A new study shows that over half of Generation Z and Millennials who have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ do not attend church in person or online at least once a month.
According to the August edition of the “State of the Bible: USA 2022” report from the American Bible Society, about 66 percent of Gen Z and Millennials who have devoted their lives to Christ do not go to church either in person or online at least once a month.
Additionally, 40 percent of Generation Z adults, and 36 percent adults ages 77 and up attend church “primarily online.”
The report also found that 54 percent of all adults up to age 57 who have “made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in your life today,” but less than a third of those in the three youngest generations who have made that commitment are “practicing” Christians, The Christian Post reports.
“This should challenge every Christian and ministry leader to intentionally cultivate relationships with their younger neighbors, who are often seeking security and hope amidst ever-increasing anxiety,” John Farquhar Plake, director of ministry intelligence for the American Bible Society, said in a statement. “It’s our prayer that every generation is able to meaningfully connect with the Word of God, engaging with it as a way of life and actively living out their faith in community.”
The survey defines “practicing Christians” as self-professing Protestants or Catholics who greatly value their faith and go to church at least once a month while “non-practicing Christians” do not value their faith or attend church.
Non-practicing Christians who say they have personal commitment to Christ are 61 percent of Gen Zers and 57 percent of Millennials. When it comes to church attendance, 28 percent of Gen Z respondents attend church at least once a month, while 22 percent of Millennials said the same.
Non-practicing Christians were also far more likely than practicing Christians to watch church services online.
The study, which was conducted January 10-28, 2022, featured a nationally representative sample of 2,598 adults 18 years and older.
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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.
