THIS LOST GENERATION

George Barna reported today that only 9% of Americans surveyed hold a Biblical Worldview. He defined a "Biblical Worldview" as holding these basic convictions:

1. Believing that absolute moral truth exists.

2. The Bible is totally accurate in the principles it teaches.

3. Satan is a real being or force, not merely symbolic.

4. A person cannot earn their way to heaven by trying to be good or doing good works.

5. Jesus lived a sinless life.

6. God is the all-knowing, all powerful creator of the world who

still rules the universe today.

BUT WHAT IS MOST ALARMING IN THE RESEARCH FINDINGS WAS THAT LESS THAN 1% OF YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 18-23 HELD A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW.

This study, and other polling data suggest that while the overwhelming majority of teens have at least some experience in Evangelical ministries, by the time these young people reach their 20's fewer than 20% attend Evangelical churches!

WHY ARE THEY REJECTING OUR BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW AND DROPPING OUT OF CHURCH?

1. They have not been born-again. They have not truly tasted and seen that the Lord is good.

2. They have been programmed by secular educators and godless media to be skeptical of Christianity and to view the Bible as unreliable and unrealistic. Young people have not even heard the Christian perspective and sound Biblical teaching.

3. Too often they have seen inconsistencies in the lives of those who confess Christ. This is not to say that Christians will never mess up, but it is to say that if they do--repentance, confession, and consistent Christian living must be exampled. Authenticity is vital.

4. Too many churches have tried "Night-Club" methods to achieve Spiritual results. Unless there is a clear delineation between the world and the church, the church will be impotent and ineffective. The Church can never, and will never out-world the world.

5. Too many Christians are too lazy, apathetic, or afraid of getting involved in reaching out to the younger generation. Spectator Christianity cannot win against the onslaught of the enemy.

6. We have failed to challenge young people to "deny themselves, take up the cross, and follow Christ!" Until we give them something worth dying for, they will not invest their lives in the cause of Christ.

The battle for our nation's young people can only be won by New Testament methods! Those were the methods that transformed the ancient world, and only those same methods will transform ours.