Very interesting. I would never have guessed the findings...
I personally believe that the messages of Christianity are at the same time very fundamentally simple / straightforward AND profoundly sophisticated and complex. To me, they are both very important, and both need to be embraced. I think we sometimes tend to ignore the mystery and discovery aspects of trying to find God in our lives, and I think that when we try to put God in a box we take away some of what would get young people excited about Christianity. I’m not sure I said that very well, and I don’t want to offend anyone. Just my two cents.
ping
Phil's loss of faith coincided with his church's attempt to ingratiate itself to him instead of challenging him.
The ministers they respected were those "who took the Bible seriously," not those who sought to entertain them or be their "buddy."
Much of this applies to parenting and is exactly how the Dr. Spock parents raised the brats who are in charge of our government today.
It is not the message but the messenger.
God’s Word does offend people, His Word shines light on their sin, and it hurts.
When the messenger starts being afraid, the light grows dim, and the the hearer falls in the dark.
For me it was reason and logic.
That is the truth; it begs a simple two-part question: what has changed in your life? and how have you changed the lives of others because of your Christianity?
John 14:24-24
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
Phil's loss of faith coincided with his church's attempt to ingratiate itself to him instead of challenging him. According to Taunton, Phil's story "was on the whole typical of the stories we would hear from students across the country." These kids had attended church but "the mission and message of their churches was vague," and manifested itself in offering "superficial answers to life's difficult questions." The ministers they respected were those "who took the Bible seriously," not those who sought to entertain them or be their "buddy."
What was it we used to say?
"There's a seeker born every minute."
“Much of what passes for youth ministry these days is driven by a morbid fear of boring our young charges. As a result, a lot of time is spent trying to devise ways to entertain them.”
Absolutely. The “teaching” is very puffy and sort of sprinkled in among the “Awesome Weekend Retreats!”, the “Total Laser Quest Domination!”, the “Build 70 Houses in a Weekend”, etc., events. It is largely event-driven and the student has to really hunt to find a weekly Bible Study that isn’t just an “accountability group” (read “Christian gossip”).
I say all this as the father of two girls who went through our church’s big-time youth (sorry, “Student Ministry”) program and both largely withdrew during their senior years. One plugged into a Christian sorority in college, the other went completely off the map for about 18 months - became a person we didn’t even know - and finally made the turn-around (now engaged to a great young man headed for seminary). We thought that both we and their youth pastors had given the firm foundation of faith that they needed. I know we did. Not so sure about the youth pastors.
Later
Here's the problem for Larry. He is to base his faith on a personal relationship with Jesus and not base his faith on the actions of sinners.
While it is true that Christians should take their faith more seriously, we are still sinners and will continue to sin. I wonder if Larry ever said anything to his youth pastor or other members of the church?
I was the complete opposite of this guy. When I was in college, I looked for my faith. I tried join a Catholic group and went to several services. They were not very welcoming but I did not turn away from Christianity because of it. I continued to look for a Church. It has taken many years to find that church but my faith in God and of his son Jesus has always been there.
I'm not totally going to poo poo Larry because I think he has awaken us to what people are needing in our churches. We also all need to renew our relationship with Jesus and follow his commandants.
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
How many Christian youth programs and preachers tell young Christians that Jesus tells them, “Take up my cross and follow Me.” In our wicked world, to stay faithful to death, the Holy Spirit teaches us through the Bible. How many young Christians, and not so young Christians, are steeped in God’s Word?
Living according to the Scriptures makes one different from the ungodly majority. There’s the problem.
In my case, it was a lack of evidence, and the cult-like veneration, er, “respect” accorded to the clerisy of the branch of Christianity that I was raised in.
I believe salvation is between the individual and God. I’ve been getting the bible in pretty heavy doses lately and I’m getting to the point where I think that the concept of pre-destination is pretty accurate. That is, it is not that someone is “pre-destined” to be a believer, but that God, being outside of time, knows what someone’s final condition will be and that is why they are in the book of life.
If a person leaves the faith, I see them as the seed dropped along the side of the road.
And if only it was so simple that one could convince their children to become Christians. Your salvation does not depend on whether your parents were Christians. It is completely irrelevant. That would have far reaching implications that contradict the message of the bible.
In many cases they my not be practicing and attending church but their beliefs are still there. In my personal case I haven’t attended church in years, because I have seen too many organizations that dither too much in political/social/gossip activities and not enough in the Word. Sorta the way the Rinos have abandoned conservative principles.
People are sinners blindly following any person or group of people will eventually lead us away from the path in the same manner that a minor compass error uncorrected will eventually result in being miles off course.
I have continued to read the Bible and literature about the meaning of the Bible - the literature varies as well, but this is where I believe the personal relationship with God comes into play.
We can never 100% understand God he is too vast and powerful and wonderous for our measly little minds to comprehend, but we can have faith and endeavor to know more and strive to adhere to our understanding of his Word.
Whereas his old youth pastor “knew the Bible” and made Phil “feel smart” about his faith even when he didn’t have all the answers, the new youth pastor taught less and played more.
Phil’s loss of faith coincided with his church’s attempt to ingratiate itself to him instead of challenging him. According to Taunton, Phil’s story “was on the whole typical of the stories we would hear from students across the country.”
People will let you down all the time. That is why Jesus had to die for them as well as me. When people fall short of “my” standards, even if they are church leaders, it doesn’t prove the falsity of Jesus’ message. Rather, they prove their need for the blood of Christ.
A person is setting themself up for disaster if they put their faith in people. But then, a true Christian will still come back to the faith from that disaster. The “false Christian” will have left his “god” permanently.
We shouldn’t poll atheists and no studies are needed, the Word of God clearly answers these questions for us. All those things can do is help us understand why some men reject outward shows of religion. We can mold our churches and our lives to accommodate those who reject Christ and build vast herds of goats, but only God can build a herd of born-again sheep. (1 Corinthians 3:7) We need not fear, not one of His sheep will be lost. He is the good shepherd who knows His sheep. They hear His voice and they follow Him (John 10) Christ said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me...” John 6:37)
We should never be surprised when anyone rejects Christ. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”(1 Corinthians 1:18-19)
That so many men reject “the preaching of the cross” as “foolishness” ought to give us tremendous confidence in His Word. It is God who gives us the ability to understand, believe and trust in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is by grace that any of us believe. Who am I that He opened my eyes to see and believe? What grace He has shown me!
The things of God are foolishness to men dead in trespasses and sins. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) Unless a man has been born again by God, he cannot even see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3).
Instead of polling atheists, let’s love them and witness to them. Let’s pray that God will open their eyes to the truth of His Word and His glorious gospel. “But by the grace of God go I” couldn’t be more true.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:21
They are being taught by those who are ashamed of what they are teaching. The teachers come across as phony or hypocritical. This makes sense to me.