Generation Z, the generation following the Millennials, is the least Christian generation to date according to a recent Barna Group study. Many of today’s teens (especially those who claim to be Christian) are simply unprepared for the world that awaits them. Our culture is changing at a rapid pace and teenagers are confused both morally and spiritually.
Morally, there is a new code that seems to be replacing the Bible as Absolute Truth. Since Scripture has been removed from both the Public schools and the Public marketplace, generations upon generations are evolving with no moral foundation. The tenets for this new code appear to be:
Humanism…the highest good is finding yourself and what’s right for YOU
Tolerance…never criticizing anyone’s choices, regardless of what they are
Pleasure…pursuing those things in life that give instant gratification
Entitlement…the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment
Inclusivity…preference for including people who might otherwise be excluded
Sensuality…Any type of sexual expression between two consenting adults is acceptable
Spiritually, Churches seem to focus more on entertaining their youth rather than training them on the basics of Biblical doctrine. As a result, when peer pressure to “conform” confronts these young adults they wilt as they are not “ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you.” (1 Peter 3:15)
There is no place for God or Scripture in the new morality!
Barna asserts that there appears to be a dichotomy at work among practicing Christians in America. Most believe that the Bible is the source of moral norms that transcend a person’s culture, and that those moral truths are absolute rather than relative to circumstances. Yet, at the same time, a solid majority ascribe to a majority of the tenets of the new moral code.
Clearly, discernment and foundational training are absent from today’s youth.
After a year of following Christ and listening to His teachings, the Apostles, too, were unprepared for the challenges of Public ministry and the pressures from a vituperative society. Jesus was sending them out like sheep to a pack of wolves. He told them that they “must be as cautious as snakes and as gentle as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)
Snakes, by nature, are very cautious. When a snake flicks its tongue in the air, it picks up tiny chemical particles. When the snake brings its tongue back into its mouth, the tongue fits into a special organ on the roof of its mouth. This special organ is called the vomeronasal system. The vomeronasal system takes those tiny chemical particles and tells the snake what they are. This way the snake “smells” through its mouth things like dirt, plants and other animals. This way of smelling the world can help a snake avoid predators or help the snake catch food.
Doves are white and easily trainable. Magicians make doves appear out of hats, handkerchiefs, and decks of cards. Doves are the only bird that can be completely dehydrated, stored in a small space such as a sleeve, and then rehydrated instantly with a bit of water. It’s their purity and adaptability that make it the preferred animal for a magic show.
The WORD of God is the Christian’s vomeronasal system.
Young adults venturing out into the world need God’s Word as the basis for their discernment. The Word of God will help them to immediately identify false teachers.
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15)
Young adults, also, need to be well grounded on the basic fundamentals of the Christian faith. This will help them to identify false doctrines.
“You must teach and preach these things. Whoever teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching of our religion is swollen with pride and knows nothing.” (1 Timothy 6: 3))
With discernment and foundational training that comes from God’s Word, teens today can resist the temptation to succumb to the new morality that today’s society teaches and preaches. Only then can they become secure in their Christian faith.
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