Loving Our Children

LESSON 5

REALITY CHECK

 

 

In the past we have discussed how Satan is a real and formidable foe.  He wants to destroy the family and it is wise for us to understand this enemy and respect him.  Knowing how he operates  is valuable so we can have an offensive strategy against him.

 

Today we are going to step back and give a good look into the world we are now living in and have a reality check.  Being informed about the culture and dangers around us is crucial so we can be wise in how we combat Satan and all the ways he desires us to walk away from truly discipling our children as the Bible commands.

 

This lesson is more of a summary of the book written by George Barna of the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University.  The book is entitled,

“Raising Spiritual Champions”

 

For many years the Barna Group have be doing research into current trends in christianity.  This book is full of data that, quite honestly is depressing.  After reading this book I  was somewhat discouraged and fearful for the future of the Church.  Then I had to remind myself that the Church has always been under attack and the remnant ALWAYS remains.  Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.  We want to be a part of that remnant, we and our children.

 

Barna defines a spiritual champion as someone who,”is devoted to fully imitating the life of Christ-thinking like Him, acting like Him, and living for Him.  This is the goal of christian parenting.  He explains that past research has shown parents who raised strong christian children who maintained their faith into adulthood engaged in many similar approaches.

 

Some tactics were:

Nurturing a solid, lasting relationship with the child

Prioritizing spiritual development

Establishing God as ultimate authority

Inflexible Bible based priorities and boundaries

Setting high but attainable expectations

Encouraging traditional values and character traits

Consistent discipling of each child

Influencing the choice of their children’s friends

Modeling and expecting spiritual practices every day

Aggressive management of social media

Encouraging participation in service to a local faith community

Consistency being the most important in these areas

Research shows that a person’s world view is usually established by the age of 13.

 

Current research shows us what 13-14 year olds believe today.

 

8% believe that the wealth they have is given to them by God for them to manage for His kingdom

 

10% believe there are moral truths

 

17% believe  success is defined as obedience to Christ

 

17% believe Jesus is only way to be forgiven of sin

 

18% believe the Bible to be their primary source of moral guidance

 

21% believe they will live eternally with God because they accepted Christ as their Savior

 

27% believe God is basis of all truth

 

70% say Satan does not exist

 

61% say Jesus sinned while on earth

 

12% read or study the Bible other than when at a church event

 

18% pray to God

 

20% intentionally thank, praise or worship God apart from Church events

 

There were more in the book yet this gives us a bleak picture of the average teen in America today.

 

 

The next group of statistics were taken by surveying parents who claimed to be Born Again Christians.  And these may answer the question of why youth are so far from a Biblical world view.

 

45% prioritize consistency

45% prioritize influencing friends

50% consider supervising social media as important

44% consider service to others as important

58% share their faith with their children

41% encourage participation in a church body

35% feel shaping a christian world view as important

 

When all was said and done only 11% of Born again Christian parents fit the profile of a parent raising spiritual champions.

 

The things parents ranked higher as priorities:

 

Academics, fun, a carefree lifestyle, life experiences, exercise and physical health

 

Disciple making only ranked at 23% importance

Only one third of parents have spiritual goals for their children and 23% think the spiritual development is up to the Church.

 

On that front, Barna warns you may want to know the following statistics.

 

A large nation wide survey among pastors of Christian churches showed that only 41% have a biblical world view and among children’s ministers it was only 21%.

 

Some views held by children’s ministers:

 

64% believe there is no absolute moral truth

 

53% accept reincarnation

 

56% accept sexual relations outside of marriage.

 

About half believe:

 

Jesus sinned while on earth

The Holy Spirit is not a living entity that affects lives

They would prefer socialism to capitalism

42% do not believe human life is sacred

54% say they are not certain they will live eternally with God when they die

 

So……………….

We are up against many oppositions to Christ and the teaching of the Bible.  We are bombarded everywhere with a secular world view and are told a Biblical world view is for the weak and ignorant.

 

What can we do as parents?

 

George Barna in his book,” Raising Spiritual Champions,” suggests getting to work on discipling our children despite what the world is doing.  It is a spiritual battle and we need to put on the armor of God and fight for our children.

 

Ephesians 6 :10 - 18

 

The belt of truth.   Accept the Word of God as truth.  Search for truth in all circumstances, every decision, and hold the Bible as the authority in the life of your family. And when God’s truth is revealed in the life of your family point it out to each other.

 

The breastplate of righteousness.   Obedience to God through his word must be our standard .  We must unapologetically hold our children to the standard of Christ.

 

Shoes of peace.    Conviction and confidence in the word of God , even if it goes against all that is around us brings us peace.  Peace with God.  Doing things God’s way brings peace in our lives as well avoiding all the chaos the worlds ways make.  Again, point out to your children when God’s ways brings about peace and when there are examples of the world’s ways bringing heartache.

 

Shield of faith.    Having faith in the Holy Spirit and Gods promises to transform us into the image of Christ develops the character of Christ in us.  It is transformed people who will help others experience transformation as well.

 

Helmet of salvation.    Knowing what Christ did for us compels us to draw a line in the sand and stand for His ways and HIs will

 

And Barna reminds us of the only offensive weapon  the sword of the spirit, the word of God.

Our guide and our love!

 

 

STUDY QUESTIONS

 

1.WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO WIN THE BATTLE FOR OUR CHILDREN’S SOULS?

 

2.Share the things that help you stay in the fight.

 

3. What are the things that challenge you the most?

 

Fear?

Comparison?

Looking foolish to the world?

Not having the strength?

Family members who oppose you?

 

4. What are the things that give you the most strength to keep fighting?

5. What would you like this group to study next?  To do? Suggestions are welcome for future studies.cp