{"id":3837,"date":"2018-05-22T18:43:35","date_gmt":"2018-05-22T23:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/?p=3837"},"modified":"2019-03-14T17:38:09","modified_gmt":"2019-03-14T22:38:09","slug":"singleness-next-generation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2018\/05\/22\/singleness-next-generation\/","title":{"rendered":"Singleness and the Next Generation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Written By: Rodney Anderson<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My oldest son is in first grade. The other day he came home from school and said, \u201cDad, can I have an Apple watch?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I was dumbfounded. I don\u2019t even own an Apple watch. But apparently, two of his friends in his class already do. IN FIRST GRADE. Obviously, I\u2019m not spending $600 to buy my eight-year-old a smartwatch, but I also didn\u2019t want to spoil his dreams completely, so I told him I\u2019d be happy to buy him a flip phone when he turns 14. Needless to say, it wasn\u2019t the answer he was looking for.<\/p>\n<p>Now, I\u2019m not sure what this next generation after millennials will be officially called, iGen, Gen Tech, Linksters, Generation Z are all on the table, but I know they will be the first generation to have no memory of life without being <em>completely<\/em> linked to the internet at all times. Millennials grew up with the Internet, but they didn\u2019t grow up with it literally in their hands 24-7 like this next generation. And the data is still out on what growing up constantly connected is going to mean for this generation, but there are definitely trends. Some are good. Some are not. This next generation seems to be safer, less rebellious, and, believe it or not, less promiscuous. Those seem to be good things. But they are simultaneously less independent, more depressed, and far lonelier than any previous generation. Those definitely are not.<\/p>\n<p>Loneliness, in fact, is becoming a national, if not a global epidemic. Earlier this year, Theresa May in the UK appointed their first Minister of Loneliness to deal with the escalating problem. Doctors will now tell you loneliness is worse for your health than smoking or obesity. It seems the generation that is growing up with constant connection feels more disconnected and isolated than ever. In fact, studies are showing they are even losing their ability to know how to connect and empathize with other people in real life.<\/p>\n<p>But in all the descriptions and identifiers of what next generations will be, there is one that I feel is always missing\u2026single. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the direct result of the constant connection the internet provides, and its inability to teach people how to connect with one another in real life, but the rising generations will be single longer than any previous generation. In August 2014, for the first time, single adults began to outnumber married adults in the United States. According to U.S. Census numbers, 51.2% of the population is single, which is up almost 40% from 1976. Singles also make up more than half the population in 46 of the 51 largest U.S. metropolitan areas.<\/p>\n<p>And when you take into account the current divorce rate and couple it with the rise in the age that people first marry, this trend will only continue. In recent polling, only 30% of millennials say that having a successful marriage is important. And in 2010, Pew Research found that 4 in 10 Americans thought marriage was becoming obsolete. Now, I\u2019m not making any kind of cultural statement, I just want to make the case that the trend toward rising numbers of single adults is going to continue. <strong>We are no longer a nation that graduates college students who then go on to get married and start families in a short amount of time. Those days are behind us. <\/strong>We have a massive population of single adults with many more to come in the years ahead. Unfortunately, because of growing up constantly connected, many of these single adults will need a lot of help finding places they can build real, authentic, community. They will need a place where they have the opportunity to take their eyes off the screen world and look up to the real world around them.<\/p>\n<p>Let me be clear, I don\u2019t think singleness is a problem to solve. There is nothing wrong with being single. In fact, as we all know, the Apostle Paul celebrates it. The problem is, never have this many single people existed before while simultaneously experiencing little or no community. This is where the church has an opportunity to step in. As the body of Christ, we have the privilege of partnering with the Holy Spirit to see the needs in the world around us and then to offer and provide hope and healing for those needs. We know where the trend is headed, and if we start preparing the way now to minister and provide an authentic community to this massive single population, we could help heal a need that no one in culture is currently meeting.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, most churches are doing very little for singles and I completely understand why. Compared to children\u2019s ministry, student ministry, small groups\/Sunday school, and missions, singles ministry is just a lower priority. Plus, let\u2019s be honest, providing a quality environment for singles is just hard. At best, many singles ministries can end up simply feeling like an adult youth group. And, at worst, they feel like an awkward meat market. Neither is very appealing. But I think we can do better. The trends tell us we have to do better.<\/p>\n<p>What if we really started rethinking how we connect single people? What if churches spent time really thinking of the best environments to build real social connections? What if we created ongoing opportunities for single people to meet, have fun, and do life with other like-minded people? What if we helped them discover the joy of being offline and present with real people? What if we provided them the cure for their growing sense of loneliness? What if the examples in our preaching began to reflect the reality of the demographic in our congregations? What if we thought through the lens of how our content will land for a single person? If we started doing that, I don\u2019t think we could keep people away from our churches. We\u2019d be solving a huge problem that meets a huge felt need, for a huge population, that currently, no one in culture is solving. I think one of the biggest evangelistic opportunities the church has ever had is before us. Providing and demonstrating real community for this disconnected and lonely generation will provide the avenue by which many of them will first step foot in church. And I believe it will be the avenue by which many will step into a relationship with Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n<p>The need for community has always been a part of the human experience. Our Creator wove our need for community into our hearts. Community is a felt need that will never be cast out of the human soul. And this generation will be one who needs the church to show them how to find it. No one in culture is doing a very good job of creating meaningful connections for single people. But the felt need for friendship is as strong as ever. Imagine what it would look like if we got out on the forefront of this? Imagine if we started working now to prepare ourselves for the needs of the next generation? There is no telling the impact the church could have on this disconnected generation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3847,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[757,808],"tags":[749,704,866,16,813,1027],"class_list":{"0":"post-3837","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-allgenerations","8":"category-singles-ministries","9":"tag-749","10":"tag-all-generations","11":"tag-community","12":"tag-discipleship","13":"tag-rodney-anderson","14":"tag-single-adults","15":"entry"},"title_es":"Solter\u00eda y la pr\u00f3xima generaci\u00f3n","content_es":"<strong>Escrito por: Rodney Anderson<\/strong> Mi hijo mayor est\u00e1 en primer grado. El otro d\u00eda lleg\u00f3 a casa de la escuela y me dijo: \"Pap\u00e1, \u00bfme puedes dar un reloj de manzana?\". Me qued\u00e9 estupefacto. Ni siquiera tengo un reloj de Apple. Pero aparentemente, dos de sus amigos en su clase ya lo hacen. EN PRIMER GRADO. Obviamente, no voy a gastar $ 600 para comprar mi reloj inteligente de ocho a\u00f1os, pero tampoco quer\u00eda arruinar sus sue\u00f1os por completo, as\u00ed que le dije que estar\u00eda feliz de comprarle un tel\u00e9fono plegable cuando \u00e9l cumple 14 a\u00f1os. No hace falta decir que no fue la respuesta que estaba buscando. Ahora, no estoy seguro de c\u00f3mo se llamar\u00e1 oficialmente esta pr\u00f3xima generaci\u00f3n despu\u00e9s de la generaci\u00f3n del milenio, iGen, Gen Tech, Linksters, Generation Z est\u00e1n todos sobre la mesa, pero s\u00e9 que ser\u00e1n la primera generaci\u00f3n en tener memoria de la vida sin ser <em>completamente<\/em> vinculado a internet en todo momento. Los Millennials crecieron con Internet, pero no crecieron literalmente en sus manos 24-7 como esta pr\u00f3xima generaci\u00f3n. Y la informaci\u00f3n todav\u00eda est\u00e1 al descubierto sobre lo que crecer constantemente conectado significar\u00e1 para esta generaci\u00f3n, pero definitivamente hay tendencias. Algunos son buenos Algunos no lo son Esta pr\u00f3xima generaci\u00f3n parece ser m\u00e1s segura, menos rebelde y, cr\u00e9anlo o no, menos promiscua. Esas parecen ser buenas cosas. Pero son simult\u00e1neamente menos independientes, m\u00e1s deprimidos y mucho m\u00e1s solitarios que cualquier generaci\u00f3n anterior. Esos definitivamente no lo son. La soledad, de hecho, se est\u00e1 convirtiendo en una epidemia nacional, si no global. A principios de este a\u00f1o, Theresa May en el Reino Unido nombr\u00f3 a su primer ministro de soledad para hacer frente al creciente problema. Los m\u00e9dicos ahora le dir\u00e1n que la soledad es peor para su salud que fumar o la obesidad. Parece que la generaci\u00f3n que est\u00e1 creciendo con una conexi\u00f3n constante se siente m\u00e1s desconectada y aislada que nunca. De hecho, los estudios muestran que incluso est\u00e1n perdiendo su capacidad de saber c\u00f3mo conectarse y empatizar con otras personas en la vida real. Pero en todas las descripciones e identificadores de lo que ser\u00e1n las pr\u00f3ximas generaciones, hay una que siento que siempre falta ... \u00fanica. No s\u00e9 si es el resultado directo de la conexi\u00f3n constante que proporciona Internet, y su incapacidad para ense\u00f1ar a las personas c\u00f3mo conectarse entre s\u00ed en la vida real, pero las generaciones futuras ser\u00e1n m\u00e1s largas que cualquier generaci\u00f3n anterior. En agosto de 2014, por primera vez, los adultos solteros comenzaron a superar en n\u00famero a los adultos casados \u200b\u200ben los Estados Unidos. Seg\u00fan cifras del Censo de EE. UU., El 51.2% de la poblaci\u00f3n es soltera, lo que representa casi un 40% desde 1976. Las personas solteras tambi\u00e9n representan m\u00e1s de la mitad de la poblaci\u00f3n en 46 de las 51 \u00e1reas metropolitanas m\u00e1s grandes de los EE. UU. Y cuando se toma en cuenta la tasa de divorcio actual y se combina con el aumento en la edad en que las personas se casan, esta tendencia solo continuar\u00e1. En encuestas recientes, solo el 30% de los millennials dicen que tener un matrimonio exitoso es importante. Y en 2010, Pew Research descubri\u00f3 que 4 de cada 10 estadounidenses pensaban que el matrimonio se estaba volviendo obsoleto. Ahora, no estoy haciendo ning\u00fan tipo de declaraci\u00f3n cultural, solo quiero argumentar que la tendencia hacia el aumento del n\u00famero de adultos solteros va a continuar. <strong>Ya no somos una naci\u00f3n que grad\u00faa a estudiantes universitarios que luego se casan y crean familias en un corto per\u00edodo de tiempo. Esos d\u00edas han quedado atr\u00e1s.<\/strong> Tenemos una poblaci\u00f3n masiva de adultos solteros con muchos m\u00e1s por venir en los pr\u00f3ximos a\u00f1os. Desafortunadamente, debido a que crecen constantemente conectados, muchos de estos adultos solteros necesitar\u00e1n mucha ayuda para encontrar lugares donde puedan construir comunidades reales y aut\u00e9nticas. Necesitar\u00e1n un lugar donde tengan la oportunidad de apartar la vista del mundo de la pantalla y mirar el mundo real que los rodea. D\u00e9jame ser claro, no creo que la solter\u00eda sea un problema que resolver. No hay nada de malo en ser soltero. De hecho, como todos sabemos, el ap\u00f3stol Pablo lo celebra. El problema es que nunca antes hab\u00edan existido tantas personas solteras al tiempo que experimentaban poca o ninguna comunidad. Aqu\u00ed es donde la iglesia tiene la oportunidad de intervenir. Como cuerpo de Cristo, tenemos el privilegio de asociarnos con el Esp\u00edritu Santo para ver las necesidades en el mundo que nos rodea y luego ofrecer y brindar esperanza y curaci\u00f3n para esas necesidades. Sabemos hacia d\u00f3nde se dirige la tendencia, y si comenzamos a preparar el camino ahora para ministrar y proporcionar una comunidad aut\u00e9ntica a esta poblaci\u00f3n \u00fanica masiva, podr\u00edamos ayudar a sanar una necesidad que nadie en la cultura se est\u00e1 reuniendo actualmente. En este momento, la mayor\u00eda de las iglesias est\u00e1n haciendo muy poco por los solteros y entiendo completamente por qu\u00e9. Comparado con el ministerio de ni\u00f1os, el ministerio estudiantil, grupos peque\u00f1os \/ escuela dominical y misiones, el ministerio de solteros es solo una prioridad m\u00e1s baja. Adem\u00e1s, seamos honestos, proporcionar un entorno de calidad para solteros es simplemente dif\u00edcil. En el mejor de los casos, muchos ministerios de solteros pueden terminar simplemente sinti\u00e9ndose como un grupo de j\u00f3venes adultos. Y, en el peor de los casos, se sienten como un mercado de carne inc\u00f3modo. Ninguno de los dos es muy atractivo. Pero creo que podemos hacerlo mejor. Las tendencias nos dicen que tenemos que hacerlo mejor. \u00bfQu\u00e9 pasa si realmente comenzamos a repensar c\u00f3mo conectamos a personas solteras? \u00bfQu\u00e9 pasa si las iglesias pasan tiempo realmente pensando en los mejores entornos para construir conexiones sociales reales? \u00bfQu\u00e9 pasa si creamos oportunidades continuas para que personas solteras se re\u00fanan, se diviertan y hagan vida con otras personas de ideas afines? \u00bfQu\u00e9 pasa si les ayudamos a descubrir la alegr\u00eda de estar fuera de l\u00ednea y estar presente con personas reales? \u00bfY si les proporcion\u00e1ramos la cura para su creciente sensaci\u00f3n de soledad? \u00bfQu\u00e9 pasa si los ejemplos en nuestra predicaci\u00f3n comenzaron a reflejar la realidad demogr\u00e1fica en nuestras congregaciones? \u00bfQu\u00e9 pasa si pensamos a trav\u00e9s de la lente de c\u00f3mo nuestro contenido aterrizar\u00e1 para una sola persona? Si comenzamos a hacer eso, no creo que podamos mantener a la gente alejada de nuestras iglesias. Solucionamos un gran problema que satisface una gran necesidad sentida, para una gran poblaci\u00f3n, que actualmente, nadie en la cultura est\u00e1 resolviendo. Creo que una de las mayores oportunidades de evangelizaci\u00f3n que la iglesia ha tenido alguna vez est\u00e1 delante de nosotros. Proporcionar y demostrar una comunidad real para esta generaci\u00f3n desconectada y solitaria proporcionar\u00e1 la avenida por la cual muchos de ellos pisar\u00e1n por primera vez en la iglesia. Y creo que ser\u00e1 la v\u00eda por la cual muchos entrar\u00e1n en una relaci\u00f3n con Jesucristo. La necesidad de comunidad siempre ha sido parte de la experiencia humana. Nuestro Creador teji\u00f3 nuestra necesidad de comunidad en nuestros corazones. La comunidad es una necesidad sentida que nunca ser\u00e1 arrojada del alma humana. Y esta generaci\u00f3n ser\u00e1 una que necesite a la iglesia para mostrarles c\u00f3mo encontrarla. Nadie en la cultura est\u00e1 haciendo un muy buen trabajo creando conexiones significativas para personas solteras. Pero la necesidad sentida de la amistad es m\u00e1s fuerte que nunca. Imagina c\u00f3mo ser\u00eda si sali\u00e9ramos a la vanguardia de esto? Imag\u00ednese si comenzamos a trabajar ahora para prepararnos para las necesidades de la pr\u00f3xima generaci\u00f3n. No se sabe el impacto que la iglesia podr\u00eda tener en esta generaci\u00f3n desconectada.","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/05\/Singleness-and-the-Next-Generation.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4T9u2-ZT","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3837","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3837"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3837\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}