S4: Gen Z in a Post-World Everything

E3: The Vanguards of Inclusion

Gen Z are the vanguards of inclusion. They lead the way forward with a singular approach to race: the human race. The concept of a singular category called the human race is nothing new. However, the place we currently find ourselves is the result of consciously labeling human beings with a race category and then unconsciously (and in some cases knowingly) assign a value to that race.      

Let’s go back to the beginning where “God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1), and where “God created mankind in his own image” (Gen. 1:27). While looking back to the beginning, let’s also get a handful of other statements on the table for the sake of transparency.  

Clearly on the Table

The name Adam is a Hebrew word meaning Human, and Eve is a Hebrew word meaning Life. Adam and Eve would not have called each other by these names, because whatever language they spoke it was not Hebrew. The Hebrew language did not exist as a common written and spoken form of communication until somewhere in the middle of the second millennium before Christ.

Also, it is commonly accepted that Moses wrote the Book of Genesis. In order to communicate to his audience about the creation of the human race, Moses assigned the first man and woman with Hebrew names. However, the names Adam and Eve were not assigned just for biographical or historical reporting like my name Andrew (which means “manly” in Greek by the way). Something else was going on.

Individual and Archetype

Similar to the characters in Pilgrims Progress (Christian, Faithful, Hopeful, Giant of Despair and so on), or the descriptive names in the novels of Charles Dickens, the Hebrew names Adam and Eve had a much wider implication. They spoke to something far greater than historical or biographical identity. For the sake of brevity, let’s focus on the name Adam.

Throughout the first five chapters of Genesis we see two ways that Moses used the name Adam:[1]

1.     An individual (Gen. 5:1; 3-5).

2.     An archetype for the whole human race (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:5; 3:22; 5:1-2)

In the New Testament, St. Luke also mentions the first man pointing out that Adam was an individual (Luke 3). St. Paul draws attention to Adam’s individualism as the person through whom sin entered the world (Rom. 5:12). St. Paul also talks about Adam as an individual “since death came through a man” (1 Cor. 15:21). Then, he mentions Adam as an archetype, in that, “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). He continues the archetypal approach saying, “as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22).

As we search through the New Testament Christ is also referred to as an individual whose historical and biographical name was Jesus. Nevertheless, he is also identified as the archetype of all the human race as a new creation (Cor. 5:17). As the first Adam sinned, therefore all sinned, so “by one sacrifice he [Christ] has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb. 10:14).

Theological Principle

What I’m driving at is a theological principle of the inclusive nature of the first and last Adam. “The first man Adam (individual and archetype) became a living being’; ‘the last Adam (individual and archetype), a life-giving spirit” (1 Cor. 15:45). Christ is also referred to in the unifying image of a single loaf of bread (1 Cor. 10:17) and one body (1 Cor. 12).  

I doubt whether Gen Z are consciously aware of it, but their approach to all people as the human race – instead of races with assigned value – makes this type of theological principle very easy to communicate. And it should be. For example, all people in Scripture refers to all ethnicities, races, cultures, languages, people groups, nationalities and so on. It’s an underpinning, overarching, and all-embracing approach without denying the uniqueness of all people.        

Vanguards of Inclusion

It is for this reason that Gen Z serve as a vanguard for inclusion in the sense that they are themselves a representation of what can be called multicultural and multiethnic. In short, Gen Z represent the all people as a demographic and ethnographic.  

These young Americans have the potential and social power base to do some serious damage to the prominence of racism. Much better than previous generations who tended to be fragmented in their approach. By damage, I am not advocating violence, but the dismantling of rhetoric, bias, stereotype, unacceptable forms of inequality, and even colorblindness.

Gen Z have the stage – the center stage – to do, say, and be something in a majority-minority country. Never before has there been such a culturally diversified generation unified through the value of inclusion.

Admittedly, though Gen Z have the center stage, they do not have the power of a majority vote. However, as Gen Z come of age, the center stage will have this additional power to bring about inclusivism. That is, if Gen Z vote.

It seems to me that while the political left and right continue to grind their own axes, Gen Z are somewhere in the middle. For the sake of clarity, allow me to digress and point out the growing support for socialism from Gen Z and the previous generation of Millennials. In my home country of Britain, socialism (more precisely socialism/capitalism) works largely because the country is a nation state. The United States is a nation of 50 states and their individual governmental postures. Socialism just won’t work in America. Now, let’s get back on point.

Finding a Collective Voice

While Gen Z have found their audience, they don’t seem to have found their voice, or a clarity of voice. For example, the surge of unrest today seems to be framed as a social issue by the pervasive media. In reality, it’s more of an economic issue manifesting as a social issue, and in turn, is an issue of inequality in the marketplace.

It is human (or necessary in the human race) to become empowered through work, earning an income to pay for housing, and raising a family. I appreciate this sounds trice and deserves explanations that could fill volumes. I’m simply drawing attention to personal dignity moving away from value attached to race, which in itself is very empowering.

How can Gen Z dismantle racist rhetoric, bias, stereotype, unacceptable forms of inequality, and even colorblindness? Addressing these issues will help Gen Z find their voice while postured center stage.

Dismantling Bias

Institutional bias is contrary to merit through personal accomplishments or achievements. In many ways, politics and the pervasive media have hijacked the idea of race and weaponized it for their own agenda. Remember, the human race is what we see in Scripture characterized by the first Adam and redeemed by the second Adam. Again, whether Gen Z are consciously or unconsciously aware of it, they seem to stand up for something biblical (without the Bible).  

Dismantling Colorblindness

Opposite to institutional bias is colorblindness built on the belief that identity as a specific race is not something to recognize or acknowledge motivated by political correctness. Why is America hyper-focused on race more than any other nation, and yet claims colorblindness in the hiring process? Surely, this does not dismantle anything except dialogue. Remember, St. Paul speaks of Christ as a man “born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (Gal. 4:4-5). St. Paul makes a powerful statement about the work of Christ for all people while recognizing he was a Jewish man.

Dismantling Inequality

What type of inequality? For the purpose of this blog, I am referring to employment in the marketplace that gives everyone empowering dignity. The idea of complete equality is flawed from “the beginning” as we have already seen. Adam and Eve were not the same in many ways, while remaining the same as members of the human race. Employment in the marketplace highlights racial inequality. If change is to be taken seriously, all people must accept the marketplace is highly competitive and there are probably more people than there are jobs. Do women have to try harder? Do people over a certain age have to do the same? Do people with little or no experience have to try hard? What about single parents? If Gen Z are going to tackle racial inequality in the marketplace, they must not diminish the effort it takes. The marketplace is not easy.   

Dismantling Stereotype

A negative stereotype is something that has to be learned. Someone is teaching it, whether they are conscious of it or not. Society has many teachers and promotors of negative stereotyping. However, I think one type of promotor stands out the most. Reporters and journalists would be out of a job unless the story had some racial tone to it, especially today. In addition, if political posturing was toned down, reporters and journalists would have less to work with. If negative stereotyping is something that was learned, it can be unlearned. This is what Gen Z have to do as vanguards of inclusion: become the teachers, examples, models, and examples of the human race.     

Dismantling Stigma

Have we become so woke and sensitive in society? Let me make a bold statement. I was not as consciously aware of my (white) color in society until I relocated from Britain to the United States. I was 31 at the time. Britain has its problems, but nothing like America. The stigmatized rhetoric pervades from pre-school to high school, and certainly in higher education. For example, I’m reasonably fit, but if I am surrounded by infomercials that tell me I need to lose weight, look better, work-out every day for two hours to be more attractive, and ultimately purchase what I’m being presented, I end up believing the rhetoric. Gen Z need to change the rhetoric and lead the way forward from their vantage point center stage. I don’t see Gen Z acting like victims or feeling victimized.

What I’m hearing, reading, and observing about Gen Z is that they support a theological principle of inclusion seen in the nature of the first and last Adam. “The first man Adam (individual and archetype) became a living being’; ‘the last Adam (individual and archetype), a life-giving spirit” (1 Cor. 15:45).

What kind of voice would Gen Z have if they encountered Christ in a radical way? Post your thoughts in the comments.  

[1] The name Adam was used in other ways, but for the sake of brevity I am drawing on just two.