One of my favorite spots on our college campus is the coffee shop. It’s my go-to location to meet with students. Although I’ve had hundreds (if not thousands) of conversations with students there, one has stuck with me.

I was talking with a young man about life and faith. During our conversation, the student shared how he didn’t see the teachings in the Bible as absolute truth or relevant for today. He viewed the Bible as merely a dusty, old book on the shelf.

What the young man said didn’t catch me off guard. Instead, it inspired me to want to help young adults understand Scripture and the importance of their faith.

Such views aren’t new. I’ve had many conversations over the years with young people who were wrestling with their faith. However, there is a concerning trend today.

According to a recent report from Pew Research Center, 29% of adults in the U.S. are now religiously unaffiliated, an increase of 13 percentage points since 2007. These individuals identify as atheists (4%), agnostics (5%), or “nothing in particular” (20%).

Some of these unaffiliated individuals grew up in religious homes but no longer hold to their parents’ beliefs. What can we do to stem the tide of young people leaving the faith? Below are three ways we can help young adults navigate the ideological controversies of the day.

Create Space for Positive Doubt

Young adults have been exposed to more belief systems than many of us growing up. We no longer have to read a textbook or travel to a new country to experience what others believe. It’s all around us, particularly on social media – where young adults find community and identity.

I recently read the story of a Generation Z individual who had pieced together her faith from different religious beliefs to fit her values. The young woman’s concept of truth was based on what she wanted it to be and what made her feel good.

There are a lot of young adults who are searching for the truth, and the world has a lot of answers for them.

It’s not surprising when young adults start questioning their faith. We can’t approach questions of doubt as threats, but rather we should see these questions as opportunities to talk with them about their faith.

God’s not afraid of difficult questions, and we shouldn’t be either. Doubt is a part of any faith journey. But young adults must know there is a space for them to approach us with any questions they may have — and they can’t feel judged.

In John 20:24-29, we read how Thomas doubted Jesus’s resurrection when the disciples told him about it. Jesus had to appear to Thomas himself and show him the nail marks in His hands for Thomas to believe. In the same way, we may need to guide young adults through questions about their faith.

It’s not surprising
when young adults
start questioning
their faith.

See Through a Biblical Lens

A previous study from Barna reported that only 4% of Gen Z had a biblical worldview. Many young adults approach different ideologies based on the social norms of today. Instead of filtering their views through the Bible, they filter their perspectives through societal norms.

If young adults don’t affirm someone else’s viewpoint, they can be seen as intolerant, narrow-minded, or not accepting among their peers.

This is where we can walk alongside young adults and teach them how they can love an individual without affirming their beliefs. When they have conversations with their peers from different faiths, young adults can be respectful and understanding. Encourage them to ask questions to understand why those individuals believe what they do and not be afraid to share their faith.

After the conversations, these young people need to internally question what the other individuals said based on Scripture. As Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is alive and active.” When in doubt, encourage them to return to Scripture or to ask a mentor (or you) about certain topics and questions they have.

The problem is a lot of young adults want to affirm their actions or what’s happening in the world around them by taking Scripture out of context. This is probably why they turn to different beliefs.

It’s easier to live a life that makes a person feel good than one where the individuals must live counterculture. Yet, we can share our stories of how being set apart from the world is worth it.

Focus on Apologetics

I remember when my kids would ask me something, and I would respond with “Because I said so.” Sometimes Bible teachings can feel the same way. Instead of diving deeper into theological conversations, we opt for the easy answer of “Because the Bible says so.”

1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

In our churches and Christian schools, we need to teach young adults how to defend their faith and how to critically think through their beliefs. Our young adults must have answers to the tough questions of the day they will face. If they are not rooted in Scripture, it’s easier for them to walk away.

We have to dive deeper into our messages and small groups to teach young adults how to explain the basic tenets of the Christian faith. We should be able to give them examples of how history and archeological evidence validate Scripture.

This can include incorporating examples of early Christian writers, non-Christian sources, and historical documents that reference biblical events. We can also provide examples of how Jesus’ life confirms Old Testament scripture verses.

During the past few years, young adults have seen division among others, and they have a desire to bridge that divide. There can be the misconception religion needs to evolve with the changing culture. Now, more than ever, young adults need people in their lives who can help them navigate the ideological controversies of the day.