The RenewaNation Review 2017 Volume 9 Issue 2 | Page 25

  I believe Christians first need to take a hard look at how we got here, and then carefully consider the solutions from God’s Word. We serve a powerful God who has given us everything we need if we will trust in His Word and the unchanging power of the Holy Spirit. How Did We Get Here? How did we get here? In 2014, Answers in Genesis commis- sioned America’s Research Group to find some answers (see graph below). The researchers found that most churchgo- ers—of all ages—believe God’s Word is “inspired.” On the surface, this sounds positive, but when the interviewers probed deeper, they found several serious problems. Worst of all, they found that many of these churchgoers, especially the younger ones, believe the Bible contains errors.   I believe this is a huge warning sign to the church. When a generation no longer builds its worldview on the foundation of the absolute authority of God’s Word, the new generation begins to question everything it says, including its moral- ity. Then they do what is “right” in their own eyes (Judg 17:6, 21:25). Eventually, we reach a tipping point, a twisted perspective where, like Israel, we “call evil good, and good evil” (Isa 5:20).   The ARG study asked where these younger Christians believe the Bible has errors. The most common answer was the age of the earth (37%)! This group of Christians also believe science has disproved Genesis and that the Flood did not occur during Noah’s day. In other words, origins was a major issue among those who believe the Bible has errors.   Doubting Genesis has had horrendous consequences. It should come as no surprise that as generations are trained to disbelieve the Bible’s account of origins, they also increas- ingly doubt the rest of the Bible. That’s a part of the greater satanic strategy that had its origin in the Garden of Eden. All biblical doctrines (including marriage) are founded (directly or indirectly) in the history found in Genesis 1–11. We see the direct result of this doubt and compromise reflected in the increasing acceptance of same-sex “marriage,” abortion, and so on.   As the newest ARG research reveals, at the heart of what’s wrong with our churches is a failure to accept and teach clearly what the Bible reveals about the age of the earth. It is the big “elephant in the room” that most Christian leaders refuse to acknowledge. Or worse, they endorse compromise by accepting the evolutionary idea of millions of years. What do the twentysomethings in church really believe? Imagine if you could open a window and look into the future to see where the American church will be. In late 2014, America’s Research Group conducted extensive phone interviews with the younger generations in US churches to see what they really think. 1 They found some troubling views. 65% believe you will go to heaven if you are a good person. Age Differences: When ARG compared churchgoers on moral issues, it became clear just how much the secular culture has infiltrated the church. churchgoers    in their 40s churchgoers    in their 20s 43% do not consider themselves born again. 67 % 50% do not believe the earth is young. 56 % BELIEVE HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR IS A SIN 23% believe God used evolution to change one kind of animal to another kind. 66 % 58 % BELIEVE PREMARITAL SEX IS WRONG 19% believe humans evolved from ape- like ancestors. 58 % 49 % BELIEVE ABORTIONS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL IN MOST INSTANCES 25