Depth of Life
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “It is not length of life, but depth of life.” Interestingly enough, our research shows that young adults agree. As seen in the research, they show a high level of interest in theology, apologetics, worldview, and other religions. Many inaccurate stereotypes abound regarding this generation. Unfortunately one of them is related to the idea of depth.
Sadly many people have identified this generation as disinterested in a deeper approach to life. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Many churches have chosen to lessen their emphasis on depth in order to compliment their inaccurate stereotypes of this generation. This isn’t working now, and it certainly won’t in the future. In fact, most young adults are turned off by shallowness and are beginning to walk away from environments (including churches) that foster it.
What are your thoughts? Are you seeing this to be true?
About the Author
Jason Hayes is the young adult ministry specialist for Threads. His primary role for Threads is to serve as a speaker, church consultant, and writer. He is the co-author of Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches That Reach Them and the author of Blemished: How the Message of Malachi Confronts Empty Religion. Jason earned a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to coming to LifeWay, he served at Long Hollow Baptist Church in north Nashville. He is also happily married to his beautiful wife, Carrie, and is a proud dad to their two sons. Learn more at jasonhayesonline.com.
There have been 10 replies so far
Hi! My first comment on this blog—yippee!
I totally agree with what you’re saying. But you make it sound like we’re all breaking down the doors of our churches demanding deeper teaching. That isn’t happening at my church, maybe I need to get around more :) There’s a vicious cycle in action: we are treated as though we were disinterested, and as a result we truly become disinterested—simply rising up to (low) expectations.
1 | Nelima
Sunday, December 14, 2008, at 1:16pm
I agree with the article; we are seeking depth. Personally I find myself bored and disinterested with the shallow. Maybe that’s where the stereotype comes from. We may look disinterested when things are too surfacy and shallow. I find the same to be true with my step-kids (ages 11 and 14). The next generation seeks depth and thought-provoking conversation also.
2 | Lindie
Thursday, December 18, 2008, at 9:34am
I had the suspicion that many of my contemporaries were disattisfied with the shallow culture that is supposedly our making. It gives me joy to think that a new generation of Christians is growing restless with a passion to go deeper into the things of God. Please keep up the effort to satisfy that passion with curriculum and rescources that allow us to go deeper!
3 | David Klinedinst
Thursday, December 18, 2008, at 11:37am
Lindie said: “We may look disinterested when things are too surfacy and shallow.” I hadn’t considered that. Anyhow, from my personal experience, the folks around me seem satisfied with the shallow stuff, which is why I said what I did above. Any ideas on how to lovingly nudge people out of their contentedness?
4 | Nelima
Thursday, December 18, 2008, at 1:55pm
Using material that intrigues people and catches their attention and urges them to go deeper is a good way to nudge people from being content. They may just think they are content if they haven’t realized how much more captivating a deeper study can be. Right now my small group is studying the curriculum “EPIC: The Story God is Telling” by John Eldredge. Although we have only just started it, I highly recommend it!
5 | Lindie
Thursday, December 18, 2008, at 3:03pm
I believe the only way to urge others to more depth is to have it yourself, merely talking of depth does not make one deep, nor does spouting deep quotes. Face time alone with God will take you deeper than you thought you could ever go. If you don’t know what I am talking about, pray until you do and if you need guidance ask.
6 | Matthew
Sunday, January 4, 2009, at 8:10am
Good point Matthew… Any material or curriculum is not meant to replace that. Time for personal devotion, reflection and prayer should be first and foremost. Sometimes it helps to use materials and group studies to help provoke thoughts and open doors to new ways of looking at things. And it can give you something to reflect on in your personal time with God.
7 | Lindie
Sunday, January 4, 2009, at 8:21am
Thesa are good thoughts everyone. Thanks for wrestling through all of this with us.
8 | Jason Hayes
Wednesday, January 7, 2009, at 9:20pm
I think this is a really interesting discussion. It seems like the concept of depth can be misconstrued. Does depth only mean that we know more about God? I believe that this generation wants “proof” of our faith. It doesn’t seem to matter what we’ve read, what we’ve decided, or what we believe. Are we living it? That seems to be the only question that matters.
9 | Curtis
Sunday, January 11, 2009, at 7:43pm
Well said Jason, the Lord said they shall know we are his disciples by our love for one another. How do we love, by what we do, not what we say. If we only meet on Sunday and ask the same old ” how are you and your family “questions, and never spend the time with them to see how they are, we will hear the master say. “Go away, I never knew you”.
10 | Matthew
Monday, January 12, 2009, at 9:41pm
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