A Gen Z New Believer’s View

 

It would be simply annoying not to document some views from those currently experiencing revival in the UK. When I was a young believer at church, the older Christians would talk about ‘a cult of youth’. It’s a very ‘old person’ kind of expression to use and pretty condescending. I remember thinking, ‘Huh? I’m in a cult? Why don’t we have more of a say then?’ (Turned out there was a good argument that we were all in a cult, both young and old. ‘Hold on’, you might say, ‘cults shun those who leave and say that the world is evil’. Yep).

I’m getting side-tracked. Any revival must pass between the generations. All of them. We already have an unimaginatively titled ‘Alpha generation’. What are the ‘Betas’ going to feel like should earth make it that far? Like second-class citizens I bet.

I won’t digress further. Here is what Gen Z has said.

 

Mia - A new young believer

“There has been a lot of chat on Anglican Twitter about the quiet revival, and this has led me to reflect on some of my experiences converting, particularly: difficulties talking about faith, not knowing enough, doubting a lot, and the ‘right reasons’ to become a Christian

People judge (new) adult converts in ways they do not doubt lifelong Christians. The strengths and weaknesses you have are often quite different to those who have been in the faith a long time. It would be nice for clergy/the church to be sympathetic to these different needs.”

 

Josh - another Gen Z believer

"I grew up with an abusive mum and never had a dad in my life. I ended up going through the system of children’s homes which led me into criminal activities, believing that these people cared about me. Because my look on how people really care about me was warped by my upbringing. I've done lots of things I couldn't forgive myself for. I was feeling very alone and depressed... I just prayed to God. And the next day one of my old support workers messaged me, asking me to come to church.

I have been bought into a family home of people who care about me and a church family who are amazing people. I want to be baptised because God has shown me that, no matter what I've done or what's happened, I'm forgiven. I will forgive others because Jesus died for our sins and I would like to give my life to Christ."

 

And Gen Z has its defenders. They are not a cult of youth.

The front-page splash of the Sunday Express on 27th July 2025 exclaimed; ‘GLOBAL CRISIS SENDING GEN Z TO CHURCH’. The ‘exclusive’ (many Christian bloggers and reporters and writers had got there first) was largely positive and an editorial piece gave a balanced view.

Justin Brierley referred to ‘the sea of faith’ coming back in again, like a tide. This imagery comes from Matthew Arnold’s famous poem ‘Dover Beach’, published in 1867 which described a kind of communal retreat of belief in God, which the poet felt.

‘The sea of faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furl'd;
But now I only hear
Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
Retreating to the breath
Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear
And naked shingles of the world.’

If you accept the metaphor, then, in a way, your view of this is whether you prefer it when the tide is in, or when the tide is out. He wrote the poem while on honeymoon. Maybe he was depressed or not having a good honeymoon? Anyway, we got Dover Beach.

Not all of the reports about the quiet revival were positive. Humanists and secularists in particular, questioned the statistics and many thought it either non-existent, or else due only to immigration, quoting unquestioned statistics and polls which seemed to give different views. For almost every positive story, there was a negative one.

Justin Brierley ran with the imagery though. And he was not the only one. On August 14^th 2025, The New World (formally The New European) had a front page with an altered picture of the famous Sistine Chapel image of God. The newspaper changed this, showing God smiling and giving a thumbs up. And the headline read: ‘Look who’s back - The return of God to public life’. An article by the journalist and former editor of The Spectator, Matthew d’Ancona, critical of the popularity of faith-related apps, influencers and podcasts, concluded:

“On the digital beach, I stay alert for rationality, humanism and secularism wherever they may be. But, for now, at least - all I hear is their melancholy, long, withdrawing roar.”

 

As for Gen Z, the Zoomers who were suddenly going to churches? While most of us were talking about them, they were experiencing God. Including his mystery, miracle and magic. Possibly not the usual kind of magic, but hopefully you know what I mean.