Dear Gen Z,
I’m a Gen Xer, a dad, and a minister. As I’ve watched your generation over the past few years, I’ve marveled at the amount of crises you’ve had to navigate. First, it was racial unrest far worse than anything we’ve seen in decades. Next was the global COVID-19 pandemic and its disruption of your education, life, and sense of security. Here you are in 2023, having to process a raging war in the Middle East that has the possibility of spreading globally. As a dad of Gen Zers, I know you have real concerns, worry, and even fear about the future. So I want to introduce you to someone who understands exactly what you’re going through and wants to walk with you through this life. His name is Jesus.
At this point, you might be saying, “I know about Jesus; I mean, everybody’s heard about him, right?” While it’s true that Jesus is a name that’s widely known, I submit to you that most people don’t know who the real Jesus is. Everyone has their own opinion about who He is, and churches, religion, society, culture, or experience could inform them. While some opinions about Jesus might be true, others are grossly distorted. If I wanted to know more about you as an individual, I might interview your friends or family. But if I wanted the truest sense of who you are, I would go directly to you. So isn’t the best way to get to know Jesus to go right to the source and see what He said about Himself? Here is some of what He said:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -Matthew 11:28-30 What does this mean? It means that Jesus wants you to come to Him, understand who He is, and what His will is for you. Moreover, He understands that you are carrying heavy burdens and His desire to walk through this life with you every day and forever.
Dear Gen Zer, Jesus wants you to know something else. He knows all about your depression, anxiety, and desperation, and with some of you, even thoughts of suicide. *(Crisis hotline link below article). He sees all of the deepest thoughts of your heart, future aspirations, dreams, and worries. He knows about the things you can’t even share with your closest friends and family because He made you; nothing is hidden from Him. Do you ever feel alone, even in a crowd? Do you go on a date, to a party, or somewhere exciting to escape reality only to come to the realization that the good time doesn’t last? Have you asked yourself, “Why can’t I be truly Happy?” Here’s a few more things Jesus wants you to know:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 I will be with you always, even until the end of the age. Matthew 28:20. Peace I leave with you; the peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 Jesus tells you that in the middle of everything you are going through, His desire is to go through it with you. But it doesn’t end there; He also makes it clear that He will never leave you, even when life is hard, and He will help you make it through this life and safely into eternal life.
Gen Zer, like I mentioned earlier, while many people know about Jesus, only a small percentage of people truly know Him. One thing I’ve learned about your generation is that you long for authenticity and despise what’s fake. You also desire to belong to something great, a cause to fight for and, if necessary, to give your life for. To be completely transparent, while many churches and ministers have represented the true Jesus, many others have misrepresented the Jesus of the Bible. One of the main ways a fraudulent Jesus has been presented to you is through what I’ll call the Watered down low commitment Christian life. This might look like going through the motions of busy religious activity, church attendance, raising your hand, signing a card, or becoming part of a group. In reality, Jesus said something completely different about following Him. He said that it will cost you everything.
When Jesus was talking to potential followers, He used hard phrases like: “Take up your cross, count the cost, keep His commandments, and go and sin no more.” There is one thing that separates you from living the life God intends for you. The issue is sin. Sin separates you from the Holy God who created you. Here’s what the Bible says sin does to us: But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death. James 1:14-15 The end result of sin is a life lived on a perpetual hampster wheel of never finding truth and contentment that ends with eternity in hell separated from God. Your life is worth so much more to the God who made you!
I’m writing this open letter to Gen Zers, to invite you to trust and follow the real Jesus of the Bible, the One of John 3:16, John 14:6, Romans 10:9-11, and Revelation 21:3-4. Dear Gen Z friends, if you repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus today, He will forgive your sins and give you purpose and meaning in this life and for eternity. As I mentioned earlier, you value authenticity and want to be challenged; I’m telling you that living for Jesus is the most authentic and challenging thing you will ever do. No matter what the future brings, you can live each day knowing Jesus loves you and will see you through to the end. If you have more questions about following Jesus and eternal life through Him, please check out the links below this open letter. If you have decided to follow Jesus, I’d love to hear from you at our ‘contact us’ link below.
All for Him,
Howard
Questions about eternity and following Jesus: Are you saved?
Great website for questions about Christianity: Got Questions
Have you come to saving faith in Jesus? Contact Us
Suicide and crisis helpline: Dial 988 or https://988lifeline.org/
