Young Evangelicals: An Endangered Species?
by Thomas Jeffries on 07/07/2008 at 9:57 AM
Every few weeks, I am compelled -- usually via a loving yet firm request from my wife -- to clear out and recycle the previous few weeks worth of newspapers that have built up in a corner of the living room. And each time I tackle the task, I inevitably find myself reading an article or four that I missed the first time around. This weekend was no exception.
The article appeared a few days ago in the Colorado Springs Gazette, and it examined the theory that Evangelicalism "may be losing its sway" with voters, particularly in light of the upcoming 2008 elections. Some of the reasons cited -- the cyclical nature of politics, the recent passing of some prominent Christian leaders -- were mostly vague guesses by various religious and political scholars. The leading theory, however, at least had some basis in fact:
The biggest reason of all, though, may be the changing face of evangelicals themselves, experts say. Evangelicals no longer seem to be the monolithic voting bloc they were a few years ago. A growing number don't think it's their place to politicize their faith, and many young believers are not interested in the traditional evangelical battlegrounds of abortion and gay rights; their focus is turning toward environmentalism and social justice.
The article went on to cite survey data from the Barna Group that point to an ongoing cultural shift among self-described born-again Christians -- particularly those age 40 and younger:
- Twenty-eight percent of born-again Christians under age 41 say they believe it is morally acceptable to have sex with someone of the same gender, compared with 13 percent of older born-agains.
- Thirty-three percent of young Bible believers support abortion rights, compared with 27 percent of older believers.
- Forty-seven percent of born-agains under age 41 say that the efforts of conservative Christians in politics are a problem.
Such trends among young believers, while not exactly new, are nonetheless troubling for those of us with a high view of Scripture. Supporting candidates who stand for biblical values is certainly important, but how can we realistically expect Christians to cast their votes based on a biblical worldview when their worldview isn't biblical to begin with?
Please don't get me wrong. Respecting human rights is critical. Caring for the environment is vital, too. Indeed, most of the evangelicals I know are absolutely convinced that God has entrusted humanity with stewardship of the planet, and that forsaking this duty would be a grave mistake. But this very concept -- caring for the environment -- has led some to believe that saving an endangered field mouse is more important than respecting the "human rights" of a preborn child crafted in the image and likeness of God. Likewise, the Bible is full of cries for social justice, but how is it "just" when so-called believers condemn the efforts of conservative Christians fighting to protect religious freedom in the public square?
I always thought that "evangelicals" were simply those Christians who believe in the literal truth of the Bible. Based on the numbers cited above, young evangelicals may be heading the way of the field mouse.
1. obewan said the following at 10:22 AM on Jul 7:
“>>Based on the numbers cited above, young evangelicals may be heading the way of the field mouse.<<”
The last time I checked, 2/3 still constituted a majority vote, so I would not say young evangelicals are an endangered species. Also, many people might self-identify as evangelical on a survey but be anything but. Maybe they said a sinner’s prayer ONE time at a youth revival or something and won’t darken the door of a church for every week fellowship. Also, there may be a large number of college students in the survey who only attend an on campus para-church ministry or something. I would be surprised if the same numbers came up among young people involved in regular fellowship in a strong evangelical church.
2. mary kate said the following at 10:50 AM on Jul 7:
i grew up catholic, then was evangelical for a while. now i guess i'd consider myself non-denominational. yes, i believe the literal truth of the bible. but i do not want to be identified with the evangelical movement. for most of my non-christian peers, it conjures up images and memories of intolerant idiots who care more about their agenda than about loving others. i don't want to be identified with the protesters and picketers and people who appear to have completely removed themselves from the struggles that others go through. i know they often mean well, but it rubs me the wrong way.
3. Xasteius said the following at 11:01 AM on Jul 7:
It may be reflective of the fact that most young people (I'm an exception in this case) are more than their parents (as Churchhill said, if you're under 30 and not a liberal you have no heart, if you're over 30 and not a conservative, you have no brain). But a trend towards universalism is apparent with 57 percent of evangelicals believing there is more than one way to heaven. Of course, when we look at the fact that 30% of the people who went to church before college are still going to church consistently, the fact that you have stated are really not surprising.
Jesus did say that many would fall away in the last times, but we as a church need to address our failings or we will answer for it when we stand before the Throne.
4. Holly (the married, parental one) said the following at 12:36 PM on Jul 7:
this is an interesting conversation-starter, no? I am a young evangelical, not quite 30 and definitely a bible-believing type. I recognize that abortion is wrong. I don't think it's a federal issue. And I recognize that homosexuality is a sin. I don't think it's a federal issue. Most often, I don't vote with the 'evangelical bloc'.
Even if I did want the feds involved in outlawing abortion or gay marriage, I think voting with the 'evangelical bloc' wouldn't really advance the cause. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the church in general has given it's vote too freely to the people who say the right words. If y'all want them to do something, make them take actions, not just promise to. The options you have to tell them you're miffed that they haven't done what you voted them in to do is to write letters and quit voting for them. After a while, if you keep writing letters and they keep not doing what you're asking, you might consider quitting voting for them. Otherwise they might take you for granted, no?
5. Em said the following at 1:35 PM on Jul 7:
An interesting topic indeed. I would have to agree with Holly in that gay rights and abortion are not what I am most concerned about when headed to the polls. Stewardship cannot be summed up in "saving field mice from exstinction"--it is a much more complex issue than that! America is the most wasteful and idolitrous nation in the world--Christians should seek to be otherwise--it is part of our testimony. The entire book of James talks about putting faith to action, doesn't it? I think that some issues are not as linear as many so-called evangelicals make them out to be.
I would categorize myself as an "evangelical" because I love the Gospel and believe Christ changes lives. The term evangelical has been equated with right-wingers and intolerance for so long that it has done the entire Christian faith in America an injustice. I realize that evangelical doesn't have to mean that I am right wing or conservative. In fact, I am neither...and get this! I still believe the Bible is truth!
6. osey said the following at 3:02 PM on Jul 7:
I'm actually dumbfounded at the statistics. I'm a Nigerian living in Nigeria and has been a regular visitor to this site. For people below 40 to support both gay marriage and abortion means there's a serious problem. I don't lie laying blames but coming up with solutions and the only one that comes to mind is 'prayer'. You all have a duty as Christians in your country to seek the face of God concerning this issue that will affect the church if unattended to. One of the big problems I see with Christianity in America is the intrusion of world ideals especially those portrayed by Hollywood and thsi shouldn't be so.
7. Samuel PG said the following at 7:01 PM on Jul 7:
My hope is that young evangelicals can become Evangelical+. What I mean is that I would hate to see my fellow evangelicals lose their conviction that abortion is abhorrent and that homosexual practice is sinful, but I would love to see further developments in our concern for social justice.
8. JJ said the following at 8:25 PM on Jul 7:
Holly & Em (4,5) I agree with your comments and am glad to see them. They give me some encouragement... I'm not an evangelical (i guess, still not sure what that means!) I don't deal with titles... I'm just a non-denom guy trying to follow Christ. I've been troubled by the importance placed on politics in the church this last decade.
Yes, engage in politics and vote all you want...but please don't treat it as equal to our cherished religious beliefs. That's all I ask.
9. Jessica Wiley said the following at 9:29 PM on Jul 7:
An excellent point made. And I totally agree. We have a huge moral dilemma in this country! What is so wrong with being a conservative Christian? (Oh, I know, because the media says it's unpopular-how could I forget? ) I can't believe some of the comments on this post. You can't tell me that the life of an unborn infant or the salvation of a gay individual is less important than saving a tree, using pesticide-free ("organic") cotton, or saving the life of rodents with no souls! This is unbelievable-what has our society become? People really need to stop and listen to God and his Word and not let their own selfish human views get in the way of his will for our lives.
May God Bless and Keep You
10. Adam said the following at 9:37 PM on Jul 7:
I'm here to say that young evangelicalism is alive and well! While I haven't decided how I will vote, I will definitely vote this November (though I can't say the same for some evangelical friends who signed the Values Voter Pledge. There are many issues that I care about:
Economy
War
Environment
Judicial Appointments
Balance of Powers
Human Rights (even at Gitmo)
Gay marriage (hopefully lack thereof)
Freedom of Speech
Taxes
Fiscal Responsiblity
I prefer to pick my candidates based on a large variety of issues - more holistically if you will. I may weigh the value of these issues differently than others in the "evangelical bloc."
There is one thing that I find very interesting about the way that the evangelical view has seemed to be in my lifetime. It seems that the view is all about the government being hands off in almost every area. But in moral areas, the view seems to be that goverment needs to be super hands on and legislate and enforce morality. I just find that interesting...
11. Lex said the following at 1:55 AM on Jul 8:
I am saddened to see young Evangelicals drinking the kool-aid. I can now see how the AntiChrist will come about. Being mesmerized in a stadium --- <>.
The Bible Says Charm deceives and Beauty fades. Luckily, there are politicians who are Pro-life and for the environment. I don't want to stand before G-D and say "Sorry about all those unborns & those gays marrying but I was trying to save blue spotted frog."
12. Amir Larijani said the following at 4:18 AM on Jul 8:
David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons--in unChristian--provide some staggering insights into the extent to which the Church has blown it with the younger generation. And yes, the political efforts of religious conservatives--in many cases--are a large part of the problem. I reviewed that and David Olson's book--The American Church in Crisis. Both are important reads.
It is one thing, for example, to affirm Biblical teachings regarding homosexual behavior; it is another matter to engage in every political cause against homosexuality.
One day, Christian conservatives will wake up and smell the napalm: they have been hijacked and exploited by a political class that could care less about Jesus.
Fact is, many younger Christians are--fairly or unfairly--seeing a Church that is merely a religious wing of a political party that is, at best, a lesser evil than the other political party.
Meanwhile, the two major parties are teaming up to bankrupt America.
Sure...they disagree on a few social issues, but at the end of the day they each have visions of bigger, more totalitarian government that controls even more of our lives.
13. Matthew said the following at 2:41 PM on Jul 8:
I consider myself a young evangelical, and even after lots of college and many changed viewpoints that made me more "liberal" on a number of issues, I still think that abortion ought to be a crime under law (whether or not that is a matter to be decided federally is another issue.) On just about everything else that evangelicals have jumped on over the last twenty years, though, I'm fairly unconvinced. I agree with Amir; Christians on either side of the political coin have been hijacked by people with agendas for power. I still think abortion is my #1 issue, but everything that Adam #10 ran down is also very important to me.
Also, I'm confused and not sure what you're hinting at as far as this grand fight to "protect religious freedom in the public square." Did I miss this spectacle and now I can't pray in Jesus' name out loud anymore or something?
14. Jo said the following at 3:07 PM on Jul 9:
Adam (#10) -
"It seems that the view is all about the government being hands off in almost every area. But in moral areas, the view seems to be that goverment needs to be super hands on and legislate and enforce morality."
That's SUCH a good point. I'd like to see a response to that one...
15. Simon said the following at 10:11 AM on Jul 11:
14: That's SUCH a good point. I'd like to see a response to that one...
Actually I don`t think that is fundamentally the case. The bulk of evangelical voters do not adhere to the Goldwater-Reagan creed of small government are not fundamentally opposed to intervention. Just ask that big government Republican Mike Huckabee.
16. Esther said the following at 10:57 AM on Jul 11:
I consider voting to be both a right and a duty, and will certainly do so this fall. However, I'm seriously considering a write-in for president. Don't know who...but I can't stomach supporting either of the current candidates.