I recently read an excellent article by a friend on “Preparing Christian Children for the Transgender Moment”. In it he very gracefully shows how he is preparing his kids for moments they will soon deal with. Without being prepared, they would either be swallowed up by the culture or find themselves conflicted by it. Many might think that article was written in the northeast or west coast, but it was not. My friend lives in Alabama. Even in the southeast, our kids are either soon to face or already have faced this issue.
Matters such as gender, race, and sexuality which are rapidly changing in our culture today are worldview issues. They are about our identity and what it means to be human. The Bible speaks to these extensively. We need to teach the truth of scripture to our kids before they embrace an unbiblical perspective without realizing it. The amazing reality is that there is great joy in God’s truth, whereas the world does not offer such hope. Consider just the following brief realities.
Teaching our kids that God created the world helps us show them our part in caring for the environment is to be stewards of the earth. (Gen 1:28) We can also reassure them that God will not let his creation destroy itself, alleviating what is known as climate anxiety. (Gen 8: 21-22) Our identity is found in being not only created by God but made in his image. (Gen 1:26-27) We were each uniquely made before we were born. (Ps 139:13-14) We are sinful by nature. (Eph 2) We are saved by grace through faith. (Eph 2:8-9) We are a new creation in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor 5:17) We are reconciled to God and to one another in Christ. (Eph 2) All of these have huge implications for the issues that are arising daily in the lives of our students! And I have only scratched the surface of what scripture teaches about the nature of humanity and the reality of God.
Researcher George Barna says that most people’s worldview is largely formed by age 13 after which we are merely building on what they already believe. This reality leads him to believe the first priority of the church needs to be its ministry to children. He specifically encourages an investment in discipling 7–12-year old’s to develop a Biblical worldview by the age of 13. The reality that only 4% of current teens and college students have a Biblical worldview, indicates we need a new course of action. What if we created strategies taking those aged 7-12 through an intentional five-year learning experience? The desired outcome would be that they could articulate the Christian faith as a plausible belief system. Confirmation would become a deeply meaningful experience and we would have young evangelists who choose to be confirmed.
Yet parents need to be the ones most invested in shaping our kids. Those of us who are parents, grandparents, and or ministry leaders can do research into the issues of the day and share what we are learning with those around us. There are great books and articles being written that are incredibly helpful. Some are specifically Christian, and others are not but are consistent with what we need to know and teach. Currently some are vanishing merely because they speak truth that is contrary to what is culturally correct. Some useful links are included at the end of this article.
The need for our churches and us as individuals to pray for younger generations has never been greater! They are on the front lines of a culture war. They are the least reached and most spiritually illiterate generation in the history of our country. Remember what happened after Joshua passed and the generation after. Judges 2:10 tells us… “And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.”
When we pray for others our hearts are moved and we want to know and interact with them. Praying for younger generations leads us to seek God’s intervention and opens up the reality that God will use us to shape those generations. What we pray for we care deeply about.
Lord, I pray that the truth that has been entrusted to us and the lessons we have learned will not be hidden from the next generation. Would you grant us every grace we need to make known to our children, even the children yet unborn, the path that leads to life?
Make us a generation of parents, grandparents, and church members who will teach them your ways and how to walk according to the truth, so that they might set their hope and confidence in you and not forget your good works.
May we be a generation who brings good news to each successive generation so that all may know your truth and the gospel of grace.
Resources to explore:
How Do I Have a Spiritual Conversation with My Teenager?
Preparing Christian Children for the Transgender Moment
Someone Will Catechize Your Kids in 2021. Don’t Outsource It.
What Does It Mean to Be Human? A Biblical Response
The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters
Biblical Insights on Intersectionality, Antiracism, Privilege, Fragility and more
The Book Amazon Does Not Want You to Read
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