Call to Action

Last week, I wrote about attending a Christian concert and the behavior that was far from Christ-like that I observed.  I, also, wrote about my thoughts on why this is happening – relativism.  Truth has become relative. 

Society says we can decide what is true and what isn’t true now.  Society says we can decide what is okay to do and what isn’t okay!

Today, I am going to write about our call to action.  As a part of the body of Christ, we have a call to action.  I have a call to action as a middle school eGroup leader.  I have a call to action as a nanny of two young children.  I have a call to action as a leader in my church campus.  I have to do something about the way standards have changed.  If you are a member of your church, lead a small group for anyone between the ages of 13 and 30, if you have children, you have a call to action, too.  You must stand up and do something about what is happening to the younger generation.

What are we expected to do?

We must elevate our expectations.  You expect your children to do well in school, right?  You expect that they come home with A’s and B’s and will ask how they could improve a C or a D, right?  Some of you expect your children to excel in sports or a musical avenue.  They are signed up for a sport a season or attend piano lessons once a week.  You expect them to do well in those areas.  Why don’t we expect them to know more than the Sunday school basics?  We are able to articulate well in areas that we are effectively educated (p. 51). 

We must ground truth in reality.  We need to be sure that the youth is confident that our religious and moral claims are more than just opinion.  God exists is an objective claim.  Does your youth believe that? 

We must ask “Why” before they do.  We need to be more willing to ask questions.  We need to be ready to answer their questions.  How would you answer your youth if one came to you with a question you did not know the answer to?  It is okay to tell them that you don’t know.  Offer to find the answer with them.  This will open up tools to them to find answers on their own.  Honesty is refreshing.  They will be more willing to come to you again if you have answered them with such honesty the first time.  Doubts that are answered and overturned will strengthen your student’s trust in the truth and will fortify confidence in their convictions.

We must integrate character with truth.  After you have accepted Christ into your heart, the people around you are more likely to notice the change in your demeanor first.  If you tell your friends you are a Christian in the same breath that you tell them you are cheating on your husband, they are likely to not believe anything you say about Christianity.  Integrate character with truth.  Show your youth how to behave in a Christ-like manner.

We must create opportunities to engage in the Word with Truth.  Are you willing to bring in people from other religious backgrounds to your youth?  This will help them have more of a world view on religion.  They will have more of an understanding on Christianity and the differences in other religions.

Are you ready to go out and be a part of raising a generation in Christ?  Are you willing to be a part of changing the way the new generation thinks about Christianity?  Are you ready to go out and be the Christ-like example that your youth needs to see?  I know I am!

The majority of the content above is from Apologetics for a New Generation by Sean McDowell.