Written by Ben Griffin, LINC's CEO

I recently did some research on how different generations answered the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I was stunned by the results.

The top three answers of doctor, lawyer and teacher were consistent for four generations in a row: the Silent, Boomer, Gen X and Millennial generations.

Then, right around the turn of the century, there was a distinct shift with the Gen Z and Alpha generation. Their top three most consistent answers to this question were YouTuber, influencer and software developer.

Why does this matter?

Because most organizational leadership structures (including in the church) are led by people in the Millennial generation and older. Generations in which the most respected voices were professionals like doctors, lawyers, teachers, and I’ll add, pastors.

The older generations grew up in a time where authority came from positions, and those positions were automatically respected voices. Today, that is not the case. Just because someone has a title, does not mean that they are respected. Just because a pastor has a pulpit, does not mean that people are listening.

THE PULPIT HAS MOVED

For generations people looked to the professionals, the official leaders of the church as representatives of Christianity. Today, the lens that people see Jesus through is not the positional leader but the everyday follower.

Every single Jesus follower, not just the pastor, is a living pulpit.

YOUR LIFE IS THE NEW PULPIT

The pulpit has shifted from in front of the church to the lives on display of every follower.

There’s a Biblical concept called “the priesthood of all believers” that carries the idea that every follower of Jesus has access to approach God the Father and has a calling to minister to those around them.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

We are the priesthood and our lives are the pulpit.

How we interact with our neighbors, how we show up at work, and how we utilize the social platforms we are on are all part of our witness.  As powerful and impactful as a Sunday teaching can be, even more impactful is the witness experienced through the lens of life.

Christians should be allowing others to see Jesus at work in the joy of our good times and our reliance on Him in the hard times.

What if this massive shift in who the world looks up to is also a monumental opportunity for the church, the whole church, to proclaim the good news of Jesus?

At LINC, we are in the business of empowering local leaders to make a difference in the communities that they know through the lens of their testimonies, to use their platforms and passions as means to achieve their God-given purpose.

We are here to help you do the same.

How are you using the pulpit of your life for the glory of God?