Young Man, Young Woman-
What Do You Believe?
Kerry Duke

Young hearts are tender, but young hearts need teaching. Teenagers need understanding, but they also need firmness and discipline. Just because they attend Bible classes and worship assemblies does not mean that all of them agree with sound Bible teaching.

The liberal Abilene Christian University recently asked over 500 youths (ages 11-19) in churches of Christ about their beliefs. The results were shocking:

• 65% said that church membership doesn't matter as long as you love God.
• Only 14% believe one must be an active member of the church to go to heaven.
• Only 39% said adultery is the only biblical reason for divorce.
• Only 31% said Christians should be very different from the world in dress, language, etc.
• Only 10% said using instruments during church is sinful
• Only 11% said it is wrong for girls to lead in youth group devotions or singing.
• Only 22% said women should never take a leadership role in worship.
• Only 32% said Christians should avoid any and all alcoholic beverages.
• 66% said abortion is wrong.
• 79% said God will punish the wicked in a literal hell.
• Just 23% said nations who do not hear about Jesus have no hope for salvation.¹

Also interesting is what the researchers found these young people were "into."²   One researcher said, "There is a spiritual wave moving across this generation. They are into angels, spiritual movements... and this is so important to them." Another said, "Kids are into God, not church." These researchers seem to know as little about spirituality as the young people they surveyed. The great majority of them reject or are ignorant of basic Bible teaching, as the above figures reveal. Do we call this a "spiritual wave"? And this clamor about being "into angels" and "spiritual movements" - whatever that means - is typical today. Most religious people, young and old, turn away from the plain teaching of the Bible so they can have some mystical, emotional rush by speculating about unseen, unknown, or unrevealed matters. "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God" (Deut. 29:29). The plain Gospel has "things the angels desire to look into" (I Pet. 1: 12). Angels are notable servants of God (Heb. 1:1-14), but to call interest in angels and "spiritual movements" a "spiritual wave" - while the Gospel the angels desire to look into is rejected - is nonsense.

I know there are young people who are different. They believe the Bible and obey it. I also realize that you cannot hang your hat completely on statistics. At the same time, this survey is revealing. We need to be diligent in grounding our children in the home first and in the church second. We need to be very careful about who we let teach them and where we send them: youth rallies, Christian universities, Bible camps, Christian schools. We need to insist that Bible class teachers be godly and knowledgeable. Part of the blame no doubt lies with older generations of parents and grandparents who either did not teach these young people or do not believe the Bible themselves. Perhaps the above questions should be posed to those who have been in the church twenty, thirty, or forty years.

Young people, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth" (Eccles. 12:1). "Flee also youthful lusts" (II Tim. 2:22). Let the Bible tell you what is important and what is not. Remember that true spirituality is doing the will of God, not just having a certain feeling. Have fun, but don't try to mix worship with entertainment. And don't ever think you really love Jesus if you don't listen to what He says. Remember, Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).

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ENDNOTES

1 The Christian Chronicle website (christianchronicle.org), vol. 57, no. 6.
2 Ibid.

We wish you each a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. Your Bulletin Staff

Newspaper Article
If all goes as planned, brother Bob Bauer will begin writing a weekly article for the Auburndale Sun starting in a week or so. Check the paper each week for "Good News For Today". We also plan to archive the articles on our website - www.orangestreetcofc.com .

FSOP Extension Class
All are encouraged to sign-up for the class on 1^st & 2^nd Thessalonians being offered by the Florida School of Preaching, here at Orange Street, which is scheduled to begin Thursday evening, Jan. 4^th. The weekly class will be taught by J. H. Blackman and may be audited or taken for college credit if desired. There is a $5 registration fee for the course and materials cost $3.

New Year's Eve
We will have our regular last Sunday Fellowship next week in the annex after the evening worship services. Since it will also be New Years Eve it has been suggested that we might make it 'till midnight - but make no promises.