didn’t ask how much of this influence was biblical. I expect-
ed them to say this influence was 50% secular and 50%
Christian or possibly a 40% to 60% ratio between secular
and Christian influence. They were adamant the media’s and
the school’s influence was 100% secular. My next step was
to total the influence teens were receiving from these four
different sources. The results were very revealing.
The average teen in these churches received between three
to six hours of biblical instruction each week from the home
and church. The average teen in these churches received
between 60-72 hours of secular influence each week from
the media and the school.
THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO THINK THAT WAY
After receiving the answers to my questions, I announced to
the group I was ready and able to answer the question: Why
do teenagers think the way they do? Your teenagers think
the way they do because they have been taught to think
that way! A solemn silence fell across the room that seemed
to last for several minutes. I waited for someone to respond.
Then I saw one pastor raise his hand and with tears cours-
ing down his cheeks said, “I am afraid you are absolutely
right!” Then another pastor quietly asked, “What can we do
to change this?” I saw many heads nod in agreement. These
church leaders knew something had to change immediately
or they would continue to lose their students to the world.
Quite a few years have passed since that conference, and
I have asked myself many times: “Have things gotten any
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better in our churches?” Unfortunately, what those church
leaders described over 15 years ago hasn’t improved. Instead,
it may be even worse today.
The influence of the church and home has not increased
and may have actually decreased over the past decade. The
influence on today’s teenager from the media and school is
still close to 100% secular in nature.
Recent studies show today’s youth have absorbed some
additional ways of thinking that only add to the dangerous
conditions I heard about at that conference. Some of these
ideas are:
• My purpose in life is to be happy
• I’m not worth anything unless I’m beautiful
• My life can’t be complete without ________
• Don’t judge—just coexist, and be tolerant
• Be true to yourself, and follow your heart
Do you see the young people you serve each day exhib-
iting the type of thinking mentioned above? Are there
other things you are observing in their lives that cause
you concern?
A REACTION I DIDN’T EXPECT
The church leaders at that conference understood the seri-
ous condition their church families were in, and they were
desperately asking for help. I presented a plan of action I
believed would change the way their teens were thinking. It
started with the need for parents to take control of how their