Do You Know What You Believe And Why?
A few days ago, I read the results from a study where teenagers were asked about their spiritual lives. Among the surprising findings, almost none of the Christian committed teenagers could “articulate the most basic beliefs of the faith.”(Stand To Reason, n.d.)1
Now granted, this is from an older study.
But, I can’t imagine it’s gotten any better when you consider the onslaughts against our faith and traditional family values in the news, among certain celebrities, and worse, being taught in some public schools.
Are your kids prepared to defend their faith?
Are you?
Do you know what you believe and why?
To these teens, religion was about being nice and enjoying a relationship with a God who mostly wanted them to be happy and feel good about themselves—which was, as it turned out, the very same religious view of their parents (emphasis added.) – Stand To Reason website.2
Let that sink in . . . “the very same religious view of their parents.”
Sadly, what this means is that many believers are woefully unprepared to contend earnestly for the faith.
In his letter, Jude warns of the spiritual battle between good and evil which spans the generations. His appeal is quite clear:
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints. – Jude 1:3, (NASB).3
Contending: Know What You Believe And Why
Human nature rebels against the notion of Sin. In today’s contentious world, anything goes and any sense of what’s right and moral has mostly vanished.
Even though we can expect pushback (sometimes violent) from a wicked world, we must contend for the essential truths of the gospel.
What we believe isn’t some kind of “faith du jour” teaching.
The Bible is the Word of God.
It is crucial to know what you believe and why.
The mockers of our christian faith are hoping you will stammer and look foolish.
As adults it may be easier for us to prepare for this.
But for the younger generation? Defending their faith is even more challenging.
Some Apologetics Tools for Parents
It’s best to prepare yourselves and your kids for the modern atheistic world.
- Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the right words to say when your faith is challenged.
- Role play with your family so that you can all respond respectfully, and with grace, to the hard questions that are sure to come. There are some important tips in this video for Christian parents.
- Search out Christian resources and apologetics websites for help. Here is one idea for your consideration on AFA.net, including a unique Christian speech writing contest for students.
Don’t think your kids need guidance for defending their faith?
Watch this . . .
In the Bible, Paul wanted a united, Philippian Church, to stand courageously together to share the good news, even while under persecution.
It’s a lesson for all of us today as well because experiencing the majesty and splendor of our triune God awaits the Faithful.
27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 and in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and this too, from God. 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me. – Philippians 1:27-30, (NASB).4
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1-2 From Christian Living | Contend Earnestly For The Faith (n.d.). Author Greg Koukl. Web. Accessed 16 March, 2023. Contend Earnestly reference.
3 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
4 Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
