Authenticity

More and more Gen Z are becoming skeptical of everything they are told. They are beginning to see that the system of the world is falling short and they see the destruction that comes with subscribing to its ideals. It's no longer satisfying.  

The power of truth is that it breaks through deception. The truth of who Jesus is the very weapon we use against the enemy's lies. While the world preaches love yourself, Jesus preaches love one another. The authentic, biblical truth of Jesus is what they are searching for.

Gen Z desire authenticity. It's not enough that we preach Jesus, we must begin to look like Him. They are looking to see whether our lives we reflect the truth we believe in. If we say Jesus loves them, they are looking to see that love through us. For a lot of people, you are the only Bible they will read. Our lives must become templates of how to know God. It's through the way we live our lives that they will see God is a restorer, a redeemer, a healer, a Father. This is what it means to be a living epistle (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). The Church must embody the message it proclaims. More powerful than speech is a transformed life. Our lives must be an official statement of praise or honour given to God through our admirable actions.  

More often than not, secular organisations do a better job at revealing the heart of Jesus to the world than the Church. This needs to change. If we desire Gen Z to turn to Jesus, we must reveal Him authentically.

So, we know that authenticity is a powerful way to connect Gen Z with Jesus. But what does this look like practically?

Being authentic in our display of Jesus could look:

1. Living the message we share: Living in a way that honours Jesus' message is a great way to reflect authenticity, as it shows that His words mean something to us. By showing love and  living out the truth of the Gospel, our lives create an authentic template of Jesus' way of life.  

2. Sharing your personal testimony: Gen Z values personal truth as a marker of authenticity, so hearing a personal story of Jesus' impact helps to display faith in a genuine way. 

3. Building genuine relationships: The belief in authenticity often comes through trusted relationship. By building meaningful connections, you can create a basis of trust that will make your faith sharing more digestible and believable for Gen Z.