Meet Generation Z
The Hunger Games Series tells the story of Katniss Everdeens' struggle to overcome the turmoil around her and within herself to become the woman she was meant to be. While this story is applicable of every person, I believe it to be especially representative of members of Generation Z. Referring to those born after 1995, Gen Z encompasses those who are college age or younger. This generation has massive potential, but they have one primary challenge holding them back: fear. Gen Z is terrified.
If I had to pick one person who I believe best exemplifies this generation it would be the young Greta Thunberg. Greta best represents this generation not because of her political beliefs, not because of her attitude, and certainly not because of the way in which she presents her convictions, Greta represents this generation because of her motivation. If you listen closely to what she is truly communicating, you will hear the voice of a talented young girl who is terrified; terrified that life is coming to an end.
Gen Z is afraid, afraid they will fail catastrophically. Members of Gen Z have only ever known a world filled with chaos. Events such as 9/11, the recession, political unrest, a perceived increase in school shootings, messages of global warming, and the War on Terror have changed our society and have taught this generation that choices have consequences. This generation also has access to, essentially, unlimited information via technology. As a result of a chaotic world, access to unlimited information, and the breakdown of the family, members of Gen Z face the challenge of wading through infinite possible choices believing that, if they make the wrong one, life as they know it will end. Members of Gen Z are terrified that they will ruin their lives or someone else's. In short, Gen Z is afraid to fail.
People react differently to fear. Some, like Greta Thunberg, choose to fight in an attempt to prevent their fears from becoming reality. Others attempt to run away and hide, like a child hiding from a thunderstorm, hoping that it will all be over soon. Still others, uncertain of what to do, get busy doing anything they can to avoid confronting their fear. As a youth & family minister, I have seen all three of these different reactions and all three are equally destructive. Fighting from fear often leads to tunnel vision, leading to poor decision making and more fear. The other two reactions to fear are forms of avoidance. The more a person avoids his fear, the harder it becomes to confront leading to poor decisions being made to avoid fear.
There are two very real dangers that stem from fear: apathy and the shelving of faith. Apathy is best illustrated in the words of some young people I recently had dinner with. When asked what the strengths and weaknesses of Gen Z are they replied, "We really don't have anything going on. We're all terrible." What a sad outlook on life! I know for a fact that this statement is false. Members of Gen Z have great potential. Yet, this was the belief of these students. If someone is afraid for long enough, he will eventually become numb and apathetic from exhaustion.
Young people who leave home face a increase in the number of areas they have responsibility in. If we picture the responsibilities in a person's life as a stack of books, a person who leaves home suddenly has a much larger reading list. Some young people who leave home, faced with more responsibilities, feel so overwhelmed and certain of failure that they choose to "shelve" their faith for a time, with every intention of returning to it eventually.[1] Certainly, this is a poor choice. Nevertheless, it stems from fear, the fear of failure.
So, what can you, as a parent, do about the fear facing your child? 1 John 4:18 expresses that "Perfect love casts out fear." One of the best things you can do for your child is to love them unconditionally and express that love to them. Tell your children (especially as they get older) that you love them, even when they make mistakes you will still love them. The second aspect of this is to point your child towards the Perfecter of love, Christ. Only in a relationship with Christ can we experience perfect love. Furthermore, we know that God is actively working on behalf of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). Lastly, teach your children to fail well. Allow your child to experience moments of failure and then teach them how to recover from that failure. While this process may not be fun, it is essential for his or her development.
Some well-meaning parents attempt to help their children succeed in life by addressing and/or removing obstacles in their child's life. These parents have been described as "lawn mower" parents who pave the way for their children. Every parent wants his child to succeed and no parent wants to see his child struggle. Unfortunately, the "lawn mower" approach can make it more challenging for a child to overcome his or her fear. There is a certain amount of anxiety that comes with facing a challenge. Part of growing up is learning to face this anxiety and overcome it. If the description of "lawn mower" parent describes you, allow me to encourage you to take a different approach. Rather than removing or addressing obstacles for your child, help coach him or her through the process of facing the challenge and seeing it through. When he or she succeeds, go celebrate the success you have achieved together. The alternative is to allow you child, who is already afraid he or she will fail, to become an adult having never learned how to face his or her fears.
Members of Gen Z have great potential but it is our responsibility, as parents, to love them unconditionally, point them towards the One who loves them most, to teach them how to fail well. If we can help our children learn to overcome their fear, we can better help them to become the young men and women they were meant to be.
[1] David Kinnaman, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church...And Rethinking Faith, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2011), 63.
If I had to pick one person who I believe best exemplifies this generation it would be the young Greta Thunberg. Greta best represents this generation not because of her political beliefs, not because of her attitude, and certainly not because of the way in which she presents her convictions, Greta represents this generation because of her motivation. If you listen closely to what she is truly communicating, you will hear the voice of a talented young girl who is terrified; terrified that life is coming to an end.
Gen Z is afraid, afraid they will fail catastrophically. Members of Gen Z have only ever known a world filled with chaos. Events such as 9/11, the recession, political unrest, a perceived increase in school shootings, messages of global warming, and the War on Terror have changed our society and have taught this generation that choices have consequences. This generation also has access to, essentially, unlimited information via technology. As a result of a chaotic world, access to unlimited information, and the breakdown of the family, members of Gen Z face the challenge of wading through infinite possible choices believing that, if they make the wrong one, life as they know it will end. Members of Gen Z are terrified that they will ruin their lives or someone else's. In short, Gen Z is afraid to fail.
People react differently to fear. Some, like Greta Thunberg, choose to fight in an attempt to prevent their fears from becoming reality. Others attempt to run away and hide, like a child hiding from a thunderstorm, hoping that it will all be over soon. Still others, uncertain of what to do, get busy doing anything they can to avoid confronting their fear. As a youth & family minister, I have seen all three of these different reactions and all three are equally destructive. Fighting from fear often leads to tunnel vision, leading to poor decision making and more fear. The other two reactions to fear are forms of avoidance. The more a person avoids his fear, the harder it becomes to confront leading to poor decisions being made to avoid fear.
There are two very real dangers that stem from fear: apathy and the shelving of faith. Apathy is best illustrated in the words of some young people I recently had dinner with. When asked what the strengths and weaknesses of Gen Z are they replied, "We really don't have anything going on. We're all terrible." What a sad outlook on life! I know for a fact that this statement is false. Members of Gen Z have great potential. Yet, this was the belief of these students. If someone is afraid for long enough, he will eventually become numb and apathetic from exhaustion.
Young people who leave home face a increase in the number of areas they have responsibility in. If we picture the responsibilities in a person's life as a stack of books, a person who leaves home suddenly has a much larger reading list. Some young people who leave home, faced with more responsibilities, feel so overwhelmed and certain of failure that they choose to "shelve" their faith for a time, with every intention of returning to it eventually.[1] Certainly, this is a poor choice. Nevertheless, it stems from fear, the fear of failure.
So, what can you, as a parent, do about the fear facing your child? 1 John 4:18 expresses that "Perfect love casts out fear." One of the best things you can do for your child is to love them unconditionally and express that love to them. Tell your children (especially as they get older) that you love them, even when they make mistakes you will still love them. The second aspect of this is to point your child towards the Perfecter of love, Christ. Only in a relationship with Christ can we experience perfect love. Furthermore, we know that God is actively working on behalf of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). Lastly, teach your children to fail well. Allow your child to experience moments of failure and then teach them how to recover from that failure. While this process may not be fun, it is essential for his or her development.
Some well-meaning parents attempt to help their children succeed in life by addressing and/or removing obstacles in their child's life. These parents have been described as "lawn mower" parents who pave the way for their children. Every parent wants his child to succeed and no parent wants to see his child struggle. Unfortunately, the "lawn mower" approach can make it more challenging for a child to overcome his or her fear. There is a certain amount of anxiety that comes with facing a challenge. Part of growing up is learning to face this anxiety and overcome it. If the description of "lawn mower" parent describes you, allow me to encourage you to take a different approach. Rather than removing or addressing obstacles for your child, help coach him or her through the process of facing the challenge and seeing it through. When he or she succeeds, go celebrate the success you have achieved together. The alternative is to allow you child, who is already afraid he or she will fail, to become an adult having never learned how to face his or her fears.
Members of Gen Z have great potential but it is our responsibility, as parents, to love them unconditionally, point them towards the One who loves them most, to teach them how to fail well. If we can help our children learn to overcome their fear, we can better help them to become the young men and women they were meant to be.
[1] David Kinnaman, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church...And Rethinking Faith, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2011), 63.
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