It seems mixing politics and religion is a bad thing—at least if you want people to participate in your congregation. A new generation has detached itself from political parties and religious institutions. They reflect a growing dismay with bipartisanship and a faith that they believe is characterized by an “anti” stance against the things they value.
It is not that they are apolitical. They can readily engage in discussion and campaign around favorite issues. But when politics are introduced into a community of faith, it can feel that there is no longer room for diversity and disagreement. Because Millennials are not a monolithic ideological group, they want to be a part of a community that provides room for all. According to the 2012 Millennial Value Survey, our tendency to paint Millennials as liberal and progressive doesn’t do justice to the variety of views held. For example, they found that young Millennials hold Fox News as one of their most trusted sources for accurate information, and 39% report identifying with or leaning toward the Republican Party.
All of this is to say that today if people dare darken the door of a church, it is not to mix faith and politics. It is to seek a community that provides the space to explore faith.
It is not that they are apolitical. They can readily engage in discussion and campaign around favorite issues. But when politics are introduced into a community of faith, it can feel that there is no longer room for diversity and disagreement. Because Millennials are not a monolithic ideological group, they want to be a part of a community that provides room for all. According to the 2012 Millennial Value Survey, our tendency to paint Millennials as liberal and progressive doesn’t do justice to the variety of views held. For example, they found that young Millennials hold Fox News as one of their most trusted sources for accurate information, and 39% report identifying with or leaning toward the Republican Party.
All of this is to say that today if people dare darken the door of a church, it is not to mix faith and politics. It is to seek a community that provides the space to explore faith.
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