church planting
Social commentators call us tech natives but there is something truer, though less tangible, about us. We’ve inherited the late-stage capitalist secular individualist world, and it feels like we’ve been handing a rubble fire. The linear progression of a complicated world has evolved into a more chaotic and unpredictable world (Sayers 2022). The only reality that Gen Z has known is a profound complexity in the world around us and in the world within too.
We were told to be anything we wanted to be, to look out for our self interests. But we are the loneliest, saddest generations on record. We have a generational zeal searching for something bigger than the person in the mirror, something with structure and depth. We are more likely than older generations to donate to charity (Lark 2024) and are finding affinity with a multiplicity of subcultures that we engage with online. If all this sounds chaotic and confusing, that’s because it is.
God has entrusted to you the stewardship of a generational opportunity for the Lord to reap an incredible harvest. Gen Z are zealous for meaning, purpose and belonging and their relationship with Christianity is also complex because of their socio-political positions.
- The majority of Gen Z are socially progressive (Chowdhury 2024). But because of the contextual air we’ve breathed, they don’t think Christianity will give them what they’re looking for. Why would they look to the Church for belonging and meaning? This is the institution most reputable for money-grabbing, abuse-covering and bigotry? Hard pass.
- There is a growing gender divide between Gen Z women who are mostly progressive and Gen Z men of whom a subset are very conservative (Chowdhury 2024). There is a complex set of contributing factors to this divide including the unregulated algorithm which preys on young men with ideas from the manosphere. These guys are more likely to seek out churches looking for moralistic religion and it’s up to us to meet them with the grace of Jesus.
- Globally, Gen Z is rising up in protest of injustice (Chenoweth and Cebul 2026). They are ready to rally behind causes that they believe in. The relative comfort of the Aussie socio-political context makes our Gen Z less politically engaged, but the constant and live exposure to the suffering of others has made us existential. They can either keep numbing themselves on the next best thing or burn themselves out trying to change the unjust world without Resurrection hope.
Of course, we are privileged to know, what they really need is to meet Jesus and experience the transformation that only His Spirit can bring, but how? Not many will actively come looking among us, so it’s up to us. It’s up to us to meet young people where they are wandering. Every one of you has influence, and you have a choice before you to be a barrier or a bridge to the thousands of young people around you.
Leadership Lessons
Don’t give Gen Z simplistic “answers.” Our complex world demands an application of the gospel that is nuanced and embodied. Are you ready to model holding those tensions amidst gospel clarity? I’ve noticed that this can be more uncomfortable for established Church leaders who are more newly navigating the complex world.
The zeal of Gen Z cries out for a God who is just. Thankfully that is the God whom we serve, but it will take time for any person to discover that God is really as good as he says he is. In that time, are we willing to walk alongside Gen Z and model that goodness? It is helpful to work within the principles of theological triage (Ortlund 2020).
Let us continue to be equipped by the Bible, full of richness and complexity, and the gentle Holy Spirit who directs zeal toward the purposes of God.
References
Chenoweth, Erica, and Matthew Cebul. 2026. “Why Gen-Z Is Rising.” Journal of Democracy 37, no. 1 (January): 5-14.
Chowdhury, Intifar. 2024. “Australia’s young people are moving to the left – though young women are more progressive than men, reflecting a global trend.” The Conversation. theconversation.com/australias-young-people-are-moving-to-the-left-though-young-women-are-more-progressive-than-men-reflecting-a-global-trend-222288.
Lark, Kristen. 2024. “New trends in giving favour disruptors and causes over established charities.” Philanthropy Australia. https://www.philanthropy.org.au/news-and-stories/new-trends-in-giving-favour-disruptors-and-causes-over-established-charities/.
Ortlund, Gavin. 2020. Finding the Right Hills to Die on: The Case for Theological Triage. N.p.: Crossway.
Sayers, Mark. 2022. “The mistake so many leaders are making right now.” Rebuilders. https://rebuilders.co/podcasts/2022/10/6/rebuilders-the-mistake-so-many-leaders-are-making-right-now.
