“Are we losing our Youth?”

Just recently I read an article on the CNN website by Laura Sessions Step that intrigued me. Her article is focused on trying to shed light on the reasons why young evangelicals are leaving the church. In her article she quotes from David Kinnaman (president of the Barna Group) who reveals some alarming statistics. In the book “You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church and Rethinking Faith”, he writes that 18- to 29-year-olds have fallen down a “black hole” of church attendance. There is a 43% drop in Christian Church attendance between the teen and early adult years. Step states in her article she is not surprised by the drop, “these young dropouts value the sense of community their churches provide but are tired of being told how they should live their lives”.

Understandably, Step’s article is trying to make the point that these jaded young evangelical Christians could become potential voters for Obama in the election. Yet, there are points brought out in her article that Christians need to be aware of. Most of these young people are pretty much sound in their faith until the point when they reach some form of higher education. Step gives an example of a 24-year-old girl named Brittany who attended a conservative Episcopal church. Brittany stated that her views changed once she enrolled into college and met her boyfriend. This is when she began to question the theology of her home church on a number of social issues.

Herein lies the issue that Christian parents need to be concerned about. This young woman’s views changed after she went away to college. We need to be aware that some institutions of higher education often teach contrary to the word of God. By no means do I want to discourage the idea of higher learning. However, we need to keep close tabs on our children who are receiving secular education.  In order to help them understand the difference between God’s truth and the perceived worldly truth. Our command to instruct and discipline our children in the Lord (Eph. 6:4) does not end when they leave home and go to college, it continues.

“The Age of Oprah”

Recently, over the last few years, a prevailing group of supposedly spiritually enlightened people have begun to influence many in this country. The proponents of this so-called spiritual awaking are known as the “New Age Movement”. Eckhart Tolle (who is a self-proclaimed spiritual teacher) is the originator of this movement, along with Oprah Winfrey. These two figureheads came together after Winfrey read Tolle’s book “A New Earth” and showcased it on her TV show.

Tolle’s book is essentially a handbook for the new age religion. His book combines Christian teachings with other religious beliefs forming a new belief system that will allegedly free mankind from its pathetic state. His book teaches that one must adopt a refined spiritual mindset that includes the belief that there is no sin or evil; God is present everywhere and in everything. Tolle’s doctrine is based on the idea that mankind ultimately needs to diminish his ego in order to reach an inner consciousness, which they define as heaven. Surprisingly, they also degrade Christ to just being a mere messenger; who did not come to start Christianity but came to teach how to attain this inner consciousness. Already, one can tell that this group’s teaching is contrary to the word of God.

In a society that is driven by narcissism and hedonism, it is not hard to see why this new form of spirituality is compelling to many. One doesn’t have to feel the guilt or shame of sin because there is no sin. Yet, the Bible teaches there is sin and sin separates us from God (Isa. 59:1-2). Also it teaches that Christ is not just a mere messenger; He is the son of God and the only way into heaven (John 14:6). We should not allow this crass attack on Christ and his church to go unchallenged. We need to be ready to give a defense for the hope we have in Christ Jesus (1 Pet. 3:15). Oprah and Tolle have taken a stance against Christ and we are obligated to defend him.

“No Black and White in Christ?”

For about two weeks now a church in Pike County, Kentucky has been all over the news. The sudden increase in media attention is due to a vote the church had over interracial marriages. The church voted nine to six resulting in a decision to ban interracial couples from the congregation. This blatant error of church policy all started because of the views of the pastor and certain members in the church. A longtime member, who is a white female, brought her black fiancé to sing in the worship service as she played the piano. Their actions angered the pastor and some members of the congregation resulting in the ban on interracial marriages. However, just yesterday the church has retracted their ill-advised decision which caused much controversy in the media.

Being a Christian in an interracial marriage and a preacher, I have many concerns over what caused this whole episode. Obviously, this incident occurred because of a lack of sound biblical teaching combined with prejudice. In the realm of Christianity there are many who twist the scriptures to push their own personal agenda. I believe that this is the case with this event. The Bible clearly teaches us that God has always desired for all men to come to the knowledge of truth (2 Tim. 2:4). We are also told that in Christ all are one; he has broken down the wall of separation (Gal. 2:14). God has clearly shown us through his word that he does not show favoritism (Rom. 2:11 NIV). In God’s eyes there neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female and ultimately black or white in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:28). What we need to take from this is: all are one in true Christianity.

“All Sufficiency of the Scriptures”

In the world of Christianity many religious groups maintain various opinions concerning the nature of the church and worship. Many of these opinions, which are faulty, have led to the confusion churches have about the nature of the Lord’s kingdom. Several of these groups allege that authority, for their beliefs, comes from traditions handed down by men. Others claim their authority comes from new revelations that are personally communicated to them by God.

However, it is apparent that many of these viewpoints have no basis or authority from God’s word. God’s official means of communication (the Bible) has either partial or no influence at all on the reason for their positions. Herein is the problem; their flawed beliefs systems are a result of not adhering to the true source of church authority; “the Bible”. The Bible alone has all that we need to identify how God wants his church to be organized. It alone is all sufficient in giving us all that we need to know about God’s doctrine. It alone is all sufficient in accomplishing the task of guiding us to live a life that is pleasing acceptable to God.

So therefore, we have no need for anything else but the bible to aid our understanding of this Christian life. We have no need for manuals or creeds because the Bible has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). We have no need for new revelations, because God’s word has already been delivered to the saints once and for all (Jude 3). We have no need for any other form of teaching apart from the Bible because were told that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). God has supplied us with everything we need to know to live this spiritual life. All we need to do is faithfully adhere to his word.

“Throwing in the towel”

Saturday I was watching a repeat broadcast of the second fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Marquez. It was an intense fight that went all the way to the twelfth round in which Pacquiao won by unanimous decision. The thing that intrigued me the most about this fight happened during one of the breaks. Pacquiao, who was being attended to by his cut man, suffered a cut on the inside of his right eye. He was clearly in intense pain. I watched as his cut man tried to stop the bleeding by forcibly pressing a q-tip into the injury. As this gruesome scene developed a few thoughts came to my mind. Pacquiao couldn’t complain about his hurt eye because he knew going into this fight that he was likely to sustain some kind of injury. He couldn’t throw in the towel because he wanted to win the fight. The pain and injuries that he experienced were to be expected because this is all a part of his profession.

This made me examine my own spiritual life. I realized that I too can’t complain about the pain that I will experience as I labor for the cause of Christ. God informs us through His word that we will experience painful trials in this life.

Paul wrote in Philippians 1:29, “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake”. In this verse we learn that suffering is a part of being a Christian. However, James 1:2 teaches us the reason for our suffering, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” Just like Pacquiao, we must understand that adversity and hardships are a part of our Christian profession. We need not allow these inescapable matters to hinder us. Instead we must endure the pain and fight on to victory. Paul (as quoted in the NKJV) in 2 Tim. 2:3 states, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”.

Spanked Into Addiction?

Last night I was astounded by what I saw on CNN. Dr. Drew Pinsky, a clinical psychiatrist and T.V. personality, discussed a disturbing video of a judge from Texas violently spanking and swearing at his daughter. Judge William Adams, whom is ironically a family court judge, is clearly abusing his teenage daughter. When interviewed he stated that he believed he did nothing wrong. Surprisingly he admits that he lost his temper. However, he believes he is justified in his actions because his daughter illegally downloaded songs and games.

Moreover, Dr. Drew states his opinion on physical abuse (he believes physical discipline is child abuse) as “I want everyone reading this to understand something about young people who are physically abused. It shatters the brain’s upper limit of its ability to regulate and actually changes the way the brain grows…we are talking about damaging an organ”. He continues by adding, “Furthermore, those who are affected by something like this have a difficult time functioning in relationships and at work… plus, they have higher incidences of addiction and alcoholism.”

I think the average person comprehends what is really going on here. This is a clear cut case of child abuse, but it is sad to see Dr. Drew imply that all physical discipline is abuse. Our society is blurring the line between child abuse and physical discipline. As a preacher and a father I am against the world’s view of physical discipline, yet I am for a Biblical view of physical discipline.

In Proverbs 23:13-14 one reads “ Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die. You shall strike him with the rod and you shall rescue his soul from Sheol” (NASB). Additionally Proverbs 13:24 reads, “He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently”.

These verses let us know that Biblical physical discipline, administered in the proper manner, will not harm our children. On the contrary it will help our children develop discipline and respect for God, themselves, and their fellow men.