The RenewaNation Review 2020 The Collingsworth Family Special Edition | Page 19

of our homes. Then there is social media! The constant ding
or buzz from our “smart” devices tells us there is another
text message, Facebook or Instagram post, or some other
notification that is calling for our attention, and we feel the
need to check it out right away. Most of what we take time
to look at is of little importance to real life.
The busyness of everyday life and the constant bombard-
ment of knowledge is proof that we are very self-involved.
In the end, we don’t know how to discern truth and how it
should guide our lives. I remember reading a quote in Jeff
Meyer’s book, Handoff, several years ago: “Young people
spend between twenty-seven and thirty-three hours per week
using communication technology. They are overwhelmed
with information. Information overload is destroying their
capacity for discernment. They are finding it increasingly
more difficult to determine what is really important.”
This isn’t something new to our society. It has been a
plague on our families and society for the past several
decades, but it has increased in its intensity in recent years.
In fact, Meyer’s book was written in 2008. We are now reap-
ing the consequences of not addressing these issues for
many years.
This brings me to the crisis facing today’s parents and
the education of their children. The article I was reading
stated that “Americans [parents] are so busy that they real-
ly don’t invest very much in trying to understand everything
that’s going on around them. In fact, they don’t invest much
at all in trying to discern truth.” Pay careful attention to what
Barna said: “The focus in America right now is on experienc-
ing happiness rather than identifying and living in accordance
with truth. So there’s a completely different plan that we’re
pursuing than what God intended for us.”
3. FAMILIES ARE BIBLICALLY ILLITERATE
Many young families do not know what the Bible teach-
es on basic subjects and struggle to teach their children
a biblical view of life. Since people are more interested in
experience and personal connections, they do not desire
to pursue justice and righteousness. The research
shows that Americans are biblically illiterate and
are not that interested in gaining a biblical
perspective on life. This is especially true for
younger generations. Barna talked specif-
ically about the characteristics of the
millennial generation. This is the gener-
ation of young adults that were born
between 1981 and 1996. It is important
to note that millennials range in age
from 24 to 39 years old today.
Barna’s studies show that a bibli-
cal worldview is disappearing from the
American landscape. He reported that only ten percent of
Americans actually possess a biblical worldview. This is
despite the fact that seven out of ten Americans still iden-
tify themselves as Christian. The percentage of adults who
possess a biblical worldview is on the decline when looked at
from one generation to another. It is estimated that only one
out of every 25 millennials have a biblical worldview. These
statistics are important because one does what one believes!
COMMIT TO EQUIPPING FAMILIES
TO TEACH WORLDVIEW AT HOME
Millennials are today’s primary parenting generation, and
this does not bode well for future generations. If we hope
to see children and youth develop a biblical worldview and
change the direction we are going, we have to ask ourselves,
where will they get a biblical worldview? If only four percent
of the primary parenting generation has a biblical world-
view, their children have little chance of developing one on
their own. Barna put it this way: “You can’t give what you
don’t have, and most of them [millennials] don’t have that
kind of worldview to give.”
Dr. Tony Evans emphasized this truth in his series on
Raising Kingdom Kids: “Parents are to transfer a theocentric,
God-centered worldview; that’s why He said raise them in the
Lord. Let the glasses that they wear, we call that a worldview, a
lens through which you view life, be constructed by the parents
as they have gotten it from the Lord. But if parents haven’t
gotten anything, they can’t give anything. We are to transfer
to them what we have gotten from the Lord.”
If parents don’t have a biblical worldview, then they
cannot give it to their children. Millennials are not just the
primary parenting generation today but soon will be the
primary teaching generation in Christian schools. There is
no question we are facing a parent crisis. We must include
the home in our worldview strategy if we hope to turn the
ship around. ■
Editor’s Note: If you would like to learn more from Dr.
Schultz, please go to renewanation.org/store and purchase
his book Kingdom Education: God’s Plan for Educat-
ing Future Generations or visit his website at kingdom
educationministries.com.
Dr. Glen Schultz has given his life to educating future generations according to God’s plan.
After five years in public education, he entered the field of Christian education, where he
has been a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. He has directed the Christian
school work at LifeWay Christian Resources, served as the Association of Christian Schools
International Southeast Regional Director, Superintendent of Liberty Christian Academy
in Lynchburg, Virginia, and Headmaster of Sherwood Christian Academy. Currently, Dr.
Schultz serves as founder and director of Kingdom Education Ministries. He is the author
of Kingdom Education: God’s Plan for Educating Future Generations and several parenting
booklets. Glen and his wife, Sharon, have three children and six grandchildren and live in
Summerville, SC. He is a member of the Renewanation Board of Directors.
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