I spent part of Christmas Day and Eve reading Josh McDowell’s The Last Christian Generation. “The Crisis is Real. The Responsibility is Ours.” This was a Christmas gift to Gary from Rena and family. I sure enjoyed the gift as Gary and I shared this important subject together.
Josh gives many studies that one only has to look around them or in their own homes to realize the studies are fact and as he says on the cover of his book, the responsibility is ours, the crisis is real. Let me give you a glimpse of some studies from the first few pages of this book. A survey from youth show:
- 65% want a close relationship with God
- 49% want to make a difference in the world
- 79% consider having close personal friends as a high-priority goal for their future
Yet, they just believe they have a different view than their parents or other generations. Here are a few for starters:
- 63% don’t believe Jesus is the Son of the one true God
- 58% believe all faiths teach equally valid truths
- 51% don’t believe Jesus rose from the dead
- 68% don’t believe the Holy Spirit is a real entity.
Josh points us to this reality with ‘In other words, our kids are departing from the faith of their fathers…and mothers. They are believing “some different things from you and me.” Much of what they believe about Christianity, truth, reality, and the church comes from a distorted view they have gleaned from the world around them.”
Josh goes on to say, “it’s not that they haven’t embraced a version of Christianity; it’s simply that the version they believe in is not built on the true foundation of what biblical Christianity is all about.”
Another recent study in this book points to facts that there is very little if any differences in professed Christian youth and non-Christian youth in questions like, in the last 12 months who lied to a parent? Both 93%. Lied to a teacher, 83% and 85%. Cheated on a test? 74% and 76%.
I must say I didn’t feel shocked or even the slightest surprised in these and other surveys and studies found in this book. Sad, yes, Guilty, yes. Perplexed, yes. Real answers, no.
And, of course my mind went up and down and around and around searching and wondering and guessing and thinking and trying to formulate answers that would give rise to passion once again for Jesus to be Lord.
My son called from Europe on Christmas Eve and one of the things he told me after traveling around and enjoying the cathedrals, churches and many historic sites as well as services. Christmas here is not like in America. It seems more real! Like the angels, the nativity, the singing and the beauty of Jesus. Not a lot of cheap lights and not much Santa.
I thought about this quite a lot. On Christmas Day I took a ride through my town to find all the churches closed. Plenty of coffee and food. Heard about parties in homes and what I heard was gifts of dull comparison to The Gift. Dull lights in comparison as to The Light. Food toxic in comparison to The Feast. All kinds of movies but nothing said about The Second Coming movement. And of course plenty of football and not much ‘get on the ball’ with Evangelism.
I started thinking about the one important thing that may be left in the family as some of us may know it, is now designated to a small child to verbalize and show off a few words of prayer. Why? Most likely because the Father or Mother (Grandparents) has not a prayer of blessing to impart to their families. Remember when we read the prayers of the patriarchs and apostles, they imparted wisdom, gifts and strength to the gathering, to their children. Please understand I love to hear a child pray. But, the few very rare times that families can all meet together in a home with a parent or parents it would seem we would bless our family, Or, is it we have no authority to impart a blessing to them because we like the youth don’t believe the Holy Spirit is a real entity? My point is this, if The Apostle Paul was sitting at our dinner table would we ask our child to pray or practice for him or would we be longing to hear his voice and his prayer of blessing to our child? I sure long to hear my parents pray again and feel their hands as they anointed each of us with a blessing at Christmas and other Holy Holidays. Paul prayed:
” I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21 NLT
I hope that as we now turn our eyes to ’07 we will turn our hearts and minds to search for answers to help take the responsibility of helping with making The Last Christian Generation a non-reality?
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The word ‘crisis’ gets my attention. Some of Webster’s definitions include: the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever; b: a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function; c: an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person’s life;he decisive moment; an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending; especially one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome.
In Wendy’s blog, ‘The Wake-up Call’ she warned us:
“We better wake up, look up towards heaven and repent.”
With regard to the this last generation I keep thinking of the scripture in Jeremiah 6:14: “…everyone deals falsely. They have healed the hurt of my people slightly, saying ‘Peace, Peace’ when there is no peace.” And in
I Thess 5:3: “…for when they say “Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them.”
And searching for answers for help for this crisis I read Sara’s blog “Peace” (Oct 2005) she says: “Peace will not come separate from Jesus Christ. You may have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, but have you been a peacemaker in the lives of others? When you become a peacemaker than you will be called a Son of God. Not a son of humanity, or the earth, but a son like the first born son, Jesus Christ, a son of God through Christ Jesus.”
Seemly, you agree with the word crisis and its meaning. But, do you agree the responsibility is ours? If so, do you have suggestions on immediate things we can do?
Yes, I agree the responsibility is ours. Things we can do? Pray and find ways to communicate the truths of the Bible. And encourage others to read and contribute on the Daily Lily as it reaches others throughout the world are some ways I can think of.
What are some ways we can encourage others to read The Daily Lily? How do we make The Daily Lily travel around the world? What methods would we use and who would do it?
How could others be encouraged to write and pray and assist others as they learn and practice and live these truths?
“I hope that as we now turn our eyes to ‘07 we will turn our hearts and minds to search for answers to help take the responsibility of helping with making The Last Christian Generation a non-reality?” Sara
As Our President and advisers meet and search for answers to the war in Iraq. I hope we will pray for him and others that are involved. I hope that we will remind ourselves that there are many there that have not the truths we are speaking of here. We do have a responsibility to help with the truth going forth around the world.
I pray that ’07 will be the ‘year of evangelism in our hearts’ as we reach out with our prayers and giving of the truth as well.
I’m currently reading this book and was struck by what young people believe or don’t believe about Jesus today.
According to scripture:
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (There are two paths – one of light – Jesus and the other darkness which refers to the darkness of this world and that of Satan. God is light and Jesus is also the light that lights the way to life like the pillar of fire led the way to a new life which was in the Promise Land. This was an Old Testament promise. Our new promise is a new life with Jesus and God in Heaven our TRUE Promise Land and final destiny for eternity.)
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (What Jesus is saying here is that he is the bridge between you and the Father.)
Jhn 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (This refers to the truth that leads to salvation. Freedom from sin not ignorance.)
Finally JOHN 3:16 says according to the Message: “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. Any why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
I pray there will be revival in the heart of people and they will know the truth and the truth shall set them free.
I also would much rather have someone who blessed each member of the family pray rather than a small child. Once there was a lady name Sister Ruth Catalano who was a missionary to the American Indians in Oklahoma. She seemed to have legs of iron. She stood and with stood until each one was blessed by words of God. I remember and still do listen to her words of encouragement. If someone is at the table who hears from God, let him/her speak. These words will be a blessing for years and years to come.