution. More than any who came before, Generation Next is engaged with technology, and the vast majority is dependent upon it.

Diversity:

Generation Next is the most racially diverse generation in the history of the United States.1

Approximately 62% of 18-24 year-olds are white, down from 87% in 1972.2

Including non-citizens, the 18-24 year-old Latino population is now larger than the corresponding African-American population in the United States. 58% of Generation Next believes the Nation needs to be more accepting of difference and diversity.3

Generation Next is more accepting of homosexuality and interracial dating.4

Transition to Adulthood:

Generation Next is changing the traditional path to adulthood: starting families later, interspersing work and education, and switching careers more frequently.5

A majority of Generation Next feels satisfied financially, but receives greater financial support from their parents and has more debt than previous generations.6

Education, Job Prospects & Media:

A college degree is more essential to higher earnings now than ever before. Male high school graduates with no college degree make relatively less now, on average, than they did in 1975.7

Young women in Generation Next are more likely to attend college than young men.8

Among 16-24 year-old African-American men not enrolled in school, only about half are working. Roughly one third of all young black men are involved in the criminal justice system at any one time.9

Generation Next reads fewer newspapers and tunes to fewer radio and television news programs.10

Over the course of the year, veteran journalist Judy Woodruff joins forces with MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, embarking on a wide-ranging expedition to listen to both the engaged and the disenfranchised members of Generation Next.

The goal of the project is straightforward: to glean as complete an understanding as possible of young people's take on a broad cross section of social, political, and pop culture issues, from family, relationships, religion and personal values, to government and leadership,

America's role in the world, immigration, diversity and the quality of their schools.

Where do they get their information, how do they define success,

and what does it mean to them to be an American?

The demographic group, often referred to as the "millennials," are courted aggressively by advertisers, but overlooked or even ignored by policymakers.

-------------------------------------------------
1 Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research Inc."OMG! How Generation Y is Redefining Faith in the iPod Era"
2 CIRCLE: Electoral Engagement Among Minority Youth
3 Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research Inc."Coming of Age in America"
4 Pew Center for the People and the Press
5 The Network on Transitions to Adulthood, "October 2004 Policy Brief"
6 The Network on Transitions to Adulthood, "October 2004 Policy Brief" and the Pew Center on the People and the Press
7 Prof. Sheldon Danziger, University of Michigan
8 CIRCLE, "Electoral Engagement Among Non-College Attending Youth"
9 Harry Holzer, Peter Edelman, Paul Offner: Reconnecting Disadvantaged Young Men
10Pew Center for the People and the Press

"unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity…and Why it Matters” by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons

Christianity has an image problem! Check this out…..

· Although their book focuses on older “Mosaics” (Mosaics are those born between 1984 and 2002), Kinnaman/Lyon’s analytical tool is simply to help us understand a generation of people, outsiders of the church, whom we, the church and its leaders, need to recognize. There are trends (based on the authors’ extensive research). First, the outsiders make up a large percentage of people who are outside of Christianity. There are 34 million people in the US (37% of the age group 18-41) who can be influenced for Christ! And I think these findings will obviously trickle down to the younger youth!

· Some of the conclusions drawn from their research and personal experiences include:

“They favor a unique and personal journey.” (22)

Relationships are a driving force for these young people, along with loyalty.
“Finding ways to express themselves and their rage is an endless pursuit.” (22)

“They do not trust things that seem too perfect, accepting that life comes with its share of messiness and off-the-wall experiences and people.” (23)

They consume media. “Technologies connect young people to information and each other-and power their self-expression and creativity-in ways older adults do not fully appreciate.” (23)

“Young people engage in a nearly constant search for fresh experiences and new sources of motivation.” (23)

“Spirituality is important to young adults, but many consider it just one element of a successful, eclectic life.” (23)

There is a growing resentment toward Christianity.
“We learned that outsiders are more familiar with the phrase “born-again Christians” than they are with the term “evangelicals.” (25)

“….less than a half million young outsiders-out of the twenty-four million-who see evangelicals in a positive light.” (25)

“The primary reason outsiders feel hostile toward Christians, and especially conservative Christians, is not because of any specific theological perspective. What they react negatively to is our “swagger,” how we go about things and the sense of self-importance we project.” (26)

“One outsider put it this way: “Most people I meet assume that Christian means very conservative, entrenched in their thinking, antigay, antichoice, angry, violent, illogical, empire builders; they want to convert everyone, and they generally cannot live peacefully with anyone who doesn’t believe what they believe.” (26) (I completely agree with this statement. Although I am a late Boomer I have found this prevailing attitude offensive and continue to.)

“In studying thousands of outsiders’ impressions, it is clear that Christians are primarily perceived for what they stand against. We have become famous for what we oppose, rather than who we are for.” (26) Amen!

“The most common “favorable” impression is that Christianity teaches the same basic idea as other religions….good values and principles….” (27)

To download the research summary of the perceptions of Christianity presented go to:

http://www.unchristian.com/fermi

My response to the results from our youth questionnaires!

Okay…if you haven’t yet read over the responses from the youth questionnaires…please do. I found the results confirming and insightful! I think you may too! And I would love to hear from you.


First, my desire was to get an inside look into the minds of high school youth that attended a church youth group. I was pleasantly surprised when 84 turned in their completed questionnaires. I hoped to gain a better understanding of their values, support systems, meaning, views of God, influences, fears, hopes, and lastly, how technology played a perceived role in their lives. I feel as though I now have direct input that can be applied to my reading, learning and ministry.


In terms of values, supports, influencers, and where they felt they belonged, responses varied. But as expected, ‘friends’ rated very high. I found it very interesting, given popular opinion, that ‘family’ was rated high as well. ‘Church’ and ‘youth group’ also was listed often as a place of support and belonging. I sense from the responses that what adolescents’ desire is community, a place to feel accepted and loved.


Hopes and fears brought the largest variety of responses, I sense the majorities of fears encompass being alone, not accepted, loss, and hope was once again about community, family, sense of belonging. Succeeding and failing also seem to dominate many of their thoughts. I find the responses to where they feel a sense of belonging filled with questioning and wonder. They are media saturated, experience and feeling-driven, overwhelmed with options, materialistic, despairing and hopeless. The church, the workers, and God.......calling to our youth to be redeemed, and have a sense of belonging….so we must continue pursuing, loving, listening!

I was certainly blessed reading their responses to all the questions, but none more than their views of God. I could see an undercurrent throughout the responses of a God who plays a central role in many of their lives. I wish, in hindsight, that I had questioned more their views of God, Christianity, and the Church. Perhaps I am being optimistic, but I do sense a generation that is seeking truth and authenticity in their relationship with God (and those associated with Christianity!)


Now…regarding technology…I agree it is pervasive in the world and our lives today. I was surprised in that these youth, although extremely tied to their cell phones, their responses to the technology questions were less than I had expected. Their responses were geared towards being able to communicate with their friends and family rather than being tied to computers, games, movies, and so on. Although a few seem extremely influenced by their ‘gadgets’, most simply utilize them for communication.


I smiled as I read through their responses to the technology helpful/distraction question. Helpful and distraction were basically split, but there was an overwhelming response to technology being BOTH helpful and distraction. I feel this was an honest evaluation on their parts! Perhaps, as spiritual guides for youth, our question may be how God/church/relationships can become the focus of their attention…how we can help them to hear the Good News…given all the distractions!


I would value hearing from you and your perceptions of these responses. Blessings!

“Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture: Bridging Teen Worldviews and Christian Truth” by Walt Mueller

In his book, “Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture”, Walt Mueller invests a whole section to analyzing the emerging generation mission field (he calls the Millennial Generation or Generation Y), the second to grow up in a world driven by the emerging postmodern worldview. He provides some excellent insights:

· “For them the world is filled with questions, but very few answers. The cries rising out of their deep hunger and thirst are loud, very loud, if we listen, we’ll hear it in their music, books and films. We observe it in their choices and behaviors. They long to be “meaningfully connected to life.” But the complexities of their world have made it difficult for them to hear the good news – at least in the way the church is now “spreading” it – in a timely and understandable manner.” (18/19)
· We must listen….”we aren’t listening, and we don’t even know it!” (19) Kids do not feel heard. “The cost of losing our ears is great. Whoever takes interest and listen with both ears will be given the privilege of influence. God’s people are typically surprised not only to learn that our young are not listening to us but who they are listening to.” (25)
· “While all teens struggle at some level, teens who lack a distinctively biblical foundation and the security of a strong home face greater difficulty. Our world is populated by increasing numbers who bear the ugly marks of relational breakdown.” (20)
· Mueller points out that if we listen to the artists/songs that youth are listening to, we will hear their pain and disappointment. “Adults often fail to see such expressions as cries resulting from teens’ unmet hunger and thirst for God.” (22)
· Influencers have changed…no longer is the family, school, or church influencing teens’ lives. Influencers today are the media’s influences followed by friends/peers. “Youth and electronic media are dependent upon each other.” (26)
· “For young people, especially those who don’t already have a place to belong, media can serve as an escape from the cares, concerns and pains of life. The media gives them a voice that frees them from social neglect and the resulting silence. It can serve as a form of lament, much like the biblical psalms. At times it serves as a form of protest against victimization and oppression. For some it can actually become an addiction. And, of greatest importance to our discussion, media can serve as religion, especially where the church seems to have little or nothing to say.” (27)
· Our youth are hurting. Kids are hardwired to want to connect. “The desire for connections – human and divine – is undeniably present.” (37)

· “Adolescence is a crossroads. It’s a time marked by overwhelming change, numerous questions and a search for answers. Not sure which directions to take, the emerging generations are presented with confusing messages and options. Usually, the signposts they choose to follow are the most attractive, loud and convincing in response to their unspoken teenage cry of “Show me the way.” The choice is made easier when they see their peers moving en masse in one direction.” (80-81)
· The millennial generation (born after 1982) attributes are shaped by living in a rapidly changing world. They have common marks such as a lost sense of right and wrong, living without a moral compass. According to Mueller we may continue to see a rise in behavior driven problems and violence. Another mark of this generation is the cultural diversity, and the crumbling of racism and prejudice. Pluralism and tolerance all mark this generation, especially with a new openness to cultural diversity. Broken relationships also dominate and mark this generation. “Many of the Millennial children will never live in a home with both biological parents.” (94) They are media saturated, experience – and feeling-driven. Suspicious of truth, overwhelmed with options, live in a globalized youth culture, pervaded by violence, pushed, hurried and frazzled, materialistic, despairing and hopeless….and most important….crying out for redemption.

Richard R. Dunn explains in his book, “Shaping the Spiritual Life of Students”, that youth today are postmodern pilgrims in process:

· “Twenty-first-century postmodern spirituality is….less about where this generation is going and more about what young people have left behind. The worldview and ethos of our Judeo-Christian heritage no longer exert a prevailing influence on the culture within which North American adolescents mature.” (30) He describes that today we create our own designer gods. In an age of pluralism we pull our view of God from many sources, developing a personalized belief system.
· The dilemma is how to share biblical truth to youth. They are confused and seeking, “crying out for genuine spiritual experiences with a living God.” (35) “Jimmy Long echoes the longing for authenticity among Generation X, the generation immediately preceding the millennial generation.” (35)
· “The “been there, done that” millennial generation even more intensely seeks authentic, personally meaningful relationships with God. Nothing less than a real Jesus for a real world will suffice. “ (36)
· “Postmodern adolescents want communion with a God who can do what they cannot do for themselves: provide ultimate love, hope and meaning in a world littered with the residue of religious disillusionment.” (36)
· Dunn sees adolescent spirituality being tremendously affected by popular culture. Media, music, movies, television, videos, fads, cell phones all are dominant forces in shaping spiritual experiences of youth. (I certainly saw this trend from my responses to the questionnaire by high school students.)
· “In postmodernity what one can experience is one’s reality.” (40) “The sensate worldview leads to a “frenzied pursuit of pleasure” as the supreme goal of life.” (40) “The sense of pleasure is their god.” (40)
· This is a nugget of truth we must embrace: “Please help me feel good about myself” is at the core of much adolescent behavior, whether moral or immoral, seemingly godly or ungodly. In a youth culture that markets enticing pseudo-attachments at the speed of light, feeling good is routinely confused with having achieved a good feeling about who I am. Adolescents often lack the personal maturity and life experience to distinguish between the two. Without genuine attachment with Christ and others (real relationship), pseudo-attachments become a way of life in the consuming ethos of North American culture.” (42)
· “Leading postmodern adolescents into growing, intimate relationships with Jesus Christ begins as spiritual caregivers start pacing with the adolescents in their homes, churches and communities. Only intentional pacing relationships will be adequate to build bridges across chasms of disconnection, disorientation and disillusionment. Of all the failings of twentieth-century Christian youth ministry, perhaps the greatest was using programs and techniques to shortcut that need for relational proximity.” (44) (Emphasis mine.)

"Presence-Centered Youth Ministry: Guiding Students into Spiritual Formation" by Mike King

Following are trends Mike King notes in his 2006 book, "Presence-Centered Youth Ministry":

· Statistically it has been said that 80% of people who grew up in the church leave it when they hit their twenties, yet we are seeing the interest in spirituality at an all time high.
· More than 80% of college respondents (112,232) of a Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA poll said they are very interested in spirituality, eight out of ten attend religious services, and two-thirds pray.
· “This generation is looking for adult leadership that will believe in them, listen to them, understand them and model being authentic followers of Jesus Christ.” (25) Youth workers as entertainers or program directors should be part of the past, and instead we must be authentic shepherds and spiritual guides.
· “Presence-centered youth ministry is about deconstructing the big business of North American evangelicalism and returning to the missional nature of ministry in the way of Jesus.” (26)
· There is a trend in this country where people hold evangelicals in contempt because of the way the Message is communicated, endorsing a high standard of conduct but not living by it, and how we love to show our piety publically. We are seen as shallow, legalistic, and not normal!
· “More and more church leaders, theologians and historians are concerned that the North American evangelical church is pursuing an agenda that harkens back to the era of Christendom….” (28) I would agree!
· Youth are tired of the McDonaldization of Christianity…just say yes to Jesus and your life will be great.