While most Americans believe “Jesus was God,” millennials are more likely to view Jesus as merely a religious leader who committed sins like anyone else, the Barna Group reports.
Millennials, defined by Barna as those born between 1984 and 2002, are the only age group in which fewer than half say “Jesus was God.” And while 52 percent of all Americans believe Jesus sinned, that opinion is held by 56 percent of millennials, more than any other generation.
Young adults are less likely than others to say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their lives today. Just 46 percent of millennials say they have made that commitment, compared to 62 percent of all Americans.
Even millennials who have made a personal commitment to Christ are less likely than others to believe Jesus is the way to heaven.
Though 56 percent of that group say they will go to heaven because they confessed their sins and accepted Christ as savior, they are less likely than their elders to hold that belief.
Twelve percent think they will go to heaven because they are basically good people, and 6 percent because they have tried to obey the 10 Commandments. Despite a personal commitment to Jesus, 4 percent believe they won’t go to heaven at all.
Related posts:
- 6 Reasons Millennials Aren’t at Your Church
- 7 Ways to Draw Millennials to Your Church
- Millennials & the End of Osmosis Christianity
- 4 Differences That Define Millennials
- Jefferson Bethke: Reaching Millennials
- 5 Places the Church Can Reach Millennials
For more information on this generation and how the church can read them, read The Millennials by Thom and Jess Rainer.
This article appeared in our Winter 2016 issue. You can read the entire issue online. Also, make sure you subscribe to our print edition to receive the Spring 2016 issue delivered to your home or church for free.
