I struggled whether or not I should give this attention, but if any of you are Christians, and have preteens, or teens, you may be interested in this; for the rest of us, a warning to know what our children believe …
The other night I was reading my email and a friend of mine had forwarded me an ABC article about The Blasphemy Challenge. Basically, an atheist has challenged other atheists to create a video clip for YouTube proclaiming their lack of faith, that there is no God, thus committing the ultimate sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (according to Mark 3:29), and proving that they are not afraid of the consequences because they do not believe that there is a God to punish them. Interestingly, while he did say to denounce the existence of god, as in no Mohammed, no Buddha, no Hindu gods, He specifically is going after the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. He offers a free DVD to anyone who uses the exact line “I deny the Holy Spirit.”
He was raised in the Catholic church, burned by religion and has decided to go after God.He is marketing especially to teens, placing advertisements in teen websites and magazines, saying things such as “You are being fed a line of crap from your parents, made to go to church when you do not need to be there.” Ok, tell me, is he trying to convince the children of Christian parents? Sounds like it to me. And why not? According to Josh McDowell’s book “The Last Christian Generation,” among churched youth:
- 63% don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of the one true God.
- 51% don’t believe that Jesus rose from the dead.
- 68% don’t believe that the Holy Spirit is a real entity.
- It has been estimated that between 69% and 94% of churched youth are leaving the traditional church after high school, and very few are returning.
- Only 33% of churched youth have said that the church will play a part in their lives when they leave home.
I became angry, just as I would if anyone I loved was attacked. It broke my heart. However I became even more angry when I began reading how “Christians” were sending death threats, and saying 4 letter words and very “non-Christian” things to him. Here I must say to them, shame on you! Jesus said to be angry and sin not. He also said if you have hated, you have already committed murder in your heart. Through Salvation we are born again, a new DNA, a new life. You are saved by a grace that you refuse to extend to them? How can you blame a sinner for having a sin nature? Why would you think that this could, or would, change their attitudes towards Christianity? And if you do not think that it will, then what is the point other than to vent your own anger?
As I sat watching teens and adults alike deny Christ (Holy Spirit), I cried for them. (One was a preacher’s kid from Marietta, Ga and he touched me the most. I have known what it is to see hypocrisy and religion as a preacher’s kid, yet it is the relationship with Jesus Christ, not the religious tradition of men, that has saved me.) I cried because if someone does not find a way to reach them, the truth is that they will spend eternity in hell. I do not say this out of hate, but out of love. If someone was doing drugs, in a gang, etc., wouldn’t you want to warn them of the danger, of the pain they would suffer? This is my heart.
I prayed, and dreamed, and cried to God, is there anything I can do to make a difference in something like this? Some have made videos proclaiming their faith. This is not bad, but what are you doing really? They have heard the religious “stuff” before. If they are looking for anything, it is for someone to tell them something different than what they have already heard. And yet, I do not think they are searching; they have already made up their minds. But what about those that have not? Young adults, teens, and adults, that they are “evangelizing” through commercials and ads. “Order our video ‘The God Who Was Not There’ and we will prove God does not exist.” These have not made up their minds; they are questioning, asking for answers. But, doesn’t there need to be an alternative? An alternative to religion, including atheism?
Atheism is just another belief system. It takes faith to believe there is no God. It takes MORE faith to believe there is no God, than that there is a God. That all of the perfection of the world, the dynamics of gravity, nature, plants that produce oxygen for humans and mammals to survive. The earth the perfect degree in the right place from the sun that life is even able to be sustained (one degree to the sun we burn, one degree away from the sun we freeze), the intricate details of the human body, the way we beautifully reproduce, and a microscopic piece of nothing becomes a living, breathing being, with electrical systems, organs, and emotions, individual thoughts, unique finger prints, never duplicated or recreated, all of this was not divinely inspired?
If evolution and big bang is real, who caused the big bang? And how did the meteors, atoms, and other components of the big bang come together in the right place to begin the process of life, and how did they come to be an atom or meteor? How does one say it is impossible to believe in a Creator that has no beginning or end, and yet they believe space has no beginning or end? Have you ever been to space? How do you know it is real, how do you know it doesn’t end? Because someone told you? Who told you, and who told them? This particular group of atheists say we are not rational because of our belief in God. To me it is not rational to believe there is no supreme being.
I have an idea, one that I am still trying to work out the details to. But I would like to hear your response to this. I would like to know how you feel about the fact that our children are being targeted to deny Christ? Have we done enough to teach our children of the love, and the fear of the Lord? Statistics say that out of all the young teens in your church, more than half probably do not believe that Jesus even rose from the dead! And this is a foundation to Christianity; without it He really is just another “good man.”
Hi Angel,
In an ever increasing hold, Satan continues to raise every tactic and tool. At some point you realize you cannot keep the world and influence from your kids anymore than you can give your child a testimony of Christ. All we can do is strengthen the fortress of our homes against the evil tides that will rage all about us and be an influence for good. We can teach, love and show by example. We can help our children plant the seed of desire to want to know for themselves and then show them the way to finding their own answers. Whenever I get a little down, I remember that He has already won the victory and He is on my side. He sent these special spirits to me in a time when they are needed. They are as strong as the times that they live in and we have been trusted stewards of them to teach and guide them in the way of truth. I think the saddest failure is to not realize we teach most when we don’t realize we’re teaching. You cannot force things of the spirit, to try is to give hand to the power of force which is not of God. Sometimes kids push back because they have felt forced and they feel a need to declare war to gain their independence. Other times they have not been taught the true principle of cause & effect, under the incorrect assumption that they can choose consequences and not just decisions. But at the heart of this concern is motherhood and believe me, Satan knows full well that the power of the hand that rocks the cradle. If he can get mothers in Zion to fear and falter he knows he can make a damaging blow. I have days, moments and times when I feel grave concern. I think it’s a good tool that can help us remain grounded and convicted in our beliefs and efforts, but it is not the driving force. We’re on the Lord’s side and He is with us.
Hugs,
Holly
Holly’s Corner
I wish I were intellectual enough to talk to him, but as Ben pointed out faith is not something intellect, or science, can either prove or disprove. It is hidden in the heart. Another great point my dad made was, science is ever changing, discovering new things everyday. Science has yet to catch up to the knowledge of God’s existence, thus faith meets what science can not answer.
I once watched an episode of “Friends” where Ross tried to convince Phoebe scientifically that God did not exist. I loved what she said. Fifty years ago science said an atom was the smallest particle, then you opened it up and all this crap fell out. So science obviously doesn’t know everything! Do you think there is an inkling of a chance that science just simply does not have all the evidence known to prove God’s existence. “Uh-Duh, Uh-Duh, Uh-Duh, Uh-Duh” I think was his response.
I am fascinated by this topic, actually! It astounds me that anyone can live with any sense of purpose, destiny, or hope, if you do not believe there is anything significant out there. Some bigger purpose to all that goes on in this world, ya know?
I actually respond to the “Blasphemy Challenge” at a blogsite: http://blasphemychallenge.blogspot.com
Angel, as christians we have to “prepare” (and I stress on prepare) our children because the world is getting more vile and more wicked by the second. And, nothing should shock us anymore because we know the enemy plan is to try to destory and kill has many souls as he can. However, our job as christians to press on and to be sober and aware at all times to prepare our children for what is to come. I believe that as parents if we “strive” (stress on strive) to live a life for Jesus our Christ that they too will not resist but come to understanding of who we serve. Just like John Bevere states that we have to show and tell our children that they will know them by their fruits. We have to rise up and be the example for other christians who have not quite got it right as well. And, prayer. PRAYER!! PRAYER!! That is all I can say.
Angel, you know that teens are a heartbeat of mine! I was that teen lost and looking and could have fallen for a site like this one, but thank God (literally) I found Jesus and all that I was looking for – love, acceptance, happiness, life, everything I dreamed about – I found in Jesus. I am passionate about teens knowing Christ. I need to start my web site for them soon! Lord, bring everything we need to reach the youth! We need an alternative Christian Music station in ATL!!! I’d love to hear your idea and help anyway I can.
This really saddened me, too. What do we do? I’m raising my kids to be vocal for Christ. They need to be leaders because their generation is in need of Christian leaders. I pray that my children will be evangelists, missionaries, leaders, and Godly wives supporting their husbands in minitries.
Angel,
My son’s 4th grade teacher claims she is an atheist. She was raised in a Christian home, her mother is a Methodist minister. Yesterday after a school function we were having coffee and my son and another boy were looking at a book that made some outrageous claim about finding the source of how the world came into being. After she confirmed about a vertebrae that was found on a mountain in a remote location (she knew but I can’t remember where now) and how it was “proven” to be the first human etc etc etc. (She also is highly intelligent). I was so taken aback. Later I explained to my 10 year old how there will be many opinions but we believe God created the heaven and earth, etc. I had previously purchased info at a Christian bookstore just for this moment to arm him (and myself) for this possible battle. I welcome your and other’s input. Thanks!
Science is a study of what is already there, it is not an absolute. It is ever changing, ever growing. Several hundred years ago, science said the earth was flat. Fifty years ago science said that the atom was the smallest particle, now we know there is a smaller one, the nuclei (found in the atom) So science can not absolutely prove or disprove God, it can only discover what is already there. What I would tell him is what science has not yet proven, faith does.
However, if necessary, here is a little “scientific fact”. In the scripture, thousands of years before modern science, God told Abraham to circumcise on the eighth day, not one day before. He did so by FAITH! Thousands of years later science has discovered that before the eighth day a child has no vitamin K in his/her body. On the eighth day there is a surge of Vitamin K released. (This day a child has the MOST vitamin K in their body) Vitamin K is part of our body’s clotting agent, without it the child would bleed to death! Now, before Dr.’s circumcise an infant they give them a shot of Vitamin K.
This is only one of many examples, The whole book of Leviticus, the not eating of swine or shellfish (science now knows it is because swine have parasites that will kill you, we have to cook pork at a certain temp. to kill them. They did not have the capabilities to prepare it properly then) the preparation of foods, the washing of hands. (Hebrews had to wash their hands like surgeons do, under the fingernails and up to the elbows, now we know it is because of GERMS, but old testament Hebrews did not know that, GOD did!)
This is proof that science is WAY behind God, so proving Him will probably not happen. He wants you to come by FAITH.
Jesus said “greater is He who has not seen and believed, than he who has!”
“Thinking themselves wise, they became fools” . (Romans 1:22)
“The fool says in his heart “there is no God” (Psalms 14:1)
“The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel [is] wise.” (Proverbs 12:15)