I am wondering how many Christian kids could answer the question asked by a non-believing friend; “What makes Christianity different than any other religion? Why should I believe that the Bible is Gods’ book or in Jesus is God?”

Over summer vacation several of the books I read dealt with real cultural influences that have deceived a large number of followers of Jesus. The one I want to mention, “Already Gone” by Ken Ham and Britt Beemer, looks at why your kids will quit church and what you can do to stop it. This must read is a well done survey on why kids from solid Bible believing churches walk away from their faith. As I was reading this book I was reminded of what the Apostle Peter recorded in his first epistle, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter 3:15 NIV.

While there is a ton of practical truth in this verse, I want to focus in on one area this week. It is the phrase, ”Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone.” Now stop and take a moment to reread that phrase slowly. The force of what Peter writes reinforces your need to be prepared to share your faith with others. What Ham and Beemer so powerfully communicate is that our kids are unprepared to defend their faith and as a result they are being swept away. What is more startling is that out of the 1000 kids surveyed only 11% walked away in college. Their survey revealed 40% began to doubt in Middle School and 43% in High School. If their assessment is correct, that means that we are loosing our kids while they are in church and living at home! They go on to make some other incredible observations about how we are failing to prepare our children to live in a post Christian culture. The main emphasis is addressed by the apostle Peter, the need to be prepared to defend their faith.

Let’s face it; it is more challenging to live for Christ in our culture today then when you were growing up. I would suggest that it is more difficult for kid’s today then for any recent generation. Not only have the issues like sexual immorality and alternative lifestyle become the norm, kids today also must battle tremendous temptations and cultural struggles at ages you never did.

While we need to protect our kids from these influences, we also need to prepare them to “give an answer for the hope that lies within them.” This is called apologetics, the study of how to defend the Christian faith. This was brought home to me this past week as we dropped our oldest child off at Washington State University. While I was sitting through an orientation for parents, I was reminded at the cultural conditioning that is happening all around us to adopt the culture’s values.

So what is the solution? While there are no guarantees, I would suggest two primary paths of action. First, is for you to live to the standard. If your life does not sell your kids on the necessity and viability of Christianity, why should they listen to anyone else?

Second, there are many ways to help your kids be prepared to address cultural issues. Don’t be afraid to discuss the issues before they become issues. Then be prepared to walk them through them. Your kids deserve more than a “no.” Help them to understand the moral reason why. You should also make solid age appropriate books and materials available to them.

This generation of kids needs to be more prepared apologetically prepared then any previous generation for the last 80 years! They will make it with our help!

-Pastor Joe Parkinson