Courageous Living by Michael Catt

Author:Michael Catt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religion/Christian Life/Spiritual Growth
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Published: 2011-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

I’m asking God to raise up young men and women in this land who will pray for God to use them no matter what the cost. Thom and Jess Rainer in their book The Millennials make the point that for many Millennials, Christianity is a family heirloom rather than a faith commitment. Their research discovered that only 13 percent of Millennials mention religion, faith, or spirituality as an important part of life. Only 65 percent of Millennials were willing to call themselves Christian in even the broadest sense of the word.

Millennials’ most common belief about life after death is “no one really knows” (34 percent). Thom and Jess Rainer’s research analysis reveals that 67 percent of Millennials say they rarely or never “read the Bible, Torah, Koran, or other sacred writings.” In light of this, should we be surprised that our culture is decaying? Only 46 percent agree strongly that God is a real being, not just a concept. Four in ten agree strongly or somewhat that Satan is not a real being but just a symbol of evil. Half of Millennials believe that when Jesus walked this earth He sinned like other people, and only half agree that Jesus is the only way to heaven.1

All this research illustrates the need for a sweeping movement of God among young people today. We need Him to move on the hearts of this generation like He did in the 1940s during the days of Youth for Christ. We need another Jesus Movement. We need another college revival like the one at Asbury College. These movements changed lives, impacted a generation, and shook the church. Out of these movements came some of today’s great Christian leaders. Where are the young college students willing to change their generation?

The term teenager is a relatively new one. In their book Do Hard Things, Alex and Brett Harris note that the first documented use of the word teenager occurred in an issue of Reader’s Digest in 1941, less than seventy-five years ago.2 It’s an age that marketers look at, study, and target. Before the mid-twentieth century teenagers were, in a sense, nonexistent. Kids went to school, worked the farm, or learned a trade. There was little time for extracurricular activities. In reality the clothing was not that different from what adults wore. How times have changed.

The period of time between childhood and maturity is difficult. It’s tough being a teenager. But we must raise up a courageous generation who will rise up to take their place and embrace their responsibilities. We can turn the tide.

Because of the decay of the home and the influence of media and entertainment, students are languishing in a cesspool of uncertainty. They don’t know who they are or why they are here. They don’t understand absolutes. If they have a belief system, they may not be able to define it or even articulate it. And they are biblically illiterate. It will take a radical change to begin thinking biblically.

The graying church is leading us into a cemetery.

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