Last week I had the privilege of speaking at a Worldview Conference sponsored by Precept Marketing and BJ Press. It was held at the beautiful Bible Museum in Washington, D.C. and included other speakers such as Jeff Keaton and Dr. Josh Mulvihil of Renewantion, Dr. Bryan Smith, Ben Schetler, and Dr. George Barna. I came away from the conference deeply burdened about the condition of today’s church and society here in the United States.
If you have been following my blogs over the past several weeks, you know that my concern for our children’s future isn’t new. I first wrote about this in the blog, For the Sake of Our Children. I encourage you to take the time and click on the title and read it again. Following that post I realized that Christians must repent of our sinful actions of giving our children a secular worldview education. Two verses have been on my heart and mind ever since.
“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” Joel 2:12 (NKJV)
So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Joel 2:13 (NKJV)
In each of my blogs since then I have been challenging readers to examine their lives and apply Joel 2:12-13 to their lives and ministries. I suggested that today, April 23, 2019 be the day that we individually and collectively turn to the Lord with our whole heart. Last week’s conference burned this conviction deeper into my heart. Each presentation built on the others as if all of the speakers had met and collectively planned what would be said. I left DC with several key realities weighing heavy on my heart.
Christianity is facing a crisis of belief!
The majority of Christian adults are biblically illiterate compared to previous generations. Less than 10% possess a biblical worldview. Today’s church is a better reflection of today’s culture than it is of biblical Christianity.
Younger generations have developed a secular worldview that is driving their actions and attitudes!
It is believed that only 4% of Millennials have a biblical worldview and 51% of them desire to live in a socialistic or communistic society. The younger generations are more likely to support various lifestyle positions that go contrary to the Bible.
The worldview of every generation is a result of the education that they received!
The main business of all education is the communication of ideas. All educational efforts take place in the context of the teachers’ and textbook authors’ worldview.
There is no such thing as neutrality!
It is a myth to believe that there is a body of neutral facts that can be taught without spiritual implications. This is true at home, church and school.
Education can have only one of two missions!
The education that a child receives at home, church and school will have the mission to instill a biblical worldview or a secular worldview in the hearts and minds of the next generation.
The home, church and school must be united in giving children and youth a biblical worldview education!
A divided kingdom cannot stand. This is true when it comes to the education that the next generation receives. There must be unity in beliefs and values if the current trends are going to be reversed. It is now believed that a person’s basic worldview beliefs are pretty much set by the age of 13 or 14.
Today’s society is definitely secular which means that religion, specifically Christianity, has no place in the public square. It has taken decades of secular education to get us to the condition that can be clearly seen in today’s culture. We have heard the statistics for years of how the majority of our young people are leaving the church in their teenage years — many of them will never return.
Even though the future looks bleak, we must remember that with God all things are possible. It isn’t too late for God to work. However, it is going to require certain things of parents, church leaders and educators. We don’t need better facilities, programs or teaching methodologies. It isn’t going to be accomplished by improving technology or chasing after the latest fad. It will only happen if parents, church leaders and educators rend their hearts and turn to the Lord their God with fasting, weeping and mourning! We must get back to following God’s instructions on how to educate future generations!
Well said Glen.
Agree 100%. Thank you Dr. Schultz.
Not only are Christians individually in need of Joel 2:13, but the church as a whole has become an entertainment and hype center. We’ve lost the knowledge of God and His holiness.
Thanks for a life well lived for Christ.