What does Obergefell predict about the next
generation, its culture, and its spirituality? Parents who hold biblical
Christian values are mistaken if they passively approach the times and the
impact today’s culture has on their children. Like the fifteenth century
Pilgrims who left the Netherlands for fear that the worldly culture would
influence their children, parents today would do well to seek refuge for their
children. As the landscape in America evolves, serious questions need to be
asked, and deliberate solutions need to be prepared.
How will our children
learn morality? How will they know if what they view on the on the street,
in a television commercial, or in a social media post aligns itself with
biblical morality? For that matter, why will they even care? Will morality be a
concern for them, or will they view unrestrained lifestyles with apathy? Why
should they care? Will there be any model before them to demonstrate the
benefits of holiness, morality, and compassion? Will they believe that truth is
worth fighting for having viewed courage and determination in the life of one
worth emulating?
Parents would be amiss
to leave all of the concern, praying, and fighting at the doorsteps of pastors,
administrators of religious institutions, and non-profit leaders. Certainly,
we are concerned about threats of persecution such as a loss of tax-exemption
status for churches and religious institutions; broader applications of
“hate-crime speech;” and endless litigation. But persecution has never spiritually
ruined a generation; it merely makes one’s pilgrimage less comfortable. More
than likely, persecution would separate the tares from the wheat (Matt. 13:26),
embolden more believers (Phil. 1:12-14), and make one’s relationship with the
Shepherd even closer (Ps. 23:4). Yes, persecution is a concern, but the next
generation should be a greater concern.
How will our children
learn truth? How will they know what morals will guide them to live a
peaceful life, enjoy a happy marriage, and build a prosperous nation? How will
they know the truth about American history, the journey we’ve taken, and what
the future predicts? If God provides another Moses (or several of them) to lead
the people out of bondage, how will they recognize him? Will they be able to
discern the difference between truth and emotional ideals? Will a hunger and
thirst for righteousness be so developed that they reject a hard-hearted
Pharaoh and the pleasures of Egypt in order to follow God’s path to the
Promised Land?
The need for biblical
training has emerged like never before as a necessity for the next generation.
Our children need to see morality elevated to the highest level of importance. Truth
will be important to them if teaching it becomes important to their parents.
They also need moral examples and training at school, not just at church and
home. They need to learn the facts of history, unabridged and without revision.
Then they need to learn how history reveals the consequences of men’s actions,
both good and bad. We cannot expect the next generation to accept morality and
biblical truth as a conviction if deliberate training has not been planned.
Neither can we expect them to have the boldness and competency to
intellectually defend the faith if they have not been trained.
Our nation was not founded by passive cable news junkies who
theorized about the way things ought to be. Our founders took action –
decisive, moral, and prudent. The next generation needs us to be resourceful,
courageous, and deliberate about carving a path for their future. Let’s get
busy, and go in a spirit of prayer.
