by Mike Riddle
Two statistics that should concern every pastor is that less than 5% of Christian youth have a biblical worldview and over 60% are leaving the church. Contributing to this problem is that we are allowing Hollywood to define what love, sex, marriage, and even gender, should be. In addition, the secular school system has defined what to believe about origins and is promoting it as fact. Even worse, most churches and Christian universities lack a plan to counter this teaching. They seem to be unaware, unconcerned, or have already compromised about the war being waged.
We are losing the spiritual battle while the church remains comfortable with the status quo. Without a unified plan to win the battle for the next generation, our churches and Christian universities will continue to lose the hearts and minds of our youth and cease to be a factor in shaping society. The Bible does not allow for apathy and compromise.
The church needs leaders who have the courage to teach the Word of God and not man’s wisdom. The church needs leaders who will honor God’s Word and not re-write it. The church needs leaders with the commitment to stand firm when ridiculed by the world and train up a new generation of Bible-believing leaders (2 Timothy 2:2).
While church growth or using social media to reach thousands, adding more Sunday school classes, or attending conferences may be good, they are not the solution. The answer is also not in the accumulation of knowledge, but in the application of that knowledge (James 1:22). What is needed is education that makes true disciples of Jesus Christ. We need trained leaders who are sanctified by God’s Word, who have a biblical worldview, and who are unashamed to share and defend their faith and stand firm under the pressures of the world. We need Christians, especially teachers and apologists, who are not ashamed of the first chapter of the Bible who can teach the next generation biblical creation and apologetics. It is imperative that we turn back to trusting God’s Word and stop trying to reinvent it with “new revealed knowledge” like the gap theory, the day-age theory, and the framework hypothesis. If students are taught not to believe what the first chapter of the Bible clearly proclaims, we leave the door wide open for compromise elsewhere.
Consider supporting a ministry whose mission is:
To equip Christians worldwide to be effective teachers and speakers about biblical creation and apologetics, so that, the next generation can be trained to stand firm on biblical truth and defend their faith.
Our 5-year plan starting in 2021 is to begin certifying Christians to be speakers, teachers, and apologists. To learn more about this education initiative contact CTI at:
[email protected]
or call (859) 250-7987
We cannot achieve this goal without your support. Join us in winning the battle for the next generation.
Mike Riddle, President of Creation Training Initiative
