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The Gospel For Generation X

Zander, D. (1995 Spring). The Gospel for Generation X-making room in the Church for busters. Leadership, pp. 37-42.

OVERVIEW

"I don't want to go (to church) because it's boring, irrelevant, and there's no one there like me," says the typical baby buster from the generation that has been labeled with an X. Could this be a quote from one of the young people that has been to your church? How can you help him or her understand their need to deepen their faith?

All persons born between 1965 and 1980 are typically identified as "busters", sometimes called Generation X. The real identifying marks for these folks are found in their attitudes rather than in their ages! Understanding these attitudes and the underlying characteristics of busters is imperative to ministering to them in a way that genuinely meets their needs.

BUSTER OR GENERATION X CHARACTERISTICS

 

  • Pain. These people have experienced deep and widespread pain caused by broken dreams, divorce, abuse, corrupt politics, media, etc. This pain has led often to intense feelings of abandonment from all directions and, consequently, a severely traumatizing experience of "alone-ness". Zander describes this isolation as "an experience of the soul in which you are surrounded by people but unable to connect with them."
  • A postmodern mindset. Busters do not believe in absolute truth. Everything is relative. Anything could be true. They can live quite comfortably with two contradictory ideas. This leads to contradictions in their reported values and observed behaviors.
  • Fear. Generation X-ers are afraid of the uncertainty of the future. Everything from the environment to the economy to sex and marriage all seem broken and appear to be headed toward a dead end, a bottomless pit-one that they will have to live in and one that they feel incapable of climbing out of or helping others to do the same. This fear has lead to apathy and great despair.
  • A grassroots orientation. Overwhelmed by the big picture of the world and all of its problems, the busters often take on the small and local batlles that they feel they can win. One example of this is the surge of recycling among this group. They often band together in these tasks and have been called the "we generation". However, they are afraid of failure in solving the larger problems of the world and do not want the responsibility. Who can blame them?
  •  

  • Spiritual hunger. They are in search of transcendent meaning and guidance. They know things are terribly wrong with the world and they are skeptical of science alone to fix it. They seem to have a belief in something beyond what they can perceive with their normal senses.

HOW TO REACH BUSTERS OR GENERATION X THROUGH THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

 

  • Pain. Acknowledge and validate the young persons' pain. Fill that "alone-ness" by providing a safe place for intimate relationships. Spend one-on-one time with them, and train other Christian leaders to do the same. Help them understand, express, and let go of their pain.
  • A postmodern mindset. Offer them truth relationally rather than propositionally. Rely on the power of storytelling. Be real with them. Zander says, "Story telling is the most effective way to reach this generation, because busters won't argue with a person's story. In fact it may be their only absolute: everyone's story is worth listening to and learning from. Here's what needs to be communicated-God's story intersected with my story; now I can share it with you so that you can consider making it part of your story."
  • Fear. Hear, acknowledge, and validate their pain. Be real with them about your own fears, especially those fears about failure. And finally, offer them the hope that Christ brings, not only eternally but also here and now.
  • A grassroots orientation. Use their "we", as opposed to "me" attitudes to build teams. Use their visions to fix things locally and to start local ministries. Challenge them and let them lead.
  •  

  • Spiritual hunger. Teach them about Christ and help them to see the uniqueness He offers when compared to other cults and religions that they may be drawn to. Affirm their sense that there must be more than the eye can see.

Zander started this article saying, "I love with passion this generation, and one of my missions in life is to reach busters for Christ and to inspire others to do the same."

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

  1. Are you a buster, part of the generation labeled X? If so, is the description Zander gives of the five characteristics true for you? Is is true for your friends?
  2. If you are a buster, which of the five ways Zander gave to reach busters would be the most and least effective in reaching you?
  3. Which of these five characteristics do you see most and least in the busters that you are ministering to? What characteristics would you add to this list?
  4. Which, if any, of the five ways given to reach busters have you tried in your ministry? Have they worked? Which ones listed will you try in the future? What not listed has worked for you in reaching busters?

IMPLICATIONS

    1. Generation X shows a general disinterest in the wares of the church. One is tempted to ask where the fault lies. Does the church bear primary responsibility, or is it simply a matter of youthful disrespect for the transmission of tradition? The question is irrelevant. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, petitioning the Father to "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors," he was addressing the sinful complicity of every person who would ever pray those words. Forgiveness is a universal requirement, for we are all accountable to one another in the eyes of God-even the elder brother of the prodigal son.
    2. It naturally follows, then, that any ministry which aspires to bring Xers into fellowship with the community of faith must express a vital, pragmatic concern for the hurts that they are striving to alleviate. Genuine humility is integral to this task, as is compassionate empathy. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45)." The debt of sin demands a price that could never be paid except by the blood of Christ. This is the sole promise of freedom conferred by the gospel, and it is the unique privilege of the church to present this message in living color to a generation confined in the dank cell of debtor's prison.

Tracey Hollins cCYS

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The Gospel For Generation X

Zander, D. (1995 Spring). The Gospel for Generation X-making room in the Church for busters. Leadership, pp. 37-42.

OVERVIEW

"I don't want to go (to church) because it's boring, irrelevant, and there's no one there like me," says the typical baby buster from the generation that has been labeled with an X. Could this be a quote from one of the young people that has been to your church? How can you help him or her understand their need to deepen their faith?

All persons born between 1965 and 1980 are typically identified as "busters", sometimes called Generation X. The real identifying marks for these folks are found in their attitudes rather than in their ages! Understanding these attitudes and the underlying characteristics of busters is imperative to ministering to them in a way that genuinely meets their needs.

BUSTER OR GENERATION X CHARACTERISTICS

 

  • Pain. These people have experienced deep and widespread pain caused by broken dreams, divorce, abuse, corrupt politics, media, etc. This pain has led often to intense feelings of abandonment from all directions and, consequently, a severely traumatizing experience of "alone-ness". Zander describes this isolation as "an experience of the soul in which you are surrounded by people but unable to connect with them."
  • A postmodern mindset. Busters do not believe in absolute truth. Everything is relative. Anything could be true. They can live quite comfortably with two contradictory ideas. This leads to contradictions in their reported values and observed behaviors.
  • Fear. Generation X-ers are afraid of the uncertainty of the future. Everything from the environment to the economy to sex and marriage all seem broken and appear to be headed toward a dead end, a bottomless pit-one that they will have to live in and one that they feel incapable of climbing out of or helping others to do the same. This fear has lead to apathy and great despair.
  • A grassroots orientation. Overwhelmed by the big picture of the world and all of its problems, the busters often take on the small and local batlles that they feel they can win. One example of this is the surge of recycling among this group. They often band together in these tasks and have been called the "we generation". However, they are afraid of failure in solving the larger problems of the world and do not want the responsibility. Who can blame them?
  •  

  • Spiritual hunger. They are in search of transcendent meaning and guidance. They know things are terribly wrong with the world and they are skeptical of science alone to fix it. They seem to have a belief in something beyond what they can perceive with their normal senses.

HOW TO REACH BUSTERS OR GENERATION X THROUGH THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

 

  • Pain. Acknowledge and validate the young persons' pain. Fill that "alone-ness" by providing a safe place for intimate relationships. Spend one-on-one time with them, and train other Christian leaders to do the same. Help them understand, express, and let go of their pain.
  • A postmodern mindset. Offer them truth relationally rather than propositionally. Rely on the power of storytelling. Be real with them. Zander says, "Story telling is the most effective way to reach this generation, because busters won't argue with a person's story. In fact it may be their only absolute: everyone's story is worth listening to and learning from. Here's what needs to be communicated-God's story intersected with my story; now I can share it with you so that you can consider making it part of your story."
  • Fear. Hear, acknowledge, and validate their pain. Be real with them about your own fears, especially those fears about failure. And finally, offer them the hope that Christ brings, not only eternally but also here and now.
  • A grassroots orientation. Use their "we", as opposed to "me" attitudes to build teams. Use their visions to fix things locally and to start local ministries. Challenge them and let them lead.
  •  

  • Spiritual hunger. Teach them about Christ and help them to see the uniqueness He offers when compared to other cults and religions that they may be drawn to. Affirm their sense that there must be more than the eye can see.

Zander started this article saying, "I love with passion this generation, and one of my missions in life is to reach busters for Christ and to inspire others to do the same."

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

  1. Are you a buster, part of the generation labeled X? If so, is the description Zander gives of the five characteristics true for you? Is is true for your friends?
  2. If you are a buster, which of the five ways Zander gave to reach busters would be the most and least effective in reaching you?
  3. Which of these five characteristics do you see most and least in the busters that you are ministering to? What characteristics would you add to this list?
  4. Which, if any, of the five ways given to reach busters have you tried in your ministry? Have they worked? Which ones listed will you try in the future? What not listed has worked for you in reaching busters?

IMPLICATIONS

    1. Generation X shows a general disinterest in the wares of the church. One is tempted to ask where the fault lies. Does the church bear primary responsibility, or is it simply a matter of youthful disrespect for the transmission of tradition? The question is irrelevant. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, petitioning the Father to "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors," he was addressing the sinful complicity of every person who would ever pray those words. Forgiveness is a universal requirement, for we are all accountable to one another in the eyes of God-even the elder brother of the prodigal son.
    2. It naturally follows, then, that any ministry which aspires to bring Xers into fellowship with the community of faith must express a vital, pragmatic concern for the hurts that they are striving to alleviate. Genuine humility is integral to this task, as is compassionate empathy. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45)." The debt of sin demands a price that could never be paid except by the blood of Christ. This is the sole promise of freedom conferred by the gospel, and it is the unique privilege of the church to present this message in living color to a generation confined in the dank cell of debtor's prison.

Tracey Hollins cCYS

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