By Paul Kelly

One of the stark comparisons Thom and Jess Rainer (father and son writers of The Millennials) made between the younger millennials and the older baby boomers is that the boomers are committed to the acquisition of stuff while millennials have much less interested in bigger houses, fancier cars, and nicer clothes. That may be. Christian Smith has a strikingly different perspective. Smith’s recent book, Lost in Transition, paints a darker view of the world of millennials. Both book have been developed after research projects focused on young adults, the older millennials. Of course, the subjects of these books are not the teenagers we work with. They are the teenagers some of us were working with 4 or 5 years ago. And I think their lives have much to teach us about how we want to influence their younger peers.

Regardless of the distinction of WHAT millennials want to acquire, they are well-integrated into the American mindset of getting stuff. Buying new products is not merely a favored pass-time in America, it is down right unpatriotic to NOT buy stuff. Our economic wheels are greased by people purchasing things they don’t really need with money they don’t really have. Apple has built an empire by selling us the notion that we need the newest technology. I’m not saying that having an iPad wouldn’t be cool. I’m saying that it is a bit of a stretch for most of us to see it as a need. Going to the mall is recreation for many.

I don’t mean to point fingers at other people. I live in a house stuffed with so much that I have been thinking of buying a bigger house. I’m moving to digital books (I’ve already moved to digital music) because I have no more room for book shelves. And, while I love having a smart phone, I find myself playing games on it more than using it for things that would be … um, smart. And how many shirts does one guy need, after all?

So, what’s the problem with our students growing up with this consumer mindset? Why not just go with the flow? If they make money, they should be able to spend it on things they want, right?

I think there are some spiritual issues, and, however counter-cultural it is, I don’t think we are doing our job if we don’t address those issues. Let’s consider the two most obvious ones.

First, millennials are not growing up with a biblical understanding of stewardship. We are not helping them to understand that they are not given wealth simply to consume it on themselves. Most millennials have no sense of responsibility to help anyone else. They see themselves as not having the resources to help others even if they wanted to … and they can show you their low bank balance in seconds from their new iPhone. While I don’t want to miss that one of the ways God blesses people is materially, I also don’t want to miss the strong warnings of Jesus about those who are wealthy, particularly when they consume the wealth on themselves (Luke 16:19-31).

Second, millennials are tending to define themselves by the products they buy. They have witnessed a steady stream of commercials since they were old enough to hold up their heads that have told them that their lives would be warm, happy, and … um, sexy if they would only buy … you fill in the blank: everything from shampoo to sports cars. They tend to see their stuff as extensions of who they are, ways that they define themselves. Not a problem … except that Jesus expects for our identity to be defined by HIM.

So, what do we do? How do we address this cultural trend toward consumerism that is like the air our students breath?

1. We point out the push toward consumerism. Watch commercials with students and ask them to talk about the claims made by them. When they talk about needing a new phone, or new shoes, or a new car, ask, Why? Ask students what they think drives us to always want more stuff.
2. Make the case for stewardship. I don’t mean just to get them to give a tenth to the church. I mean, ask them to think about why God has blessed them with so much…and what they think is required of them since He did.
3. Give students real experiences to invest in people from poor cultures. It is amazing how much students are willing to give away when they see the need in front of them.
4. Teach students to practice contentment. Every ad they see is designed to get them to be discontent, to want something. Teach them to say, “You know, I have everything I need. There is nothing I need and nothing I really want.” OK, maybe that’s a stretch, but we should at least help students to question their own constant desire for more.