Our federal government is suing one of our 50 states because of a law that only girls can go in a girls bathroom. Think about that. The government of the United States of America is suing a state that wants to keep boys out of girls bathrooms and locker rooms.
It has been decades since this country has been a Christian nation in any real sense, but this generation will be the first one that will see the United States be openly hostile to followers of Jesus Christ.
This situation is not because of politicians, or atheists writing books, or hostile teachers and professors; our culture is now anti-Christian due to the Church of Jesus Christ de-valuing the life of the mind.
Until 100 years ago biblical Christianity integrated the heart, soul and mind and understood that truth is what made Christianity unique among all world religions.
Pastors now approach the Christian faith as being solely a matter of the heart. How many times have you heard your pastor say some variation of, “all people want to hear is the difference that Jesus has made in your life”? No one believes this to be true, including the pastor, but so pervasive is the “heart alone” commitment they say it anyway.
Another example, the mega-pastor who discourages non-”community based” classes because “It’s not about what you know, it’s all about what you do.”
Loving Jesus with our heart and soul is a ubiquitous Christian theme, loving him with our minds, not so much. We are happy to talk about Jesus being the way and the life, but are very uncomfortable talking about Jesus being the truth. But he is all three.
“The Bible says it, I believe it, and that settles it” makes our faith like every other and loses a culture, including the interest of thinking seekers. On the other hand, “Christianity is true” (and by definition, anything opposed to Christianity is false), changes the story completely!
Church leaders and youth pastors, are you sending your kids off to college ready to meet the intellectual challenges they will face? Do they know how to effectively respond to the scientific commitment to Charles Darwin, the ever increasing number of teachers committed to the relativistic worldview, and the writings of the new atheists? Do they know how to deal with the seemingly open-minded ideas of the pluralist, the issue of pain and suffering, and the charge that Christians are arrogant to think their beliefs are any better than anyone else’s?
Pastors, teachers, parents, don’t just hope your kids will survive, but equip them to thrive in the age to come. Prepare them to make a difference with those they encounter rather than hiding from challenges.
Do this by reading every apologetics resource you can find. Insist that your church teach apologetics, and if they refuse, find another church.
Paul says either the Christian faith is true or we are pathetic losers. If our faith is true, then we should quit acting as though we have something to be afraid of.
The future depends on us doing what we need to be doing, and not just sticking our heads in the sand.
Pepper Adams
Peachtree City, Ga.
