“Correctly understanding God’s irrevocable promises made to Abraham and his physical descendants through Isaac and Jacob is a key principle for unlocking what the rest of the Bible teaches”, writes Arlie Francis from Disciple Daily [1], who shares his perspective on the challenge that lies before the Millennial generation.

Lovers of Authenticity 

The people born between 1980 and 2000 are collectively known by demographers and sociologists as Millennials. They range from 15 to 35 years of age. Collectively, this demographic group shares certain general characteristics. Overall, the defining events of millennials have been the 9/ll attack and large scale mass shootings. Emerging technologies have contributed to their preferred means of communication via texting and social networking. Millennials have a low regard for most authority structures, seeking opportunities to collaborate. They are distrustful of organized chains of command. Generally speaking, millennials are motivated by authenticity.

Let me state right up front that I am 61 years old. I am not a millennial. I belong to the demographic known as the Baby Boomers. We are the children of the Builders, that group of people born shortly before World War II began. My group, the Boomers, gave birth to Generation X, born between 1960 and 1980. It doesn’t take a social scientist to recognize that all of these groups (Builders, Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials) have different perspectives on life. Our perspectives are based upon the defining moments of  own unique time in history. These divergent views have a tremendous impact on everyone who self-identifies as a “Christian”, including millennials.

This is an issue that should be a growing concern for all who follow Messiah Jesus as disciples. Since the Garden of Eden Satan has attempted to undermine God and His Word. It should come as no surprise that throughout all of history Satan has been conducting an all out war against God through His own Creation. This has included a battle for the hearts and minds of men and women. “Did God really say?” are the four words the Destroyer has unceasingly whispered in the all too receptive ears of those who were made in the very image of God Himself.

Over the last decade, a very strange wind has begun to blow throughout the evangelical community, a historically strong supporter of the nation of Israel. This wind is known by some as Christian Palestinianism.

Dr. Paul Wilkinson has written extensively on this subject. He has said,

“Christian Palestinianism is an inverted mirror image of Christian Zionism. All the basic elements of a Christian Zionist eschatology are reversed, so that

• the Bible is seen to be Christian, not Jewish,
• the land of the Bible is Palestine not Israel,
• the son of God is a Palestinian not a Jew,
• the Holocaust is resented not remembered,
• 1948 is a catastrophe not a miracle,
• the Jewish people are illegal occupiers not rightful owners,
• and biblical prophecy is a moral manifesto and not a signpost to the Second Coming.”

Christian Palestinianism is dramatically altering the way many who identify themselves as Christians view what the Bible teaches about Israel and the Jewish people. This is relevant to the way they understand the very real tragedy of the people group known today as Palestinians.

The way millennials study and interpret the Bible directly impacts how they will view what is happening in the world and how they live out their faith in that world. This includes the way they will think and act on issues concerning the Jewish people, Israel as a nation, and the conflict in the Middle East.

God's plan for the ages

We need to create opportunities to engage with millennials, the future leaders of the Church and expose them to God’s clear plan for the ages, equipping them to powerfully and convincingly communicate the importance of adopting the method of Bible interpretation that Jesus taught His first disciples.

The key to studying, practicing, and teaching the Bible to others begins with identifying God’s eternal plan for all of history. This plan is driven by a number of biblical covenants (conditional and unconditional), all found in five books of the Hebrew Scriptures (Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, 2nd Samuel, Jeremiah).

Luke 24:27 – Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

Luke 24:44 &45 –  These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures…

Millennials want to:

• Know what is true
• Observe truth in action
• Be bearers of truth in their world

If we do not engage and and proactively disciple millennials as to what the Bible actually teaches, what Jesus taught concerning the Jewish people individually and Israel as a nation, others will indoctrinate them with that which we know to be false.
By Arlie Francis
[1] Arlie Francis is part of Disciple Daily – A discipleship-training plan which is open and free for all to use.
It incorporates these three aspects: Study the word, practice the Good News, and teach other believers.