There seems
to be a resurgence in Christian faith among the youth of our
day. Contemporary Christian music is popular. Christian youth
events, locally and regionally, are well attended. Prayer
groups, Bible studies, and Fellowships of Christian Athletes are
found thriving at many high schools. T-shirts with Christian
messages and necklaces with crosses are proudly worn by many
young people.
The Barna
Research Group, a sure source of survey research on religion in
American life, confirms this resurgence. Barna has collected
data over several years on American teenagers and Christian
faith. According to Barna, 88% of American teenagers claim to
be Christians. Furthermore, around 33% of them claim they are
“born again.” In addition, 60% believe that “the Bible is
totally accurate in all of its teachings.”
All of this
sounds good. Very good.
But then
Barna digs deeper and examines the content of the Christian
faith that is believed by teens. Around 66% of all American
teens agree that Satan is a symbol of evil and not a living
agent of evil. Nearly 60% of them think that good works will
earn them eternal salvation. A bit more than 50% believe that
Jesus of Nazareth, during His earthly life, committed sins.
Only 6% of all teens think there are moral absolutes, and only
9% of born-again teens believe there are moral absolutes.
The Barna
research is backed up by Rev. Josh McDowell, the evangelist and
author. In 1992, according to Rev. McDowell, 52% of Christian
youth contended that absolute truth does not exist. In recent
years, that percentage has risen to 91%. Furthermore, according
to McDowell, just over 50% say that, in the Resurrection, the
body of Jesus did not rise from the dead.
What are the
practical results of this kind of Christian belief? For
starters, almost 60% of born-again youth believe that all
religions teach equally valid truths. And only 10% of Christian
youth believe music piracy, on the Internet, is wrong -- which
is not so different from the 6% non-Christians who think music
piracy is wrong.
With these
trends in mind, John Paul II recently exhorted several US
bishops to challenge the “soulless vision of [American] life”
and “to confront directly the widespread spirit of agnosticism
and relativism which have cast doubt on reason’s ability to know
the truth [especially among youth].” [The above information is
from Dale Buss in “Christian Teens? Not Very,” Wall Street
Journal, 07/09/04.]
This
description of Christian teens in America is not cause for
desperation among us. After all, these numbers do not
necessarily describe the faith held by the Christian youth of
Carteret County or by the youth of St. Peter’s United Methodist
Church.
However,
these numbers do point out the great challenges at hand to raise
our children and youth in Christ and in His Church. How might
we, at St. Peter’s Church, rise to the occasion and meet these
challenges?
First, as a
congregation, we can always remember that the Church’s faith is
always about truth. Not my truth. Not your truth. But the
truth, whose personal name is Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we do
not possess the truth. Rather, the truth possesses us, so we
simply serve the truth. Again, Jesus Christ possesses us, so
that we can then serve Him.
Second, the
outstanding educational programs at St. Peter’s Church -- Sunday
School classes, Pioneer Clubs, Youth Group meetings,
Confirmation Classes, New Members Classes, Basic Christianity
classes, Disciple Bible classes, and Sunday Evening studies --
can, and should without apology, propose the truth of the
Church’s faith.
Third,
starting with the pastor, teachers, and officers of the
congregation, we can live and love and forgive according to the
truth of the Church’s faith. Without this living, loving, and
forgiving, the truth degenerates into an impersonal theory
instead of becoming a personal reality. With this living,
loving, and forgiving, the truth will set us free.
Yes, we will
be set free from the relativism of our day -- so that we might
serve God and neighbor. For this, we were created and redeemed.
