Gen Z Is Turning to Jesus Outside the Church

Not long ago, the phrase “spiritual but not religious” might have sounded like a trendy excuse to avoid commitment. But for Gen Z, it’s become a powerful and personal declaration of faith one that’s reshaping the spiritual landscape in ways few anticipated.

While traditional church attendance and denominational affiliation continue to decline, a different story is unfolding beneath the surface. According to Barna’s State of the Church 2025 report, 66% of U.S. adults now say they’ve made a personal commitment to Jesus that remains important in their lives a jump of 12 percentage points since 2021. That represents nearly 30 million more adults following Jesus in just four years.

And this movement is not being led by retirees or older generations nostalgic for church pews. It’s being driven by Gen Z and millennials.

Among Gen Z men, commitment to Jesus has risen by 15 points since 2019. Among millennials, it’s up 19 points. This is a stunning trend among generations often accused of walking away from faith. Barna CEO David Kinnaman calls it the clearest sign of spiritual renewal in more than a decade and the first time younger generations are leading the charge.

What’s particularly striking is how this commitment isn’t confined to those who identify as Christian. Nearly 30% of Americans who don’t claim the Christian label still say they’ve made a personal commitment to Jesus. It’s a paradox that reflects a broader transformation: people are embracing Christ, but leaving behind the institutional baggage many associate with religion.

So what’s causing this surge?

The pandemic played a key role, disrupting daily life and opening space for deeper existential questions. Stripped of routines and noise, people began to ask about meaning, purpose, and the divine. That search didn’t always lead them back to church, but it did lead many back to Jesus.

This movement is not about a shallow or cultural Christianity. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Gen Z is known for being deeply skeptical of anything that feels fake or performative. They are not interested in surface-level spirituality. They want something real a faith that speaks to mental health, identity, injustice, and purpose.

Media, too, is playing a role in awakening spiritual curiosity. Series like The Chosen and music from artists like Forrest Frank are bringing the story of Jesus to life in creative, modern formats. These aren’t just entertainment they’re tools of evangelism in a language this generation understands.

Barna’s Gen Z Vol. 3 study found that 52% of U.S. teens are “very motivated” to learn more about Jesus, and 77% express at least some interest. These are staggering numbers in a culture often assumed to be hostile to faith.

Yes, religious affiliation is falling. But spiritual curiosity is rising and rapidly. Kinnaman puts it this way: “Today’s spiritual openness is unlikely to translate into church attendance and may not resemble renewal movements of the past. But the desire is real.”

This isn’t apathy. It’s not rebellion. It’s a different kind of integrity.

Gen Z isn’t abandoning faith. They’re rebuilding it from the ground up, free from cultural baggage and institutional hurt. They are deeply open to Jesus but often skeptical of the structures built in His name. The word “Christian” feels tangled in politics and power. But Jesus? He still captivates.

This doesn’t mean they want an easy, vague spirituality. Quite the opposite. They’re asking real, hard questions. They want a Savior who speaks to their real lives, not just a set of doctrines or Sunday rituals.

Kinnaman wisely notes that people today are “a patchwork of religious beliefs and identities.” It’s messy. It’s not always systematic. But it’s also sincere. For Gen Z, being “spiritual, not religious” doesn’t mean a lack of belief it means an active and personal journey of discovering who Jesus is without filters.

For churches and believers, this isn’t a reason to despair. It’s a wake-up call. The structure may be shifting, but the Spirit is still moving. This moment is an invitation to reimagine how we share the Gospel not as a product to be packaged, but as a Person to be known.

The rise of spiritual independence isn’t the death of faith. It’s a reformation. A generation is reaching for Jesus not out of obligation, but out of longing.

And they’re not waiting for permission.

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