Millennials and Church
Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 was World Mental Health Day on Thursday. Business Insider published these findings about the current mental health state of millennials (23 to 38).
· Depression is on the rise among millennials
· "Deaths of despair" are also on the rise
· It's partly linked to money stress
· Millennials are also lonely
· And they're dealing with burnout in and out of the workplace
Research defines what we in church already know: Barna study
Millennials are leaving the church at an alarming rate
· Only 2 in 10 millennials believe attending church is important or worthwhile
· 59 percent of millennials raised in a church have dropped out
· 35 percent of millennials have an anti-church stance, believing the church does more harm than good
· Millennials are the least likely age group of anyone to attend church
There is a Causal Link between the Health & Attitudes
The Church is relevant & the Bible has answers for all of those issues
The reason Millennials have these issues is because they are
Rejecting the Answers
Is 31:1 (ESV)
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in their chariots because they are many, and in their horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!
When you do what Egyptians do, you’ll get what Egyptians get
Depression is real. It has various causes. There is help
The Bible is open & honest about depression & its effects
The Word also has prescriptions
David transparent about his depression
It led to loss of sleep, loss of appetite and weight loss
Ps 102:5
In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones.
Depression survives on hopelessness – David worked to keep hope alive
Ps 42:11
Why, my soul, are you downcast (heavy)? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
It starts with Believing Him – not just Believing IN Him
1 Pet 5:6
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
When you believe Him, you’ll take the medicine He prescribes
Ps 119:28
My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.
Emotions fluctuate – The Word stabilizes our emotions
Depression feeds on negative thinking – The Word inspires right thinking
Is 26:3 (ESV)
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
Salvation is Spiritual & Psychological
Be transformed by the renewal of your minds – Rom 12:2
2 Cor 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Deaths of Despair: Deaths related to drugs, alcohol & suicide
Things that numb the pain
Dealing with issues like everyone else is not working
It only gets you depressed, lonely, broke & burned-out
Spiritual, Moral & Ethical teaching counters these behaviors
Boundaries – interpreted as restrictions & limitations; actually, guard rails
Ps 119:30
I have chosen the way of truth; I set your rules before me.
Live according to scripture
The Bible explicitly teaches us how our lives should differ from the culture
Rom 12:2 (The Message Bible)
Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out.
Be Peculiar
1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness
into His marvellous light:
Holy: set apart, different – (used as an insult)
Being “Peculiar” changes your perspective on life –
Equips you to deal with difficulty differently
It takes Courage to be Peculiar
2 Cor 6:16–7:1
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them and walk among them,
and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
7:1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
Money Stresses:
Chase material things that do not satisfy, but create bondage
Jesus invites us to work His Wealth System
Luke 16:9
I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth,
so that when it (the financial system) fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
Stock Market fails, Housing Bubble burst, Insurance doesn’t pay out, retirement monies dried up
Yet you keep putting money into those things
The Bible gives a reason for Believers having Money Sresses:
Haggai 1:2–11
This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say,
‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’ ”
3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
?? What’s happening to your money?
7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.
God is inviting Millennials to return their focus to Him
Loneliness:
Millennials have grown up in a “Social” world more friends than ever
Yet they are the loneliest generation
Social media has given the illusion of connection (counting friends)
Melissa G. Hunt, of University of Pennsylvania found a causal link between time spent on social media with well-being:
· Less social media, increase in well-being
· More social media, increase in both depression and loneliness
That’s why we are building on Revelation & Relationship
2 Cor 1:3–4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Cor 7:6–7 (NIV)
But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,
7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him.
He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me,
so that my joy was greater than ever.
Create authentic communities where we sit shoulder-to-shoulder learning
And face-to-face in relationship
Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV)
Do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the habit of some,
but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Burnout:
Millennials focus on goodness by works
Learn about Grace – Work from Rest
Matt 11:28–30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Heb 4:9–10
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;
10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His.
The scripture teaches about leisure and Rhythms of Rest (Mark 6:31)
We are commanded to rest
Make a decision about God and Church – All In
Change Doctors & try the medicine regimen
If church isn’t working, help make it work
-