The words we speak over Gen Z matters: Are we here to bless the next generation or curse them? Too often, we use the same mouth to praise the Lord, and curse Gen Z, who is made in God’s likeness, as James writes in his epistle: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness” (James 3:9, NIV). If we, as older generations of Christ-followers, do not see how Gen Z reflects the Image of God, then we simply aren’t looking closely enough. Every human being is made in the Image of God, which means that each generation reflects aspects of God’s character in unique ways. Part of my job as an older follower of Jesus, as I understand it, is to raise up and steward the next generation. This includes helping them grow into who the Lord has designed them to be by speaking vision and encouragement into their souls. 

Ask a young person in your life this question: What do you hear about yourself from the media or older generations? When I have asked Gen Zers this question, they have yet to come up with a positive word. Instead, they list terms you may have also heard about Gen Z: weak, snowflake, over-emotional, self-centered, entitled, lazy, and so on. 

We cannot speak words over a younger generation and then be surprised when they live into what we have said. Degrading is not understanding. Degrading is not stewarding. Degrading is not a form of correction. When we describe our Gen Z friends using the denigrations mentioned above, we push young people further away from authentic relationship with us, essentially concluding that “We don’t like you.” 

Thankfully, it’s not too late. Millennials, Gen X, and Boomer Christians can seek to understand. Instead of judging Gen Z from afar, we can choose to sit next to them and see the world through their eyes.

We cannot speak words over a younger generation and then be surprised when they live into what we have said. Share on X

One way we can do this is by sharing stories. Here’s a few questions you could ask a Gen Zer to prompt more honest conversation (They will likely be as interested in your answer!):

1. What are some things you worry about as a teenager/young adult (or pick a specific age)?
2. As an adolescent/young adult, how do you know who your true friends are? What kind of shared activities do you do together? 
3. What kind of safety drills did you participate in at school? Have you been a part of a lockdown or school shooting?
4. What was a new technology you remember being released? How did you respond to the fervor/excitement over its release?
5. What was 202o like for you, given the Covid-19 pandemic, stay-at-home lockdowns, rising social unrest, and the popularity of Black Lives Matter protests?

Through simple questions like these, we may begin to understand how global circumstances have formed their values and worldview. For example, for Gen Zers:

1. Friendships (or romantic relationships) can be ended with the push of an “unfollow” or “block” button, without any conversation in person. Understanding this sheds helpful light as to why loyalty and kindness are qualities Gen Z values in their friend above most other character traits. This digital reality helps us see in part why Gen Z has unique and particular compassion on those who have been outcast or marginalized. 
2. Mistakes and embarrassing moments can be recorded and shared instantaneously online, with or without one’s knowledge. As Gen Z has witnessed and experienced, saying the wrong thing, even asking the wrong question, can have dire consequences relationally, professionally, academically, and more. Gen Z can be and is recorded at all times, and the social media world demands perfection of them. We must understand how risky failure is for Gen Z.
3. Almost three-quarters of Gen Z students have deep anxiety that a school shooting will take place at their school. Fifty-seven (!!!) school shootings have taken place in the United States in 2025, as of late August.

Since I began the process of researching and writing What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God for IVP, people have consistently asked me why Gen Z is so anxious. I am almost speechless in response, wondering how they would ever not be so. I don’t know how they get up and go to school every day. Talk about trusting God with your daily life.

*Editorial Note: It is notoriously hard to accurately and concisely report gun-violence statistics, particularly within schools. Here are a few places online that are tracking this data as best as possible in real time:

• Everytown for Gun Safety: Gunfire on School Grounds in the United States
• Education Week: School Shootings This Year: How Many and Where
• K-12 School Shooting Database: How Many School Shootings? All Incidents from 1966–Present
• Wikipedia: List of Mass Shootings in the United States in 2025

The scope and severity of this violent epidemic are so pervasive for students that Wikipedia only updates mass shootings at the end of each month. ~CK

Almost three-quarters of Gen Z students have deep anxiety that a school shooting will take place at their school. Fifty-seven (!!!) school shootings have taken place in the United States in 2025, as of late August. Share on X

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Here is another interesting conversation you could have with someone from Gen Z. Ask a Gen Zer in your life, “How old were you when the COVID-19 lockdowns took place?” Whatever age they say, think about how old you were when you were that age. Write down or list experiences you had at that age. Then ask that same Gen Zer, “When you think back to that age, how many things on this list can you relate to?” We will discover over the next few decades just how uncommon, delayed, or largely wiped out their development and social experiences were compared to previous generations. The pandemic’s effects are still unfolding. 

While coming of age, Gen Z navigated a complex, changing world that streamed unfiltered, directly into their hands. They did not escape the world when they walked into their rooms and closed the door. The world came barging through the door with them as they carried their phones in their hand. We, as older generations, simply do not understand the weight Gen Z is carrying.

A short while ago, I stood in front of a room full of Gen Zers, and in light of these realities, tried to share honestly from my heart with them. Here’s what I said:

“I’m so sorry. We had no idea what you were dealing with. We had no idea the pressures you were under or the circumstances you were dealing with. And honestly, you made it look so easy because of how you carried yourself, that we assumed you were okay without us. I don’t understand all of it, but I understand enough to see how strong and brave you are. Will you help me understand more?”

As soon as these words left my lips, the air in the room changed. Some Gen Zers showed relief. Others wiped tears that were suddenly streaming down their faces. My words weren’t perfect or complete, but I left that room that day convinced that all felt valued and were ready for another conversation with me. 

My point? A little humility goes a long way with our Gen Z friends. They deserve for us to see them the way God sees them. We can praise the Lord together for the good works God is already doing in and through Gen Z.

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*Editorial Note: What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God releases wide on September 16th, 2025. Tanita’s work is well-worth your investment. If you are interested in reading more, Chapter 1 of her book, entitled Who is Generation Z?, can be downloaded here.

While coming of age, Gen Z navigated a complex, changing world that streamed unfiltered, directly into their hands. They did not escape the world when they walked into their rooms and closed the door. (1/2) Share on X

The world came barging through the door with them as they carried their phones in their hand. We, as older generations, simply do not understand the weight Gen Z is carrying. (2/2) Share on X