— GEORGE BARNA
“ WE ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF IRREVERSIBLE DESTRUCTION.”
— GEORGE BARNA
Barna states,“ We are on the precipice of irreversible destruction.” 1 These numbers represent eternal implications for the next generation.
If we are to bring about lasting and effective change, we need to raise disciples who will stand firm in their faith and transform the four pillars of society: government, academia, media, and the church. Children or young adults who cannot articulate their faith confidently with conviction when faced with adversity become vulnerable to abandoning their faith when challenged. Aristotle reportedly said,“ Give me a child until the age of seven, and they will be mine the rest of their lives.” Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin, and Stalin also believed this. Unfortunately, this is why the devil has his eyes set on our children as his primary target.
One day, we will stand before the Lord and give an account for everything we have done in our lives, including how we helped to inform and educate the next generation to become effective disciples of Christ. Helping our children develop and maintain a biblical worldview is a mandate from God for all who raise children. Scripture leaves no ambiguity about this responsibility. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 commands:“ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up( NIV).” Throughout the Bible, we are instructed repeatedly to teach the next generation( Deut 4:9; 6:6-1; 6:6-7; 11:19; 32:46-47).
We also read this mandate in Psalm 78:5-7 for parents to teach God’ s ways“ so the next generation would know them... and they, in turn, would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God.” Ephesians 6:4 directs fathers specifically to“ bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” This repetitive command fully illustrates the importance God places upon those who are raising children. We are to do all we can to the best of our ability to transform our children’ s minds and hearts for Christ. We want to hear the words“ Well done, good and faithful servant...”( Matt. 25:21). Most importantly, we want to see our children sitting at the heavenly banquet table with us!
WHAT CAN WE DO TO INSTILL A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW? Dr. Josh Mulvihill wisely asks,“ Could it be that one reason young people are doctrinally ignorant, spiritually confused, and living with a syncretistic faith system is that we have reduced our teaching to the couple of dozen moralistic stories found in most children’ s Bibles? Our children need the soul-gripping, life-altering, meat-based, Jesus-centered teachings of God’ s Word.” 2
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