A Post-Christian Generation
Introduction. It may come as no surprise that the influence of
Christianity in the United States is waning. Rates of church attendance,
religious affiliation, belief in God, prayer, and Bible-reading have been
dropping for decades. Americans’ beliefs are becoming more post-Christian and,
concurrently, religious identity is changing.
Generation Z
was born between 1999 and 2015, and they are the first truly “post-Christian” generation. More than any other generation before them,
Generation Z does not assert a religious identity. They might be drawn to
spirituality, but with a vastly different starting point from previous
generations, many of whom received a basic education on the Bible — and it
shows.
For Generation Z, “atheist” is no longer a dirty word: The percentage of teens who
identify as such is double that of the general population (13% vs. 6% of all
adults). The proportion that identifies as Christian likewise drops from
generation to generation. Three out of four Boomers are Protestant or Catholic
Christians (75%), while just three in five 13- to 18-year-olds say they are
some kind of Christian (59%).
So what has led to this sharp falling off? When
non-Christians of all ages are asked about their biggest barriers to faith, the
six results are worth considering given the fact that our own children may one
day make the same arguments (1 Peter 3:15).
I. A Good God Would Not Allow Evil Or Suffering
A. One of the most frequent, and thus one of the most
important, causes of unbelief is the existence of evil, pain, and suffering in
the world. The former televangelist Charles B. Templeton, who started the “Youth
for Christ” rallies and was a very well-known evangelist with the Billy Graham
Crusade, just quit one day. He abandoned it all — not just the Billy Graham
Crusade, but belief in God, Christ, the Bible, and heaven. He wrote, “I was
ridding myself of archaic, outdated notions. I was dealing with life as it is.
There would be an end to asking the deity for his special interventions on my
behalf because I was one of the family … If there is a loving God, why does he
permit — much less create — earthquakes, droughts, floods, tornadoes, and other
natural disasters which kill thousands of innocent men, women, and children
every year? How can a loving, omnipotent God permit — much less create —
encephalitis, cerebral palsy, brain cancer, leprosy, Alzheimer’s and other
incurable illnesses to afflict millions of men, women, and children, most of
whom are decent people?”
B. We bring this up merely to document the role that evil,
pain, and suffering have played, and still continues to play, as an important
cause of man’s unbelief.
1. In 1851, Charles Darwin abandoned once and for all any
vestige of belief in God after the death of his oldest daughter, Annie.
2. Nine years later, on September 15, 1860, Thomas Huxley was
to watch his oldest son, four-year-old Noel, die in his arms from scarlet
fever.
3. Samuel Langhorne Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) became
embittered against God after the death, in 1896, of his favorite daughter,
Suzy.
4. In the mid-1960s, a devoutly religious young man from
Chattanooga, was a role model for all of his classmates. He led a prayer group
and planned to become a foreign missionary — until his sister died of leukemia
and his father committed suicide. The boy’s belief in God collapsed he
subsequently became one of America’s most outspoken unbelievers, humanists, and
pro-abortion advocates. What was his name? Ted Turner, founder of world-famous
CNN and the Turner Broadcasting System.
C. At the end of His six days of creation (Genesis 1:31), God
surveyed all that He had made, and proclaimed it “very good.”
1. Pestilence, disease, and death were unknown. Man existed in
a paradise of happiness and beauty where he shared an intimate and eternal
relationship with his Maker (Genesis 3:8, 22).
2. The peacefulness and tranquility of the first days of
humanity were not to prevail, however. Moses informs us that as a direct
consequence of human sin, the Earth was “cursed” (Genesis 3:17). But, matters deteriorated rapidly.
D. The cause of all that is wrong with the earth is not godliness
but ungodliness. Since God is love, and since love allows freedom of choice,
God allows freedom of choice (cp. Joshua 24:15; John 5:39-40). God did not
create men and women to serve Him without any kind of free will on their part.
Mankind now reaps the consequences of the misuse of freedom of choice (i.e.,
the sin) of previous generations (Galatians 6:5-8).
E. Instead of blaming God because evil, pain, and suffering
exist, we should turn to Him for strength, and let tragedies, of whatever
nature, remind us that this world never was intended to be a final home
(Hebrews 11:13-16). Our time here is temporary (James 4:14), and with God’s
help, we are able to overcome whatever comes our way (Psalm 46:1-3; Romans
8:35-39; 1 Peter 5:10).
II. Christians Are Hypocrites
A. On occasion our own actions have the potential to drive
others toward unbelief. Try as we might, we still sin, sometimes appallingly.
There always have been stories of graphic hypocrisy and sordid misconduct on
the part of Christians (cp. Acts 5:1-11).
B. Such hypocrisy and misconduct are hard pills to swallow
even for fellow Christians.
1. Yet put yourself in the place of the person who already is
struggling with doubts, not only about the system of belief, but about
God as well. From their vantage point, when the system “fails” (i.e., when its
adherents are unable to conform to it successfully in their own lives), what,
then, shall be said about the God behind the system (Proverbs 25:19)?
2. This also provides ammunition for those who are searching
for what they consider to be legitimate reasons not to believe in God (1
Timothy 5:14).
C. While we acknowledge the devastating effect that can result
from the hypocrisy of believers, and while we make no attempt to justify or
excuse such conduct, at the same time we have to recognize the fact that it is
unfair to blame God for the blunders of humanity.
1. Rejecting God because of hypocrisy in the lives of some of
His followers can become a two-edged sword.
2. It is contradictory for an unbeliever to attempt to justify
his unbelief by pointing out hypocrisy in someone else.
3. By suggesting that a believer is a hypocrite, the
unbeliever implies that there is a system of belief that, when properly adhered
to, would legitimize the conduct of the believer. Where does that leave the
unbeliever?
D. No one faulted hypocrisy more than Jesus (Matthew 23:1-36).
But “hypocrite” is sometimes misapplied. One is not a hypocrite because
he is weak, and sins at times in his struggle. One is not a hypocrite because
he never perfectly achieves God’s standard. One is not a hypocrite because he
is inconsistent.
III. Science Refutes Too Much Of The Bible
A. What scientific discovery has ever disproved any Bible
teaching?
1. Many famous scientists from the past and today have
believed the scriptural account of Genesis 1-11 which includes creation and the
Flood.
2. Some of the greatest minds in the history of science have
believed in supernatural creation. Men like Newton, Pasteur, Kepler, Lister,
Boyle, Pascal, and others — household names in science — were not atheists;
they believed that science and creation were quite compatible.
B. Sometimes it is said that believing in these miracles is
unscientific, but this is mistaken.
1. The reason why is because science studies natural laws and
the way the physical universe operates barring any outside intervention by a
divine agent.
2. If God exists and is the author of these natural laws, God
can intervene on occasion and provide an exception to the ordinary operations
of nature to show that He is alive and active.
3. This exceptional action no more undermines science than the
exceptional presidential pardon undermines the legal system.
C. Sometimes people say “only science can give us knowledge” but
this is self- refuting since there is no scientific experiment that can prove
that statement.
1. The Bible mentions several accurate scientific facts: food
and sanitation guidelines (Leviticus 11:9-12, 24-43; 13:1-17), life in the
blood (Leviticus 17:11), the shape of the earth (Isaiah 40:22), the suspension
of earth by gravity (Job 26:7), and the number of stars (Jeremiah 33:22).
2. When the Bible does mention scientific fact, it is
accurate. This shows that a biblical worldview, which existed long before
modern science, is valid.
D. Creationists have an impressive arsenal of evidence to
confirm the conclusion that the creation model better fits the available
scientific facts than the evolution model. Darwinism is a merely materialistic
philosophy masquerading as science, and people are recognizing it for what it
is. Science, done right, points toward God. There is no war between science and
religion; that is a myth. The positive case for intelligent design in the universe is totally compelling
(Psalm 19:1-6).
IV. I Don’t Believe In Fairly Tales
A. Christians who start with the presupposition that the Bible
is true can explain the available evidence — logically, consistently, and
correctly.
1. If the universe were just a random cosmic accident, there
is no reason for it to follow certain laws. Without a logical God who created
everything including us in His own image (Genesis 1:27) — which is why we are
able to use the laws of logic — there is no reason to believe there is any
order, causality, or logic in the universe.
a) For example, the laws of nature are orderly and logical
(Jeremiah 33:25). It makes sense that an orderly and logical God would create a
universe that displays some of His characteristics (Romans 1:20).
b) Random, non-directional genetic “accidents” have never been
observed to create order, nor has non-life been observed to give rise to life.
The only explanation that makes sense of the laws of nature, laws of logic, and
existence of life is the transcendent God.
2. There is no way for a naturalist to explain why these laws
exist or where they came from. And to just say, “That’s just how it happened” is
to take a great leap of blind faith. Thus, both the Christian and the
non-Christian must place their faith somewhere as a starting point; we choose
to put our faith in God’s revealed, perfect word.
B. The Bible can be verified because it has evidence which has
held up to 2,000 years of intense scrutiny.
1. If people can never be sure who originally wrote the Bible
then how do they know it has changed so much? What evidence are they basing
this belief on?
2. As a matter of fact, the Bible has remained the most
accurate ancient work ever. This can be seen from the tens of thousands of
copies and fragments that have been found.
3. Words have obviously been translated from the original
language, but there is no evidence that the meaning of the texts has changed.
That much of the Bible’s meaning has been lost remains a baseless and
unsubstantiated claim (cp. Matthew 24:35).
C. Other “holy books” exist, but they cannot explain
everything around us in a logical, consistent, and correct manner.
1. The Bible explains why dogs always produce dogs (Genesis
1), why evil happens (Genesis 3), why there are rock layers (Genesis 7-8), why
there are so many people groups (Genesis 10-11), and why we are here
(Ecclesiastes 12). No other “holy book” can explain all these issues because
none of them tell the true history of the world.
2. Religious books, such as Islam’s Qur’an, Mormonism’s Book of Mormon, and Hinduism’s Vedas, contradict the
Bible; therefore, they cannot be scripture.
a) For example, the Qur’an in two chapters (Surah 4:171 and
23:91) says God had no son, but the Bible is clear that Jesus is the only
begotten Son of God (Matthew 26:63-64).
b) The Qur’an even contradicts itself. One passage says Jesus
will be with God in paradise (Surah 3:45) and another states that He will be in
hell for being worshiped by Christians (Surah 21:98).
c) The Book of Mormon, prior to the 1981 change, says that
American Indians will turn white when they convert to Mormonism (2 Nephi 30:6;
cp. 2 Nephi 5:21; 3 Nephi 2:12-15).
3. If these writings were truly from God, such discrepancies
and non-sensical statements could not exist.
V. There’s Too Many Injustices In Christianity
A. Even when those of us who firmly believe in God, and who
confidently accept the Bible as His inspired communication to mankind, strive
diligently to conform our words and deeds to those set out in God’s word, we
sometimes still fail. David was a man after God’s “own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14),
yet he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband murdered (2 Samuel
11-12). Peter loved his Master dearly, yet denied Him publicly three times on
the eve of His crucifixion (Matthew 26:34, 69-75).
1. Adding to the problem is the fact that we may be sincere in
what we do or say, yet still be entirely wrong (cp. Numbers 4:15, 19-20).
2. There can be no doubt that Uzzah was sincere in his
attempts to protect the ark, but he was sincerely wrong (2 Samuel 6:6-8).
B. Unfortunately, throughout human history there are several
examples of those who have professed the high standard of the New Testament,
yet who have committed unjust acts in the name of God.
1. For example, in the time period between A.D. 1095 and 1270,
eight different crusades occurred, during which armies representing “Christendom”
battled Muslims in and around Jerusalem to gain control of the “holy city” and
force Mohammed’s followers into submission to Christ.
2. In 1613, Galileo published his first musings about the
possible truthfulness of the Copernican system of planetary movements (i.e.,
that the earth moves around the Sun). In 1616, a decree was issued by the
Catholic Church that prevented Galileo from publishing any of his additional
supportive evidence. In 1632, he published that evidence, and one year later,
he was found guilty by an Inquisition in Rome. He had to recant his findings
and spent the rest of his life under house arrest.
3. In modern times, events have been just as unsavory. In
1988, Salman Rushdie authored The Satanic Verses,
a book that drew the ire of radical Iranian Muslim spiritual leader, Ayatollah
Khomeini. Khomeini issued a fatwa (religious decree) in the name of
Allah, calling for the immediate assassination of Rushdie. Rushdie was forced
to go into hiding in Britain for several years.
4. In Northern Ireland, Catholics and Protestants have battled
each other for decades under the flags of their respective religions. Innocent
adults, teenagers, and children die by the hundreds — all in the name of God.
5. In Yugoslavia, “Christian” Serbs
depart on “search and destroy” missions in an effort to rout Muslim forces. “Ethnic
cleansing” is carried out — again, in God’s name.
6. Closer to home, militants have bombed abortion clinics,
maiming and killing patients and staff. These same individuals declare “open
season” on medical doctors who perform abortions, and these practitioners
subsequently are shot as they stand at their kitchen window or get in their car
to drive to work. All in the name of God.
C. The unbeliever’s case is made for him, and the roots of his
unbelief grow deeper, as he witnesses what he views as unjust, wicked acts
carried out by people who are supposed to live according to the Bible. How
could a good God sanction such barbaric inhumanity, and why would anyone want
to serve such a God?
D. How should the believer respond to these kinds of actions?
1. First, admit that such events as the brutality of the Crusades,
the murder of abortionists, or the ethnic cleansing of Muslims are unjust
deeds that never should have occurred. The acts committed are abhorrent and the
attitudes of those responsible are deplorable. These events are contrary to God’s
nature (Luke 6:27-35).
2. Second, it is unfair to blame God for unjust acts committed
in His name by those who claim to believe in Him, yet who disobey His will. The
fact that someone commits an act “in God’s name” does
not mean that the act itself is sanctioned by the One in whose name it was
committed (Matthew 7:21-23). For example, when law enforcement officers act “in
the name of the law,” but illegally beat a suspect to obtain a coerced
confession, does the law bear the blame for their offenses? No! The law
specifically forbade their actions.
3. Third, it is important to separate the real believer
from the counterfeit believer. Just because someone claims to be
a believer does not necessarily mean that he or she actually is a
believer (Matthew 7:15-20). A counterfeit remains a counterfeit regardless of
the fact that it claims (or even appears) to be genuine. Its genuineness
is determined by whether or not it successfully matches the list of
characteristics for what is actually real.
4. Fourth, speaking of consistency, we need to realize that it
is not just the believer who should be held to such a standard. The
unbeliever needs to comply as well. When you examine the legitimate teachings
and fruits of a particular system, ask yourself: “Which one has more to commend
itself — belief in God, or unbelief?”
VI. I Had A Bad Experience At Church
A. No matter how good the congregation is, everyone will have
a bad experience eventually. God provided for this by encouraging us to be
longsuffering and forgiving (Ephesians 4:31-32). Furthermore, when we know of
issues that exist among brethren, God has told us how to fix them (Matthew
5:23-24; 18:15-17).
B. As older Christians, we need to be extra sensitive to the
way criticism is presented to our children and young people. While this was the
objection with the smallest percentage, it still draws the young away from the
faith.
Conclusion. For many teens, truth seems relative at best and, at
worst, altogether unknowable. Their lack of confidence is on pace with the
broader culture’s all-out embrace of relativism. More than half of all
Americans, both teens (58%) and adults (62%), agree with the statement “Many
religions can lead to eternal life; there is no ‘one true religion.’”
We
understand that younger people are going to be influenced by their culture.
There is nothing we can do to stop that. But what we can do is offer
legitimate, biblical reasons for what the scriptures teach (1 Peter 3:15). In
this way, younger people can make their minds up and stay faithful to God’s
word.
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Good morning Brother Kyle, I received the document you sent last night. The Title of the article reminds me what my professor said when I was in college "Post Truth Generation". There is no scrutiny of information if it is true or not. Thank you so much. God bless. (Men Mark Tumandan)
You’re welcome. Let’s pray it helps you
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