I understand that every generation contains its own set of unique difficulties, "history-in-the-making" events, and trying challenges.
However, there is something distinctively and radically hard about this era in time.
In addition, there is something distinctively and radically hard about growing up in this era.
The childhood, adolescent, and young adult years of one's life are scientifically proven to form/aid in forming one's views for the rest of his or her life (honestly, this is just plain logic). What we observe taking place around us helps us create expectations for what will occur in the future-- also helping us create our own worldview.
Therefore, imagine what it might feel like when a young person attempting to form a worldview is bombarded by the following:
The transgender boom-- thank you, "Caitlyn."
The legalization of abortion and videos surfacing the internet of a woman referencing the selling of unborn baby body parts.
The Supreme Court decision for the national legalization of gay marriage.
Open pornographic and sexually-explicit images (truly, you do not even have to look to find them anymore).
The shooting of blacks in a Southern church.
The removal of the Confederate flag.
Baltimore riots.
Boston bombings.
The removal of the Ten Commandments from public schools.
Oh indeed, it most certainly IS quite the time to be alive. I see young people everywhere struggling to find their place in life, as well as their own stance on today's "hot topics." "Should I support gay rights? Are people really born gay? How should I feel about Caitlyn? What about gun control? Should women have the right to abort their unborn children?"
Today's kids are being pressured to either pick their side or sit out of the game.
Why?
Because we are the future generation.
And if "they" can get their hands on us, you bet they will. Because we are the link to their success...the link to their "empire." So they teach our kindergarteners that they can have two mommies or two daddies. They educate our fifth graders on oral and anal sex. They teach us to wear as little clothing as possible, curse adults because "who needs respect," and believe in ourselves for empowerment.
We are surrounded by screens. Twitter vies for agreement in the form of retweets, Instagram pleads for perfection, Facebook begs us to boast, and we end up exhausted, confused, and overloaded by a million perspectives.
Today's young people of the faith must be stronger than ever before. What is seen now will only get worse. This generation will be raising its children in who-knows-what, as we are currently thinking about how to stand firm in the Gospel. It is likely that I will not be able to speak the name of Jesus in my workplace not long from now.
Please pray for the young adults of the church who are feeling the weight of a generational pull to secularism. We are a direct target-not unlike you-however, crudely speaking, "we have more potential." My generation appears impressionable and full of opportunity with years ahead to spread what is this world. Please take us under your wing, as we truly do long for your wisdom and strength reaped from your own generational challenges. Teach us to fight for Christ. Support us in our education and careers. Believe in our dreams for the future, because they are alive, and we are effective and capable. Do not underestimate our power and determination. Instruct us in the ways of Christ as we seek Him through prayer and Scripture. PRAY for us to be strong and courageous. We need those of older generations to keep us firm and fired up and full of wisdom.
I believe there is a revival on the horizon. I am lined up shoulder-to-shoulder with young men and women ready and willing to fight for what we believe in. Future doctors and nurses and authors and lawyers and teachers and athletes and artists and moms and dads training to get in this world and WORK for the spread of the Gospel. We are not null and we know what we are getting into.
Thank you for loving us so well. Even if we do not express our gratefulness clearly or frequently enough, I say that we could not do it without you.
For more information about those growing up in the 21st Century, check out the following resources:
Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12
