Camping with Millennials
Recently, my wife, Robin, and I returned from camping in northwest Wyoming with our niece and her husband. They do not share our faith, but we had a wonderful time with them. Here's what I observed and learned:
1) I was genuinely interested in hearing their ideas and curious about the latest in technology and life hacks
For example, Helen and Ted (not their real names) had the coolest camping rig I've seen. It was a trailer with storage, a battery, water supply, awning which covered the cooking area, all topped by a CVT (Cascadia Vehicle Tents made here in Bend, Oregon). It was definitely a hit in the campground! People regularly stopped at their campsite to admire their rig and to ask questions.
Their rig exemplified their values of simplicity and sustainability. I had to admire them for that.
2) They stayed connected with friends through social media whenever possible
As expected, Helen and Ted shared their camping experiences through Instagram whenever we had cell or Internet service. They wanted to stay in touch with their friends. I can't speak to the long term effects of social media, but both Helen and Ted are highly relational.
3) They wanted to do stuff with us even when presented with more alluring options
Robin and I are not risk averse, but we tend to do activities while camping that are familiar but still keep us active. For example, where we camped, there's a beautiful paved bike path that takes the rider along the base of the Teton Range in Grand Teton National Park. We gave Helen and Ted the option of riding with us or going whitewater rafting on their own. They chose to ride!
They also went along with us on an evening Snake River wildlife float. I took Ted fly fishing for the first time, and he caught fish. They could have chosen to go their own way but most often hung around with us. I like to think that they liked and respected us and wanted to be with us despite our differences in worldview.
But Robin and I went places with them too. Ted suggested we drive to Schwabacher Landing on the Snake River at sunset to view the Tetons. It was unforgettable. While in Jackson, Wyoming, they suggested we check out the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar (for lunch!). I've walked by the building many times but never went inside. For those who are familiar with the wildly successful TV drama Yellowstone, it's the kind of place where character Beth Dutton would hoist back a few!
But it was our openness without compromising our values that maybe appealed to them.
4) The best way to talk to millennials about matters of faith is not to seem that interested in talking about faith
Sometimes the best strategy in sharing our faith is holding back and letting God open up windows of conversation. For example, Ted asked me one day while driving to go fishing what kind of Christians Robin and I were. I explained that we were members of a Baptist church. Like ice cream, I said, there are many flavors, but at the core it's still ice cream. Further, there are different nuances among churches, but real Christians confess Jesus as Lord (1 Cor.12:3; Eph.4:4,5). Jesus (crucified, buried, resurrected, and ascended) is the one that defines us as God's people. The conversation changed directions soon after but hopefully that dialogue will simmer and result in future ones. Seeds were planted.
Can we pray subversively for opportunities to speak our faith in Jesus without the frontal assault that can be a real turnoff for genuine spiritual conversation?
5) Finally, instead of trying to convince them of a biblical view of life, gender, and marriage, attempt to question the presuppositions behind their views on these issues
On our camping trip, the U.S. Supreme Court had recently overturned Roe v. Wade. Helen and Ted lamented the decision. They also have many LBGTQ+ and same sex couples as friends. Instead of just pointing out the sinfulness of these relationships, how about asking the deeper questions of why these relationships are okay for them. Ask, "How do you know this to be true?".
The Bible teaches that there's an innate sense of right and wrong God places inside us (Romans 2:12-16). To be sure, conscience can become seared and warped (1 Tim. 4:1-5) but the sense of justice so many millennials feel comes from an absolute holy God (Ps. 89:14; Micah 6:8). That justice doesn't shift with societal norms. A good resource is C.S. Lewis's essay The Abolition of Man where he argues for natural law placed in our hearts by God.
Robin and I thoroughly enjoyed our camping trip with Helen and Ted. All four of us look forward to future ones. It's these kinds of experiences lived out in real life that provide the opportunities for preaching Christ.