If you’ve done evangelism among the millennials (those born during the years 1977-2000) you’ve likely heard the moderately absurd statement, “I don’t really believe anything.” If you haven’t yet, expect to hear it a lot more in the future.
USA today published an article last month describing a growing category of adults who claim no religious affiliation. The article was titled, “Meet the ‘Nones’: An Emerging Force.”
The ‘Nones’ claim no religious affiliation, are typically not part of a faith community and generally have a conglomeration of beliefs.
Author Cathy Grossman pointed out the increase of this semi-spiritual, syncretistic demographic: “The big news about people with no religious identity, the Nones, isn’t that they’re No. 2 now in the USA, 19.6% and climbing, it’s the diversity among these 46 million people.”
Noteworthy among the Nones is their apparent apathy. They are more Oprah Winfrey than Christopher Hitchens. They’re not the ardent atheist bulldogs of the recent past. They are skeptical of any religious dogma or definitive statements about faith.
As Grossman said, Nones are seekers and spiritually inclined—at least in principle. “They’re still open to spirituality. The study find: 68% believe at least somewhat in a God or a higher power, 41% say they pray, 23% consider religion at least somewhat important in their life.”
Interesting enough, Nones are leery of individuals and groups who claim certainty in the faith realm. Like most skeptics, the only certainty is that there is no certainty—except for those who proclaim absolute truth. At this point, all doubt vanishes. Tolerance, after all, has it limits.
Pantheistic and mystical elements play a greater role in the lives of Nones. “Nones believe in astrology and reincarnation and 58% say they “feel a deep connection” with nature and the earth.”
Claire Noelle Frost, 28 of Brooklyn, who coaches people on how to organize and de-clutter their lives, was once a Christian until she “let go of belief.” “There is so much I cannot prove. I’m sure truth exists at all. Instead of ‘I believe,’ I say, ‘maybe,’ and ‘who knows?’ Frost says.
How ironic that Frost’s job is to guide others and yet she’s doesn’t have any answers herself—at least not for ultimate questions?
Grossman is aware that the Nones have become a substantial proportion of the population. “It’s the change of a lifetime. When today’s Baby Boomers were under 30, about 15% were Nones. They still are today. Among the 32% of Millennials who are Nones now, few will return to the organized religion fold, Pew researchers say.”
There is work to be done among Christians in our generation. The Nones are an emerging force. While, the truths of the Christian faith stand regardless of society’s belief about them, we are called to bear witness to what we’ve been told. We should take great comfort in the Holy Spirit’s transforming work. In a world of increasing skepticism and faithlessness, the person of Jesus Christ testifies to truth.
His life, death and resurrection validate his absolutes claims about himself. Skepticism and religious pluralism are not new. The apostle Paul encountered a few Nones at Mars Hill in Athens 2,000 years ago as Luke records in Acts 17. What did Paul do? He met the lost where they were at. He understood the culture. He was intellectually engaged. Most of all, he passionately preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.
He exhorted his hearers saying, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” V. 30-31
Different millennium, same message, same Spirit, and the same Lord.
The Spirit continues to testify concerning Christ. John tells us in his first epistle, “This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is truth. “—I John 5:6
At the Veritas Network, the pursuit and proclamation of truth is our foundation and mission. Jesus Christ is both Lord and King. Because of this, we confidently and lovingly bear testimony in a generation that is spiritually adrift and in need of rescue.
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Follow Ryan on Twitter @RyanRindels
