A
survey of parents reveals much about faith in God, the Bible, family, marriage,
and morality. Consider some lessons we can learn.
A
survey of parents reveals much about faith in God, the Bible, family, marriage,
and morality. Consider some lessons we can learn.
Parents of preteen children are raising the next generation of society. A survey of the beliefs of these parents reveals much about the future of our society. Consider some lessons we can learn.
Here are some results:
God is the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect, and just creator of the universe who rules that universe today - 40% agree
Universe and everything in it was designed, created, and sustained by God - 44%
Purpose of life is to know, love, serve God with all your heart, mind, strength, and soul - 28%
The Bible is the accurate words of God - 42%
The Bible is your primary source of moral guidance - 24%
Human life is sacred - 26%
Marriage of one man to one woman is God's plan for humanity, across all cultures - 33%
Many of us grew up when nearly everyone professed to believe in God,Jesus,and the Bible. Most people accepted views of moral issues that agree with the Bible. Our differences related to various doctrines of denominations professing to follow Christ: church,worship,how to be saved This is no longer the case.
Primary differences between God’s people and others in society today frequently concern whether or not God even exists,Jesus is God’s Son,the Bible is God’s word and issues of basic morality.
Apostles and Christians in the first century faced similar circumstances. Sometimes they taught people who believed in God and the Old Testament,but other times they taught people who did not even believe in the true God or in the Bible as His word.
Today we must be prepared and willing to defend the truth of God’s word,not just about the errors of religious groups (salvation,worship, the church),but also about the existence of God,Jesus as God’s Son,the Bible as God’s word. We must even teach people about creation vs. evolution and basic principles of Bible morality: respect for human life,marriage and the family,and sexual morals.
This does not mean we must give up on unbelievers. The apostles and first-century Christians did not just give up on them. They gave them evidence for believing the truth. We must learn how to do so too.
1 Peter 3:15 - Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts,and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,with meekness and fear.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 - Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince,rebuke,exhort,with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,but according to their own desires,because they have itching ears,they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth,and be turned aside to fables.
* Release #3: A Detailed Look at How the Worldview of Parents of Preteens Misses the Mark,” Dr. George Barna, Director of Research,Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, January, 2022
(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2022; gospelway.com
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Scripture quotations are generally from the New King James Version (NKJV), copyright 1982, 1988 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. used by permission. All rights reserved.