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20 and Something (Frames Series): Have the Time of Your Life
Twentysomethings today are redefining what this decade means and what making a positive contribution to society looks like. One reality is today's economy - you may find yourself a recent college graduate with no job prospects. As such, many twentysomethings are shifting away from career, to calling, looking for ways to impact the world. Or maybe for you, a career or job is what you do in order to support the more meaningful work you love, like photography, music, brewing, or traveling.
Likely you have found a tribe of like-minded people who are taking the journey with you, asking yourselves big questions like what to do with life, what does it mean, why should I settle down with a spouse and house so soon? These questions have huge ramifications for all aspects of society. Twentysomethings need new ways of thinking about institutions and finding rootedness in a transient culture, while at the same time institutions need new ways of thinking about and incorporating twentysomethings. Join David H. Kim, the executive director of the Center for Faith and Work at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, as he walks through the uniqueness of this transformative decade.
Likely you have found a tribe of like-minded people who are taking the journey with you, asking yourselves big questions like what to do with life, what does it mean, why should I settle down with a spouse and house so soon? These questions have huge ramifications for all aspects of society. Twentysomethings need new ways of thinking about institutions and finding rootedness in a transient culture, while at the same time institutions need new ways of thinking about and incorporating twentysomethings. Join David H. Kim, the executive director of the Center for Faith and Work at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, as he walks through the uniqueness of this transformative decade.
- GenresNonfiction
91 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2014
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February 4, 2014
In this FRAME Kim attempts to present a coherent picture of the Millennial generation, defined for this purpose as those born between 1984 and 1993 (i.e. those 20 to 29). He admits that it is hard to define this generation but notes some themes, particularly as they relate to the shared experience of the generation. He focuses on Millennial views of technology, relationships, work, and views regarding institutions and thus their general disposition.
This generation grew up with technology, and unlike any previous generation, are truly digital natives. Their lives are saturated by technology in almost every facet: their relationships are often mediated by some level of online contact, their view of work and how they would be able to change the world are based in technology, their entrepreneurial spirit is informed by the possibilities of technology both for improving quality of life and its ability to be wielded by small groups as well as large corporations, and their view of institutions is, at least in some part, shaped by how technology has overthrown many, transformed others, and has led to the formation of very important and large corporations in an unbelievably short period of time (after all, all these Millennials are older than Google and Facebook). They see the promise of technology but also are aware of technology's limitations; they still crave relationships. They are used to having a warehouse of knowledge at their fingertips and have no problems using it. Apparently 25% of Millennial churchgoers have fact-checked something they heard in a sermon during that sermon.
This generation does value relationships and places a premium on developing close friendships that go well beyond the superficial connections made through social media. Adulthood is defined primarily in terms of emotional maturity and self-discovery; previous hallmarks, like marriage, childbearing, and financial independence are not seen as what defines a person as an adult. They place a great premium on marriage and raising children, but most often see those life events further ahead in the future, perhaps less about irresponsibility and more about concern about finding the most compatible life partner and taking seriously the commitment of having children.
Work features prominently in the Millennial mindset even though far too many Millennials find themselves over-educated and under-employed. Millennials have little job loyalty and loyalty to institutions, and they expect to find meaningful jobs which will empower them to help change the world. It sounds overly idealistic and naïve, and yet they can point to many examples of young people involved in corporations and non-profits alike active in enhancing quality of life around the world through technology. They're willing to pass over some job opportunities in order to find work which they find meaningful and valuable, and they expect any organization or institution with whom they labor or in which they invest time and energy to provide meaningful labor and work toward something greater than themselves.
Despite growing up in tumultuous times, after the fall of Communism in the west but during the Internet upheaval, the tech boom collapse, then 9/11 and other terrorist events, and the most recent great depression, the author finds Millennials, on the whole, to be quite optimistic about themselves and their future. They expect to find work, make a good living, and change the world; "hope" and "change" are not meaningless to them. They have a more optimistic view of corporations and government than previous generations, yet are the generation that has the least confidence in churches (30% as compared to 34% of Gen-Xers and 41% of Boomers and Elders, p.39). Millennials seek meaning, in general maintain a robust spirituality, yet do not feel compelled to participate in the "institutional church."
The numbers are sobering: 59% of young adults who grow up as "Christians" broadly defined end up leaving the church at some point after high school graduation (p. 27). Such is not unique to this generation; many in previous generations left for awhile during their 20s and yet returned. But previous generations were raised in an age with greater loyalty to institutions and less access to a range of informational alternatives. There is no guarantee that a large percentage of those Millennials will come back to churches, especially if they find greater meaning and participation in more "secular" pursuits.
It is easy for those of us who are older than this generation to be quite dismissive of the Millennials as narcissistic and hopelessly naïve. It is easy to cringe at their demand for constant affirmation and how they think everything has to have meaning. There are some respects in which the expectations of this generation, as generations before them, will have to be tempered: the way in which we work in this creation has been cursed (Genesis 3:17-19), the goal of eternal monuments to our efforts has proven futile since the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and this generation ought to get a needed dose of the wisdom of the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, especially as it relates to life, work, and effort.
Nevertheless, this generation should not be so easily dismissed or written off. In his lecture/discussion David Kim spoke of his and my generation, the Gen-Xers, as the Seinfeld generation, quite cynical and sarcastic, while Millennials are quite optimistic and don't seem to understand why we are so cynical and sarcastic. It really is quite the question considering that "we" grew up in better times with a more optimistic outlook and yet wore grunge, listened to depressing music, and then lamented how so many were strung out on drugs and/or committing suicide, and yet for what and why? Cynicism and sarcasm are easy responses to a quite less than ideal world, yet the Gospel calls us to hope in Christ, something which seems to come more naturally to Millennials. There's value in idealism; a cynic can never be disappointed.
Regarding the Millennials a great call must be made to the church to live up to what it professes. There are many understandable reasons why Millennials are disillusioned with the institutional church: its moral failures are paraded in the media, it seems to refuse to understand or work with them but expects them to conform to their arbitrary standard, it does not seem like a place where meaning can actually be found, but looks like a major vat of hypocrisy and pretension.
In our widely-connected yet superficial world, Millennials and many others seek meaning and deep relationship. The church has all of the resources to satisfy these desires at its disposal in the message of the Gospel, in which all men and women are called to share in the community of God in Christ, the church, where people can share in life, both the ups and downs, and should be able to open up about their challenges and difficulties and find acceptance, wholeness, and healing in Christ (Romans 5:6-11, 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28). The church ought to be a place in which Millennials can work with Gen-Xers, Boomers, and Elders as joint-participants in the work of God in Christ, using their talents to advance God's purposes to His glory, and be able to participate in the only work which will last unto eternity, the proper channel for their desire for meaning in work and life (Matthew 6:19-23, 1 Peter 4:10-11). The church should be the place where the Millennials can provide a needed "shot in the arm" of optimism and idealism while learning about the challenges, pitfalls, and dangers of existence from those with greater experience. Millennial yearning for authenticity in relationships and finding meaning in life are not handicaps or difficulties; we do well to listen to those desires, as they are God's desires (Acts 17:24-28, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28, 13:10-13), and find ways to develop authenticity and meaning within churches.
Every successive generation is at least partly shaped by the major events and forces which defined their formative years. In terms of the Gospel and the church we must find ways to communicate God's purposes to the next generation so as to bring them in, encouraging them through the witness of what God has done in Christ and what that means for us so that they may share and participate in life with us. It is not for us to judge and condemn the next generation any more or less than it is for them to judge and condemn previous generations; we all have our strengths and weaknesses, and it is in the Body of Christ where our strengths can encourage and strengthen others while our weaknesses are offset by others' strengths, to the building up (edification) of the Body, to be part of something greater than ourselves (Ephesians 4:11-16). When the Body is hemorrhaging its youngest constituents, there is a major problem. While we ought to work diligently to bring into the fold Millennials who were never part of it or who left it, we must also work diligently with the young who have yet to leave to make sure they have a well-informed faith, understanding what God has done in Christ, and how the Gospel and the church are to relate to their lives, relationships, technology, work, and search for meaning. If 59% of those who grow up in the church find no use for it once they reach 20, we need to take a hard look at how the church is attempting to accomplish its purpose, discuss how the church is not living up to its calling, and begin working toward Biblically based solutions so that the next generation may better understand why God works through the church and why radical individualism is no way forward.
20 and Something is recommended for those who wish to better understand Millennials as they seek to encourage them to participate in God's purposes in Christ in the Gospel and the church.
This generation grew up with technology, and unlike any previous generation, are truly digital natives. Their lives are saturated by technology in almost every facet: their relationships are often mediated by some level of online contact, their view of work and how they would be able to change the world are based in technology, their entrepreneurial spirit is informed by the possibilities of technology both for improving quality of life and its ability to be wielded by small groups as well as large corporations, and their view of institutions is, at least in some part, shaped by how technology has overthrown many, transformed others, and has led to the formation of very important and large corporations in an unbelievably short period of time (after all, all these Millennials are older than Google and Facebook). They see the promise of technology but also are aware of technology's limitations; they still crave relationships. They are used to having a warehouse of knowledge at their fingertips and have no problems using it. Apparently 25% of Millennial churchgoers have fact-checked something they heard in a sermon during that sermon.
This generation does value relationships and places a premium on developing close friendships that go well beyond the superficial connections made through social media. Adulthood is defined primarily in terms of emotional maturity and self-discovery; previous hallmarks, like marriage, childbearing, and financial independence are not seen as what defines a person as an adult. They place a great premium on marriage and raising children, but most often see those life events further ahead in the future, perhaps less about irresponsibility and more about concern about finding the most compatible life partner and taking seriously the commitment of having children.
Work features prominently in the Millennial mindset even though far too many Millennials find themselves over-educated and under-employed. Millennials have little job loyalty and loyalty to institutions, and they expect to find meaningful jobs which will empower them to help change the world. It sounds overly idealistic and naïve, and yet they can point to many examples of young people involved in corporations and non-profits alike active in enhancing quality of life around the world through technology. They're willing to pass over some job opportunities in order to find work which they find meaningful and valuable, and they expect any organization or institution with whom they labor or in which they invest time and energy to provide meaningful labor and work toward something greater than themselves.
Despite growing up in tumultuous times, after the fall of Communism in the west but during the Internet upheaval, the tech boom collapse, then 9/11 and other terrorist events, and the most recent great depression, the author finds Millennials, on the whole, to be quite optimistic about themselves and their future. They expect to find work, make a good living, and change the world; "hope" and "change" are not meaningless to them. They have a more optimistic view of corporations and government than previous generations, yet are the generation that has the least confidence in churches (30% as compared to 34% of Gen-Xers and 41% of Boomers and Elders, p.39). Millennials seek meaning, in general maintain a robust spirituality, yet do not feel compelled to participate in the "institutional church."
The numbers are sobering: 59% of young adults who grow up as "Christians" broadly defined end up leaving the church at some point after high school graduation (p. 27). Such is not unique to this generation; many in previous generations left for awhile during their 20s and yet returned. But previous generations were raised in an age with greater loyalty to institutions and less access to a range of informational alternatives. There is no guarantee that a large percentage of those Millennials will come back to churches, especially if they find greater meaning and participation in more "secular" pursuits.
It is easy for those of us who are older than this generation to be quite dismissive of the Millennials as narcissistic and hopelessly naïve. It is easy to cringe at their demand for constant affirmation and how they think everything has to have meaning. There are some respects in which the expectations of this generation, as generations before them, will have to be tempered: the way in which we work in this creation has been cursed (Genesis 3:17-19), the goal of eternal monuments to our efforts has proven futile since the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and this generation ought to get a needed dose of the wisdom of the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, especially as it relates to life, work, and effort.
Nevertheless, this generation should not be so easily dismissed or written off. In his lecture/discussion David Kim spoke of his and my generation, the Gen-Xers, as the Seinfeld generation, quite cynical and sarcastic, while Millennials are quite optimistic and don't seem to understand why we are so cynical and sarcastic. It really is quite the question considering that "we" grew up in better times with a more optimistic outlook and yet wore grunge, listened to depressing music, and then lamented how so many were strung out on drugs and/or committing suicide, and yet for what and why? Cynicism and sarcasm are easy responses to a quite less than ideal world, yet the Gospel calls us to hope in Christ, something which seems to come more naturally to Millennials. There's value in idealism; a cynic can never be disappointed.
Regarding the Millennials a great call must be made to the church to live up to what it professes. There are many understandable reasons why Millennials are disillusioned with the institutional church: its moral failures are paraded in the media, it seems to refuse to understand or work with them but expects them to conform to their arbitrary standard, it does not seem like a place where meaning can actually be found, but looks like a major vat of hypocrisy and pretension.
In our widely-connected yet superficial world, Millennials and many others seek meaning and deep relationship. The church has all of the resources to satisfy these desires at its disposal in the message of the Gospel, in which all men and women are called to share in the community of God in Christ, the church, where people can share in life, both the ups and downs, and should be able to open up about their challenges and difficulties and find acceptance, wholeness, and healing in Christ (Romans 5:6-11, 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28). The church ought to be a place in which Millennials can work with Gen-Xers, Boomers, and Elders as joint-participants in the work of God in Christ, using their talents to advance God's purposes to His glory, and be able to participate in the only work which will last unto eternity, the proper channel for their desire for meaning in work and life (Matthew 6:19-23, 1 Peter 4:10-11). The church should be the place where the Millennials can provide a needed "shot in the arm" of optimism and idealism while learning about the challenges, pitfalls, and dangers of existence from those with greater experience. Millennial yearning for authenticity in relationships and finding meaning in life are not handicaps or difficulties; we do well to listen to those desires, as they are God's desires (Acts 17:24-28, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28, 13:10-13), and find ways to develop authenticity and meaning within churches.
Every successive generation is at least partly shaped by the major events and forces which defined their formative years. In terms of the Gospel and the church we must find ways to communicate God's purposes to the next generation so as to bring them in, encouraging them through the witness of what God has done in Christ and what that means for us so that they may share and participate in life with us. It is not for us to judge and condemn the next generation any more or less than it is for them to judge and condemn previous generations; we all have our strengths and weaknesses, and it is in the Body of Christ where our strengths can encourage and strengthen others while our weaknesses are offset by others' strengths, to the building up (edification) of the Body, to be part of something greater than ourselves (Ephesians 4:11-16). When the Body is hemorrhaging its youngest constituents, there is a major problem. While we ought to work diligently to bring into the fold Millennials who were never part of it or who left it, we must also work diligently with the young who have yet to leave to make sure they have a well-informed faith, understanding what God has done in Christ, and how the Gospel and the church are to relate to their lives, relationships, technology, work, and search for meaning. If 59% of those who grow up in the church find no use for it once they reach 20, we need to take a hard look at how the church is attempting to accomplish its purpose, discuss how the church is not living up to its calling, and begin working toward Biblically based solutions so that the next generation may better understand why God works through the church and why radical individualism is no way forward.
20 and Something is recommended for those who wish to better understand Millennials as they seek to encourage them to participate in God's purposes in Christ in the Gospel and the church.
March 18, 2014
This book is a very, very short guide for twentysomethings or just people who want to better understand the current generation of twentysomethings. The book starts off with a quick look at some statistics involving the Millennial Generation (i.e. the current twentysomethings), which are all represented in visually appealing graphics. The book then launches into what it calls "the frame," which is the bulk of the book and packs a surprising amount of information into such a limited number of words.
Even more surprising was how easy of a read this was, and how nothing felt as packed together as it was. I enjoyed reading this book in a way that is rare for these kinds of books. Because of the short, compacted nature of the book, you only get what's important. The book is precise and to the point with everything.
I enjoyed getting to see how others my age feel about a number of issues. The writers themselves aren't Millennials, but they clearly understand the generation well. Not only do I think this is a great book for Millennials, but I highly recommend it to anyone who has a negative view about the Millennial Generation because I guarantee this book will change it.
As a twentysomething, I think the biggest takeaway from this book is that you're not alone. There are a variety of issues covered in the book from how Millennials feel about marriage, parenthood, careers, government, and religion.
I would highly recommend this book to everybody. Plus, I'd say all together it took less than half an hour to read, so anyone can find that sort of time.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
http://hmweasley-blog.blogspot.com/20...
Even more surprising was how easy of a read this was, and how nothing felt as packed together as it was. I enjoyed reading this book in a way that is rare for these kinds of books. Because of the short, compacted nature of the book, you only get what's important. The book is precise and to the point with everything.
I enjoyed getting to see how others my age feel about a number of issues. The writers themselves aren't Millennials, but they clearly understand the generation well. Not only do I think this is a great book for Millennials, but I highly recommend it to anyone who has a negative view about the Millennial Generation because I guarantee this book will change it.
As a twentysomething, I think the biggest takeaway from this book is that you're not alone. There are a variety of issues covered in the book from how Millennials feel about marriage, parenthood, careers, government, and religion.
I would highly recommend this book to everybody. Plus, I'd say all together it took less than half an hour to read, so anyone can find that sort of time.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
http://hmweasley-blog.blogspot.com/20...
May 18, 2014
I found this book interesting because I am 20 and something. The research and numbers sometimes surprised me while others it was what I expected. I especially liked the interpretation of the results like we are dreamers who want to make the world a better place and have hope despite the mistrust of organizations. It was written almost like a textbook (but more interesting) and the colorful diagrams helped illustrate the results of the research on this demographic. I could also see, from experience, that these results hit close to the mark and gave me hope for the future of this group. Honestly, though, it was the conclusion that I was disappointed in. It wasn't that I disagree with it but, the Jesus and religious stuff at the end was almost a bit unexpected when it wasn't mentioned much and the rest of the book had been objective. It almost got preachy with no research to back up what it was saying. Still, I believe God is important to someone's life and He gives meaning and this world needs it, but the book didn't build well to that and almost seemed like a slap in the face with no real suggestions on how to bring God in their lives. I am interested in reading a couple of the other books in the series.
March 10, 2014
"The truth is that many young adults today aren't looking for a hipper coffee bar, more contemporary worship, or better cultural references in sermons. Simply put, they're looking for depth — spiritual relevance that connects to the world they live in." That is perhaps the best line from the first of the Barna "Frames" series of books. For those familiar with the Barna Group's studies on religion and culture, this is a great new series, and it's important to know about the Millennials as a group and their role in society. It's helpful (if heartbreaking) to learn that 59 percent of those who grow up as Christians leave the church after high school. The book addresses the good and bad characteristics of twenty-somethings, what their hopes and expectations are, and what motivates them concerning work, family, life. The discussion questions at the end are a nice bonus. Would like to see more of a Christian analysis/response in addition to the great demographic info.
October 14, 2016
Having read a couple of the other short books in this series I found that this one offered little new thought. Perhaps that is because it is in some ways the foundation on which the others are argued, and therefore I had read a lot of what David Kim covers. The author does however offer a few really useful insights about millennials, making good use of Barna's statistics.
February 6, 2016
If you want to have an intelligent conversation about our generation's attitudes on life goals, versus other generations, read these 75ish short pages of stats and optimism.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews