Teaching college students is one of the great joys of my life. I began teaching worldview and cultural apologetics at Boyce College in the fall of 2021 before joining the full time faculty teaching philosophy and ethics in 2023. As I reflect on the students that I have had the privilege to teach, I am struck by this generation and their commitment to Christ. So often, we hear certain narratives that seek to falsely portray Generation Z (those born ~1996-2005) as disinterested, addicted to technology, and self-absorbed. While these descriptions are admittedly true of some in Gen Z, it is hard to see these characteristics as only true of this generation as they seem to describe much of our contemporary cultural ethos including many in older generations as well.

As we seek to reach this generation for Christ and partner with them for Kingdom-focused work, we must recognize some of the defining characteristics of this generation and how God might use them in the Great Commission. This list is by no means exhaustive, but I think it encapsulates some of the unique opportunities as well as challenges for this generation of students. Here are four things that we must recognize about Gen Z if we want to reach them with the gospel:

They don’t settle for surface level answers

Asking questions and pushing past simplistic answers is an instrumental part of growing up and maturing as human beings. And this is especially true for Christians (1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Hebrews 5:13-14). From our earliest days as children, we naturally ask questions like why things are the way they are and how do we know if something is true. But some as they grow up lose the sense of wonder and begin to again accept simplistic answers to complex issues and talking points rather than deep, honest evaluation. But it seems that things have begun to shift dramatically in the last decade or so surrounding the type of philosophical and religious questions being asked.

From questioning those in traditional authority structures to the rise of deconstruction stories on social media, it seems that this generation is not settling for the status quo any more. I have noticed in my own classes that students are pressing deeper and pushing past simplistic talking points, especially as they begin to navigate complex social and political issues. While this may be intimidating and disconcerting in some ways, it is also deeply refreshing and encouraging as it illustrates that this generation may not be as aimless as some describe. Maybe they are actually on the cusp of something greater and in need of meat rather than the simple milk diet that so many have become accustomed to in the Church when facing the difficult question of our faith and how we relate to others with differing philosophies and worldviews today.

They are digital natives

We all live in a deeply technological society whether we recognize it or not. Many in my generation remember the days before things like the internet and social media. But Generation Z and younger are considered “digital natives” in that they grew up surrounded by these innovations — both for good and ill. As we consider how best to reach this generation and partner with them for Kingdom work, we must recognize that these digital devices are not at all morally neutral as they profoundly, yet subtly shape our perspective of the world around us. Not only does technology always drive toward the goals of efficiency and convenience, but it is also one of the main ways that we are all being discipled today. These devices never leave our sides and mediate so much of our culture’s values to us. This means that we must work even harder to counter these formative effects of media and technology as we pursue counter-liturgies rooted in truth, goodness, and beauty.

One of the most important aspects of discipleship in our digital age is to first recognize the formative power of these tools as well as take intentional steps to slow down and consider the question of should we do something versus the simplistic can we. In terms of Generation Z and beyond, the Church must work to tell a better and richer story than the ones that we hear from the world around us through our devices and gadgets. This not only includes being aware of cultural trends and challenges but also seeking to cultivate wisdom as we seek to follow Jesus in a digital age.

They are committed to something greater than themselves

Spend any time around this generation and you will quickly realize that while we do live in an increasingly individualistic world, this mindset is also being challenged as it fails to recognize that we were all made for something bigger than ourselves. Canadian political philosopher Charles Taylor notes that we live in a “cross-pressured” age where it seems that there are a barrage of conflicting realities and ideas in the ways that we imagine society and our place in it. These tensions between expressive individualism and the communal aspects of life seem to be growing deeper and prominent all the time.

This generation seems especially adept at picking up on these cross-pressured moments and living in the tensions of contemporary life. Some philosophers have described this as our meta-modern moment, characterized by a “hopeful cynicism” and a constant oscillation between the extremes of modernism and postmodernism. These tensions can be seen in small part by the individualistic streams of contemporary culture in tension with the desire to be part of a larger community and something greater than ourselves.

While some may lament the cultural moment we are currently in, this seems like a prime opportunity to both engage this generation where they are and point them to a better story. A story that explains not only that we are each uniquely made in the very image of God and thus having dignity (Gen 1:26-28), but also that we were never made to go about this world as atomized, morally autonomous lone rangers. We are both individuals with indelible dignity, but also part of a larger story under the reign of our creator God, who is the source of all that is true, good, and beautiful.

They are instrumental to the Great Commission and the Kingdom

As we consider how best to reach this next generation for Christ, we must also recognize that younger generations play an absolutely indispensable role in the Great Commission and Kingdom work given to us by our Savior. It is tempting for all generations at times to think that they alone carry the weight of reaching the world for Christ and that others are simply projects to work on, rather than see each person and generation as central to God’s plan for redemption.

While we rightly focus on reaching this generation for Christ, we must also seek to partner with them and encourage them to step into their God-given roles for Kingdom advance. This will not only include helping them press deeper into the most important questions of life — rejecting simplistic answers — but also calling them to something greater and challenging them with opportunities to grow in their faith and walk with the Lord. We are all in this together. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 12:4-5, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” Let’s partner together and lean into the mission that God has given his church as we seek to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

While it is always difficult to determine the defining aspects of an age in the midst of it, we should note that we no longer live in a purely secular, Godless age nor do we seem to be living in a postmodern moment.