A LOST GENERATION

I have really wrestled with this article because I do not want to believe it is possible. This article is somewhat different than most that I write and in ways is a call to action to parents who do not want to see their kids and an entire generation end up in hell. Lately, God has really opened up my eyes to the lost millennial generation. Now I know there is always hope as long as there is air in our lungs and I do not want to sound defeated, but I fear the youth, the millennial generation, of the day does not have the wherewith all to be saved. Please let me back up. I am not talking about all millennials there are some raised by Christian parents and there are some who are not so plugged into the world and have a heart for God, but the majority statistically speaking eight out of ten millennials know not God and the disturbing part is they have no desire to know God. Again I know they can be saved, but for this to happen they (like us all) first must recognize their need for salvation, confess their sins, and then repent (about face or go the opposite direction), but I do not believe they have the social and mental ability to achieve these requirements for salvation. How can they? They have been so mesmerized (since their youth) with fantasy by the school system, TV, movies, games, entertainment, social media, parents, and even their peers that they do not have the spiritual discernment nor the ability to understand the basic concept of salvation. They have had their minds stuffed with fairies, pixies, vampires, wizards, witches, (since their youth, thank you Disney) to the point they really do not know reality when they hear it or see it. Bewitched, Star Wars, and Star Trek in the 70s and 80s, Harry Potter and the like now, and all of the trash on TV has stolen their spiritual discernment and understanding. Almost everything in their lives has been design to pull down the truth of the Gospel in their lives and blurred the lines between good and evil. Their lives are filled with distractions (things that give instant gratification, but have no real lasting meaning) and meaningless, unfulfilled relationships communicated through a hand held device. At best their character is selfish, self-seeking, and at worse is narcisstic and delusional. They have been given everything they have asked and more while not really having to work. Sadly indulgent parents have ruined this generation trying to be a friend (drinking and shopping buddies) with their children (not parents) and now they are lost. This all has a chilling and damming affect on our society. Take for example the swing in acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle in America, something God called an abomination, the millennial generation (Christian millennials too) have wholeheartedly embraced and why, because of the lack of Godly parenting and the garbage the millennials have been fed all of their lives. You can look at any social issue in America have it be abortion, environmental issues, social justice all the millennials have embraced them against what God’s word says and against what God would have happen in all the earth. Let us face it most parents have raised a generation of children that are lost and do not have the ability in God to know they are lost. You would think the church would be a place for them to find safety and a sound footing, but not so. Many churches today where millennials go are nothing more than an extension of discos, theaters, and lounges. In manner of preaching and worship (a watered down Gospel and a hip Jesus) in most churches where millennials attend have shifted to be like the world so that they can be cool and net them like fish, well what you use to win someone to Christ you have won them to that. We do not need to change the message nor do we need to change the delivery all we need to do is give them the truth of the cross with the power of God and God will take it from there. The so called, “Christian music” that most churches have where millennials go is nothing more than rock and roll heavy metal music. Just turn off the sound and you cannot tell the difference between the Christian band and the heavy metal bands from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Remember the duck. If it walks like a duck and looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck it is probably not a chicken. In Romans Paul give us a description of a person God would call a “reprobate.” “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:28-32) Now please notice their ungodly character resulted in their inability to make clear and concise judgments about life and situations in their lives, thus it affected their character and not knowing nor having the ability to correct their character they just drifted farther and farther away from God and He just let them go. This is proven out in the word “reprobate” (Strong’s #96; void of judgment, not standing the test, not approved, that which does not prove itself such as it ought, unfit, spurious). It was not the people were all of those evil things in verses 29-31, but because they were “void of judgment” and “not able to stand the test” “God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” And why? Because God was angry with them? No because “they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” They were not concerned about God, they were more concerned with the things of this world: what they will wear and eat, who they will have relationships with, what they will do to make a living. You know it is sad not to know the truth, but it twice as sad not to know you do not know the truth. This is the case with the millennials today, they care less about God and His word, they live for what they want and can get without much effort in their entitlement world. We must take back the mind of the millennial generation through prayer and by telling them the truth and the great danger they face if there will be any hope of their salvation. Many parents will face alienation from their kids, but we can rest in God knowing we did our part in telling our kids the truth. We must stand in defiance to the social progressive liberal way of life and stress the traditional principles of self-governance, hard work, family, and God. No more sugar coated sermons to get people to come to fill seats and offering plates. No more talking about a hip Jesus. No more programs ad nauseaium to keep the people too busy to spend time with the LORD. We MUST demand the churches we attend stop selling out for mammon (money), for numbers, and cease all of the entertainment based worship. Who cares how much money, how big, and how much power your church has in the community! Churches must get back to basics and stop offering all of the amenities of the world to lure people in, if the power of the Gospel does not do it at your church then maybe your church needs to go away. We MUST tell the millennials what they have been told by the world and even by some leaders and teachers in school (elementary, middle, high, and college) that they have been lied too all of their lives. We must tell them they are being conformed into the image of this world through social media and entertainment. Parents MUST stand up and not be a part of the “beautiful people, the kool crowd” and tell their kids no matter their reaction how much you love them and how much you want them to turn away from the world and all of its delusions and distractions. Yes the Bible does teach in the last days there will be a great falling away, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” (2 Thessalonians 2:3), but that is conditional based on people hearing the truth then making the choice to reject the truth being void of judgment. We as parents can choose to tell our kids the truth and then allow them to make up their own minds ever keeping the truth before them in word and lifestyle. In Proverbs we read, “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:25-27) We must allow our kids to ponder their ways, but it is our responsibility as a part of our reasonable service to God to teach them, “turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Even though our kids are grown and some have their own kids there hangs a plague (Daniel bought for us in Germany) over our (Karen and I) front door that reads, “as for me and my house we will serve the LORD” taken from Joshua 24:15, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) No matter how old our kids get and no matter how many kids they have our kids are still a part (not physically, but emotionally and spiritually) of our (Karen and I) home and we (Karen and I) have an obligation and duty (while alive and on earth) to train and teach our kids (as they do their own) the right way to walk on the highway of holiness. Oh we may not have been perfect in this and I promise you if you stand your God given ground you will face challenges from almost everyone who disagrees, even your kids, but that matters not. The spiritual order in God’s home is: God, father, mother, children and the accountability to God in order never changes. Today we as parents in America can either accept the possible truth that our kids are a part of the great falling away generation (and that may be the case but, I hope not) or they can stand up to the foolishness the world spins in their mind and heart and counter it with the truth of the word of God in love. And yes speaking the truth in love will hurt feelings (usually all concerned) and ruffle feathers, but that too should matter not. What matters is character over consideration for feelings. What matters is, we as Godly parents have done that which is right in the eyes of God to help ensure our kids and their friends are not a part of the lost millennial generation of today. Written by David Stahl