On the Digital Generation

Chapter 4: Bridging the Gap

To start this chapter, I admit that many of the ideas are untested. They are simply products of my own reflections and observations. Personally, I have seen varying levels of success in my own personal life when I embody these solutions, but your mileage may vary. Regardless, I hope that these ideas can be a good start to the future conversations the church will have in bridging the gap.

All images were generated by DALL-E

Why is it important this gap be bridged? The purpose of bridging this gap is to achieve unity. Unity is a good thing, but what is it for? Why must the church be united?

At Lausanne, the dream is for the church to permeate into the digital realm and reach the younger generation. I argue that the church can only do this effectively if it acts as a united front. If the church is scattered and internally debating on the importance of missions, then how can it strategize, motivate, and encourage effectively?

Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.”
Matthew 12:25 (ESV)

So, when I talk about “bridging the gap”, we must address two key points:

1. We must encourage these two generations to understand one another so that…

2. The Church can unite in mission to reach the digital generation.

Both points are necessary for the church to be effective in it’s mission to reach the digital generation. Neither are sufficient on their own.

1. Encouraging Understanding

Last chapter, I tried to define the generational gap, then I tried to explain why the gap exists. These points can be summarized into two key points:

1. The two generations have two drastically different world views.

2. The two generations are reluctant to hear from one another.

The biggest barrier is that these two parties do not interact with each other, sometimes even denying the other party’s necessity. I’ve seen passionate tech workers build for the kingdom, but they see the church as an outdated institution that cannot catch up. And on the flip side, I’ve heard pastors and church leaders dismiss L4’s focus on digital, stating that “churches will build the kingdom, not startups”.

This needs to change. One party shouldn’t feel like the other party is not needed. We need to strive towards some mutual understanding so that we can work with each other, instead of against each other. This will involve lots of dialogue, and it will look different depending on what generation you identify with.

The analog generation must be students of the digital generation.

First, let’s talk about the analog generation. We acknowledged that they know little about the digital realm. And what they do know, they fear.

The obvious answer is to have this generation learn from the digital generation. Luckily for the church, there are plenty of opportunities for this to take place. Parents tend to have children that may be digital natives, or know friends that do. Volunteering for college, young adult, and youth ministries also forces that interaction.

Unfortunately, I don’t think these conversations are taking place, even amidst all this opportunity. I believe it’s because the church and the analog generation do not care about their world.

We have a conundrum. Christians are familiar with the term “head-heart connection”, in which one’s knowledge of God and one’s heart of God are aligned. But in this case, I find that the analog generation has neither the knowledge of the digital space, nor the heart to care. So, to have honest dialogue between the two, we will need the analog generation to:

1. Develop the heart for the digital generation.

2. Learn and become students of the digital generation.

i. Develop the Heart

In the last chapter, we discussed how the analog generation doesn’t just misunderstand the digital generation, they dislike it. They may reject the notion that meaningful connections can be made online. Or they may reject that the digital realm is a place for human flourishing. I call this preconceived notion “baggage”.

In order for these two generations to have honest conversations about the digital realm, the analog generation must address this baggage before coming to the table. If they come with a combative nature, the conversation will devolve into a worldview debate, instead of a missional conversation.

But this is easier said than done. This baggage results from all kinds of different experiences. Some might fear it because they’ve seen how sinful it can be. Some might disdain it because they see it take their friends and family away from them. Some might just not understand it.

Most importantly, do all of this under the guidance of prayer. God wants all to come to Him, including the digital generation. Pray for your heart to be aligned with His; He will shape it for His glory.

ii. Be a Student

It’s good for one to develop a heart and care for the digital generation, but productive dialogue requires both parties to understand the topic at hand. So, the analog generation must be willing to learn more about the digital generation.

This will be challenging! The digital generation operates significantly differently than the analog generation. Strong friendships can be formed online, dating is often done through mobile apps, and Discord is the new hangout spot. Values are different as well: the digital generation values authenticity over tradition, and equality over authority. And this doesn’t even cover the breadth of information and entertainment that can be found online. This changes how the digital generation interacts with the society at large, not just with the church.

Chapter 2 is my personal account on how digital transformed me, but that is just one account. There are many more stories. As you take the time to listen to different stories, you may find that they share the same patterns, challenges, and highlights. This should give good insight into the culture of the digital generation.

What I’m describing here is a form of cultural exchange! This sounds daunting, but the good news is that a missions-oriented church has experience with this. When the church begins to care about a people group, they take the time to learn about their culture, their language, and way of life. It is from that angle that they can begin to share the gospel.

The tricky thing about this cultural gap is that physically, we may look the same. Your child may have the same accent, hair color, and skin color as you. That alone can trick you in thinking that you are engaging with someone just like yourself, so you automatically assume that they will understand your world and your values.

However, the analog-digital culture gap is significant enough in which a cultural exchange must take place. So, for the church to reach the digital generation, we must understand their culture first so we meet them where they are.

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I’ve asked the analog generation to learn and develop a heart for this generation, which can be a lot.

I want to remind you that you do not have to be in the digital realm to learn and care for it’s people. When we pray and fundraise for missions throughout the world, we aren’t necessarily on the front lines. The same applies here; if you decide that the digital realm is not for you, that is fine. Developing the heart and knowledge is a good, sufficient start.

The digital generation must be willing to work with the analog generation.

I work in tech, and as a result, I’ve connected with multiple other tech workers in various circles. I’ve got a friend who’s invested in democratizing the internet. I’ve got another who enjoys the creativity and whimsicality of game development. There is another who cares about open source. Personally, I’ve recently involved myself with a group of Christians who are interested in spreading the gospel in new spaces, including the digital realm.

All of these circles are incredibly passionate about what they do. Perhaps the most exciting thing about it all is that there is so much opportunity! Much of the digital realm is still new, so there are countless possibilities and projects to be created. Naturally, this passion fuels some really incredible work. I urge you to check out the work my friends have put out; they really are labors of love.

i. Passion fueled by discontentment

Sometimes, these passion projects come from a place of discontentment. The desire to democratize the Internet comes from the recent commercialization of the digital realm. The desire for open source comes from the desire for accessibility and transparency that the commercialized Internet does not want to show. DeepSeek is the perfect example of how open source has brought AI to the masses at a fraction of the price.

In the context of the church, I see the same pattern. We mentioned before how many Christian digital natives are discontent with the status quo in some way, so they brainstorm and create new ways to worship, fellowship, evangelize, study, etc. This is great! The church needs this kind of innovation to reach the digital generation.

Why are these Christians discontent? Here are a few reasons:

1. Some believe the traditional church is ineffective at reaching the lost. It’s impossible for a non-believer to feel seen in the traditional big box church.

2. Some believe that the church is a poor witness to the world. The church is often seen as a place of hypocrisy and judgment.

3. Some believe that the church is not an enriching community. A Sunday gathering full of “put-together” people is not a community of vulnerability.

I resonate with all of these; I’ve had my fair share of frustrations with how church is versus how church should be. We also get frustrated when the analog generation dismisses our frustrations, berating us for “asking from the church, instead of serving for the church”.

But when I think about how we resolve these frustrations and differences, I think of two general responses:

1. You can confront and settle the differences.

2. Ignore them and move towards your goal without them.

We tend to pick the latter.

ii. “I don’t need you”

A friend of mine pointed out many Christian digital natives work underground, independent of church support and guidance. The underground workers often shoulder financial burdens just so that their idea can come to fruition. If these underground workers were to wait for a church to sponsor them, many of these projects wouldn’t have seen the light of day.

I see the necessity of underground operations. These are Christian digital natives taking their talents and gifts, using them to create a solutions for other digital natives. However, some underground operations prefer to operate in hyper-independence away from the church. I felt that those underground operations would end up ineffective in the long run. How will it stay funded? How will it scale?

But most importantly, it reminded me of what Michael Oh said at the Lausanne opening ceremony:

Do you know what the four most dangerous words are in the global church today?
”I don’t need you”

These words are based off apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
1 Corinthians 12:21, 26

Unity is much easier said than done. If the local church denies the necessity of digital evangelism, it is very easy for us to ignore the church and entirely rely on ourselves to reach the digital space. In order for the church to understand it’s necessity, there must be dialogue.

It is also easy to blame another generation for it’s failure to communicate. But, I’ve already addressed how I think the analog generation should communicate with us. Now, it’s our turn. How can we better communicate our convictions to them? Are we introducing ideas that fly over their head? They know that technology is powerful, but is it useful?

iii. Show how useful technology can be

I think our biggest obstacle is that we do not demonstrate how technology solves the problems that the Church faces.

First, are we able to demonstrate how each of these technologies is necessary for an existing church problem? Moreover, are these problems actually unsolved problems or are we just creating solutions for minor issues? Lastly, and most importantly, is the problem something that the church is actually struggling with?

Consider the following examples:

1. Imagine an app where sermons can easily be built on AI. Sure, the tech might be cool, but is it necessary? Does it do a pastor good to have generative AI create a sermon and rob the pastor of time in the Word, prayer, and studying? I don’t think this is a major problem that the global church is facing. In fact, this might actually create more problems down the line.

2. Consider a small group app, which allows for easier digital fellowship with small groups. This is a great problem to solve for the digital natives, but the analog generation sees this as a non-issue. Why prioritize digital small group fellowship when physical is superior?

When we build, we build predominantly for ourselves. Our needs and problems are different from the problems that analog generation faces. How can we expect them to appreciate our work if they don’t even see it as a problem?

Now, take YouVersion, the Bible app. Prior to that, Bible’s were limited to physical copies and/or requiring online access. The introduction of YouVersion reduced the need for physical copies and made the Bible portable and free. I am sure that YouVersion helped the Christian analog generation see smart phones favorably, simply because it solved a problem that they resonated with.

Or, consider Alpha. Alpha is a global program that relies heavily on technology to reach the lost. It is a digitally facing platform that allows seekers to ask questions and engage with local churches around the area. The solves an evangelism problem; this global platform elevates the reach of the church within their local community so even more people can hear the gospel.

At the end of the day, the analog generation and the church need to see that technology has the ability to solve THEIR problems. Once we can show that, they might be interested in learning about the unique problems we face as digital natives. And with that curiosity, we can begin to have a dialogue.

2. A Unified Front

Proper communication, understanding, and empathy are necessary, but they are insufficient. As you share life, communicate and build empathy, the hope is that both parties would begin to align on the mission of the Church.

These conversations should ultimately sharpen everyone for the kingdom of God. Communication and empathy should be lead to conviction. Conviction should lead to prayer. Prayer should lead to action.

How should the body act on this mission? We must embrace and rely on the diversity of the Church to reach our goal. Reaching the digital generation must make use of this diversity; any mission field is a team effort that requires all gifts and talents.

However, unlike geographical mission fields, the digital mission field is global and we are all living in it right now. So ideally, everyone should be playing their part in bringing the gospel to the digital generation.

Everyone’s part will look very different. It is naive to assume that the analog generation and the digital generation are equipped to do the same things. What are the different parts to play, then?

2.1 The younger generation is best equipped to reach their own kind.

People who reside online have different values, habits, communities, and even language. While it’s important to do your best to understand this culture, I think it’s the most effective for Christian digital natives to reside on the front lines. They are the ones who naturally interface with this people group.

There is also a lot of greenfield work to do for the younger generation. Many of them are working hard to create digital platforms and tools that can be used for the kingdom. They are building their own networks, own organizations, and brainstorming initiatives on how to bring the gospel into this new space.

But, many Christian digital natives are also young, inexperienced, or are poorly resourced. They are not the ones who often stand in front of the pulpit, speak in conferences, or write books. They themselves don’t have too many of their own leaders to learn from.

Many of them also don’t have the financial or social capital to be able to invest heavily in these greenfield projects. Worse, quantifying the success of these projects is difficult! This field is too nascent to have a strong foundation, so the work is quite experimental. Experimental work costs time and money, but may not lead to high enough ROI to be worth investing.

So, to summarize:

1. The digital generation is best equipped to reach their own kind. Many of them are trying to do so by building digital platforms and tools to bring the gospel into this space.

2. The digital generation feels ineffective in their efforts. They lack the resourcing and capital to ensure that their work is sustainable.

2.2 The older generation and their churches are best equipped to provide resources and opportunities.

The older generation, on the other hand, has plenty of individuals who have this level of influence. They are the ones who are currently pastors, keynote speakers, and authors. And if they don’t hold a position of power, they likely have established a strong network of resources.

For longstanding churches, this also rings true. Older churches have likely accrued significant social and financial capital. They are the lifeblood of several non-profits, missions organizations, and the like. They, too, have likely built a massive church and prayer network that can also be leveraged.

What opportunities can the church provide? How can the older generation show support? A few suggestions come to mind:

1. Prayer support through their vast network
2. Financial donations
3. Spiritual mentorship and guidance.
4. Empowering the younger generation to speak out about their convictions.

But as mentioned before, their ignorance and apathy are preventing all this from happening. If my hypothesis in “Encouraging Understanding” proves correct, increased collaboration and conversation between both parties should break down the barriers of ignorance and apathy.

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To summarize all of it, here is what I suggest:

1. We must understand that the whole Church must be together in reaching the lost digital generation. Digital natives are best equipped to do the work, but they must be supported by churches and the analog generation.

2. In order for the that sort of collaboration to occur, there must be cultural exchange between these two generations within the church. This exchange should break down hubris within the younger generation, and it should encourage passion and empathy from the older generation.

It will take much prayer and time for momentum to shift towards this direction. But I think things are beginning to shift! During COVID, I’ve seen churches take advantage of the digital space to spread the gospel, using social media for the purpose of His kingdom. The rise of virtual churches also opens the door for a place for digital natives to worship. All of these efforts resulted from strong partnerships between analog and digital generations within the church.

While writing this 4-part series, I’ve had the opportunity to engage in countless discussions with members in the Church, both young and old, digital and analog. In these conversations, I’ve seen curiosity emerge from those without a digital background. I’ve seen my own pride revealed when I realized how much I need the older generation. And most importantly, I’ve seen the potential for new partnerships to form, where I and the Church could tackle this problem together.

I hope that you, the reader, also continue these conversations with your local body.