Personal Faith: How to Build a Bridge Back to God
Millennials Haven’t Developed “Personal Faith”
American Millennials are leaving the Christian faith in droves. According to a new Pew Research poll, 40% now identify as “no religion”.
And, believe it or not, this is actually MUCH better than the decline seen in most European countries.
But why? Why have so many of us abandoned the faith?
Simple: we have never made our faith personal.
How did we get here?
If you are a Millennial like me, you have probably thought of your faith as a sort of cultural identity. You list yourself as Catholic or Methodist because that is what your parents were.
You have never taken the time to really think through your religious or philosophical worldview — much less read the Bible — to see if it is coherent. With all the hustle and bustle of 21st century life, you probably have never thought much about God at all.
You have likely read some succinct, seemingly sensible quotes on the internet challenging the idea of God. Or maybe you have taken a philosophy class in college where your faith was similarly questioned. Unable to produce a rebuttal, you settle on the idea that, while faith is nice, it’s not at all logical.
It’s understandable.
The same thing happened to me.
I was the guy that sat quietly in the “Introduction to Ethics” class. I listened as the philosophy professor waxed poetic about the “slave mindset” that permeated Christianity. I never breathed a word about how incredibly stupid this idea was. I never mentioned that, far from being cowardly, it took incredible bravery on the part of the early apostles to risk their lives to spread the gospel.
Nope. I bought it all: hook, line, and sinker. I left college a borderline atheist, without hope, and a real sense of fatalism for life in general. It would take me years and (thankfully) a couple great mentors to help me right the ship.
Why is Developing “Personal Faith” Important?
Ever since starting A Millennial’s Divine Defense, I have spent a large portion of my time debating atheists over the existence of God.
In all of these debates, no one has ever produced an argument that I found to be so compelling as to abandon my faith.
Why?
Because I have taken the time to think through my faith. I have read the Bible and thought through its message. I have reviewed the arguments for God’s existence (ontological, moral, cosmological, etc…) and studied the objections to each.
Through all of my research, I have come to believe that faith in the God of the Bible is the logical conclusion. It’s not a suspension of disbelief. In the contrary, it is following the facts where they lead you.
So, how can you start to develop your own “personal faith”? Follow the 4 steps listed below, and you’ll be well on your way.
1. Read the Bible
This should go without saying. If you’re deciding to believe or not believe something, shouldn’t you at least read it first?
I can tell you that I found the Bible to be much more theologically consistent than I expected. The story of atonement and salvation starts in the Old Testament with God calling forth “His people” (often He drags them kicking and screaming) from the pagan, polytheistic hordes.
It continues in the New Testament with Him using these people to deliver a Savior for all the peoples of the world.
The Christian message offers hope in a darkened world. It brings peace to its adherents and joy to those capable of placing their trust in its God.
Spend some time with the most popular book in human history, and I think you’ll find it no surprise that Christianity has been the dominant world religion for two millennia.
2. Learn About Christian Apologetics
When it comes to rationally defending their faith, I find that most Christians believe they are fighting an uphill battle.
Christian apologetics is the art of providing a rational defense for Christianity. Fortunately, the writings and debates that comprise this discipline are readily available. A quick Google, Amazon, or YouTube search will provide you with hours of material.
Dr. John Lennox and Dr. William Lane Craig are excellent places to start. Both have been highlighted in previous AMDD blog posts. (Click the links to review.)
Both have successfully debated some of the brightest minds that atheism can bring to bear, including Christopher Hitchens and Dr. Richard Dawkins.
Ravi Zacharias, founder of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, is another titan in the world of Christian apologetics and should merit some of your study time as well. His organization, RZIM, focuses on training Christians to effectively share their faith against secular objections.
Spend a couple hours researching the work of these modern apostles, and I think you will quickly realize that Christians aren’t as rationally handicapped as you might think.
3. Spend Time Talking with Mature Christians
Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Spiritual growth is not a straight line. A mentor can help guide you along this journey. Someone that can answer questions, suggest areas of additional study, or just challenge your own presuppositions can often help spur you forward.
Growing in faith is not a painless process. It challenges a lot of our preexisting beliefs and forces us to see ourselves through the lens of Christ — an experience that doesn’t always present a pretty picture at first. To have someone that has walked that path and can help guide you, offer encouragement, and gentle admonishment when necessary, is almost a prerequisite.
Beggars can’t always be choosers, but try to find a mentor that aligns with your personality and complements your spiritual goals. Try to find someone that has also spent time researching the answers to your questions. If you do, I think you’ll find the time that you spend together extremely rewarding.
4. Spend Time Understanding the Alternative Views
I believe that if you learn about atheism or secularism, you will quickly realize that Christianity is a more logical, all-encompassing worldview. I believe you will find that, far from having all the answers, secularism and atheism require as much faith as Christianity and can’t answer any of the basic questions.
- How did we get here?
- What is our purpose?
- Does our life have meaning?
- Why do we suffer?
Like so many of our other modern fancies, atheism looks good on the surface, but upon closer inspection, you realize that the veneer isn’t quite as shiny as you thought. It can’t replace a personal faith in Christ.
(If you would like to read my take on atheism’s many shortcomings, click here, here, and here for my thre- part series, “No Religion”: America’s Fastest-Growing Religion.)
Conclusion
It is an established fact. Millennials are leaving the faith at a record pace.
My hope is that Millennials will realize the empty bag of goods they have been sold. If you are one of these Millennials and you feel like the promises of modern society have failed you, I hope you will reevaluate the faith of your forefathers.
I hope that you will read the Bible, learn about apologetics, find a mentor, and really study what the alternatives offer. If you do, I think you’ll be happier with a developed, well-reasoned personal faith.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast”
1st Peter 5:10
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Also, please check out our other blog posts on the ontological, cosmological, and moral arguments for God.
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