Kerby Anderson

The millennial generation may reject God but they feel entitled to go to heaven. That is the conclusion of Nick Pitts in a column he wrote last year. He was on my program last week to talk about various aspects of the millennial generation. This conclusion was one of the most interesting.

Quoting from some of the research by Professor Jean Twenge, Nick Pitts shows that Americans are much less spiritual than they were in the past. Americans are five times less likely to pray as compared to the 1980s. Twice as many do not believe in God. And the biggest decline is among the 18-29-year-olds, known as the millennials.

What do Americans believe about the Bible? In 1984, about 14 percent believed the Bible “is an ancient book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by men” rather than the word of God. Thirty years later, the percentage was up to 22 percent.  Among millennials that percentage was already up to 29 percent.

What do Americans think about church? More and more think it is irrelevant as illustrated by the growing number who do not attend any religious service. In the early 1970s, only 6 percent reported not affiliating with any religion. By 2014, that percentage increased to 21 percent.

Here is the irony. In the midst of so many religious indicators that are decreasing, there is one that is increasing. Americans in recent years have become slightly more likely to believe in an afterlife. Nick Pitts says: “Though there is a decrease in religious participation and beliefs relative to the faith, they still have faith in the afterlife.” Jean Twenge believes this is another example of entitlement (expecting privileges without effort).

If you think about it, maybe this makes some sense. If everyone on the soccer team gets a trophy, then everyone in America should go to heaven. Unfortunately, that’s not the gospel.