The Netflix show Adolescence has captured the attention of millions, offering a gripping and unsettling look into the life of thirteen-year-old Jamie, a boy who murders one of his female classmates. Unlike typical crime dramas, Adolescence is a “whydunit” rather than a “whodunit”, aiming to uncover the deeper societal issues that contribute to such a tragic act. One of the key themes the show explores is the crisis of masculinity, and the allure of aggressive male influencers who have a growing influence over young men today.
I find the conversation about masculinity bubbling up in society particularly interesting because this week the Bible Society released a report that reveals something both surprising and encouraging: over the past six years, male attendance at church has seen a significant rise, especially among Gen Z. This is a remarkable shift – one that begs the question: could the crisis of masculinity in culture, explored in Adolescence, be playing a role in young men turning to Christ?
The cultural narrative surrounding masculinity often feels like a tug of war, with young men being pulled in opposite directions. On one side, the culture tells them that being a man and displaying stereotypically male traits is inherently flawed and they should be more sensitive or emotional, while the other side encourages men to reject that narrative, to assert dominance, be aggressive, and even at times pushes for male supremacy. Neither of these cultural storylines offers a strong enough framework for human flourishing, and it’s no surprise that many young men are in crisis, struggling to figure out what it means to be a man, or what it means to be human.
Over the past six years, male attendance at church has seen a significant rise, especially among Gen Z.
But Jesus does provide a framework for human flourishing – for manhood and for womanhood, for meaning, identity and purpose – that’s strong enough to carry the weight of young men’s lives and questions.
The Jewish people were awaiting a Messiah who would be a military ruler, someone who would overthrow their oppressors with power, violence and dominance. Instead, God chose to send His Son, not as a warrior but as a humble servant – a baby, born in a manger, who would grow into a man who taught radical truths about love, sacrifice and the kingdom of God.
The cultural narrative surrounding masculinity often feels like a tug of war, with young men being pulled in opposite directions.
Many young men today, like Jamie in Adolescence, are drawn to male influencers who show power and aggression, and preach a narrative for masculinity not too dissimilar to ideas held by the Roman culture in which Jesus lived – sex as a tool for control, men as aggressors, and the belief that men are inherently superior to women. But the gospel stands in stark contrast to this narrative. Jesus’ life and teachings were revolutionary, and they remain just as radical today. Jesus offers a vision of masculinity that is not a tug of war between domination or passivity, but is marked by sacrifice, humility and love. It’s not bound by cultural stereotypes of what a man should be but sees each young man as an individual image bearer, created on purpose by God for a purpose. For young men in a crisis of identity, the gospel vision for what it means to be human is utterly compelling.
In my local church, the majority of our recent baptisms have been young men. When I visit student and young adult groups in different parts of the UK and ask who has become a Christian recently, it’s young men. A lot of these young men’s journeys in faith started with big questions about life and masculinity. They would go on YouTube rabbit trails where they would stumble on some Christian content that sparked their curiosity about faith and led them to giving church a go. I’m noticing that when men walk through our doors, even if it’s their first time ever in church, they have already ingested hours of content about Christianity and come ready with questions and thoughts. My colleague Phil Knox wrote an article about this phenomenon too that’s jam packed with stories.
For young men in a crisis of identity, the gospel vision for what it means to be human is utterly compelling.
Glen Scrivener released a helpful video unpacking the Bible Society’s report this week and my conclusion is similar to his. Although at first it might not seem noticeable, as we don’t have queues of young people waiting to get into our church, there are a handful more young men than there were a few years ago, and I’m noticing this is replicated across the UK. It feels different to a few years ago, and the Bible Society statistics show that it’s not just something we’re feeling; there really is something exciting happening. Could we be on the cusp of a revival, or perhaps already in the midst of one without even realising it? I hope so. And if we are, what then, is our response?