Laying the foundations: young adults and biblical literacy

This article is part of our “Is the ‘missing generation’ still missing?” report to find out more click here.

Of course, there are exceptions (I’m honoured to know many), but as teenagers the millennials (now mid-20s to late 30s) were described as “memory-less” about the basic tenets of Christian faith, and the younger ‘Generation Z’ know even less.[i]

I’m not intending to address why or discuss the re-evangelisation process that faces us here.[ii] What I’d like to consider, as an evangelical Christian, is how to help young adults, whether churched or not, meet Jesus there and discover the Bible’s power to transform their lives.

We all recognise the centrality of scripture in the journey of Christian discipleship, but for myriad reasons giving it meaningful attention is incredibly challenging for today’s young. Not least of those is their scepticism towards all forms of authority. Particularly given how radical its claims and teachings are in 2021, young adults ask, perfectly reasonably, “What is this book and why should I pay attention to it over all the other things claiming to be sources of truth?”

Authority and authenticity

Firstly, we cannot take anything for granted. We need to help young adults understand what the Bible is, and what it is not. If we are to address their scepticism then we must explore how the Bible came into being, why is it is considered the word of God, and its impact on the world. [iii] Since young adults value experience so highly, sharing how it has shaped our own faith helps. Young adults love authenticity, openness and want older friends. They want to know why we trust scripture, what we find challenging, and how it has helped our relationship with God. Our conviction and enthusiasm can be inspiring and contagious.

The big picture

Secondly, the meta-narrative is invaluable in helping both the churched and un-churched make sense of scripture. Despite the challenges of engaging with it well, the Old Testament brings a level of profundity to the gospels which is often lost. Despite the tendency to ‘meme’ single verses they are generations familiar with long narrative arcs, prequels, and spin offs, so we shouldn’t underestimate the power of the big picture.[iv] I cannot overstate the number of ‘Ah!’ moments I have witnessed, and those who have wept, sat in holy silence, or even come to faith from hearing the whole story of God’s interaction with humanity in scripture.

Empathy and identification

As generations longing for connection, finding friends and role models in scripture can be inspiring. Imagining our way into biblical narratives using empathy and identification brings it alive. For example: sitting under a bush with desperate Hagar or exhausted Elijah; inhabiting the distress and astonished joy of Mary, Martha and Lazarus; the relief of the haemorrhaging woman; imagining Timothy’s crisis of confidence, or Onesimus journey back to face Philemon. Certainly, this reflects my own temperament, but discovering people like them or identifying parallels with their own lives makes scripture relevant and inspiring.[v]

"I cannot overstate the number of ‘Ah!’ moments I have witnessed, and those who have wept, sat in holy silence, or even come to faith from hearing the whole story of God’s interaction with humanity in scripture"

Dealing with the darkness

Although it takes real wisdom, not avoiding difficult passages and topics is another suggestion. We’ve all done it – cut the sermon text to avoid uncomfortable or distressing portions. But young adults are well aware of the realities of systemic evils in myriad forms – and they care. They are looking for answers to those, and presenting the ancient wisdom of scripture, the response of Jesus to power, abuse, oppression, are ways to introduce the Bible as relevant for today’s issues. Sanitising scripture might avoid rocking the boat, but they are already in turbulent times. Engaging with reality as presented in the text, and God’s response to that, brings a level of authenticity to Christian faith; it is about the real mess of human existence not a sanitised ‘churchy’ version.

Learning together

Finally, younger generations have been raised with pupil-centred learning, invited to tweet, comment and like. They expect a voice. Although we’ve all experienced Bible studies that were a pooling of collective ignorance, there are ways to read scripture together well: to model asking good questions, having respectful discussion and gaining mutual insight. This takes creativity, patience and grace, but if ever we needed cross-generational learning it is now. First John 2:12 – 13 endorses: “You fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning”. “You young people, because you have conquered the evil one”. The testimony of those older and the zeal of the young are not at odds but complementary. We are all “little children whose sins are forgiven on account of His name”.

Of course, I’m aware that much of this applies not just to young adults, and these are not the only options. I know plenty of theologically minded Christians who love a bit of linguistic detail or systematic exegesis. I’m aware of churches using technology to great effect or creatively engaging those for whom literacy is a challenge. But I hope it might encourage us to reflect and invite the Holy Spirit to inspire us with ways to help younger generations fall in love with the Bible and the God who reveals Himself through it.

It matters now more than ever.