by Dr. Del Tackett It was a simple question, to a typical teen.
"What is God like?
With a skyward look, she said "um, good...powerful...tall."
When pressed to explain why God was good, she responded: "well...I have a house...the Internet...and cable."1
Interesting.
For this student, and unfortunately, for many of us, God is good because He provides me with the things I want, He fixes them when they break and, every once in a while when I need some advice, He politely listens.
Her answer hinted at the theological underpinnings of today's teens. They express a belief in God, but they can't describe who He is or why they believe in Him. Nor can they articulate the object of their "faith." In essence, their "god" ends up being someone who is somewhere between Alladin's genie or school counselor; someone to help you when things get messy.
A recent study by sociologists Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton supports this theory. Their research concluded that our teenagers have bought a worldview that Smith and Denton label "moralistic, therapeutic, deism."2 In simpler terms, teens have a sense of right and wrong, they believe God can help out in times of crisis, but ultimately believe that God is somewhat distant, disinterested and unconcerned with their daily life.
However, within the context of this theological vacuum there is hope. A second teen study yielded this astonishing fact: the single most important thing teenagers want from their parents is not all the material stuff we shower on them, but a deep, meaningful perspective of life that teaches them how to make sense of their world!3 Amazing! Their greatest need from us is a comprehensive worldview.
But here lies the problem. We cannot give them what we ourselves do not possess.
This is exactly why we are launching Focus on the Family's The Truth Project. We believe God will use this ministry to impact the hearts and minds of a generation of believers all over the world. I have witnessed its impact first-hand in the lives of my seminary students and the students with us here at the Focus on the Family Institute. There is a deep transformation that occurs when we come face to face with God and His truth claims.
Our vision is to provide this same transformational opportunity within the Body of Christ through The Truth Project. We are also convinced that transformation does not happen overnight; it requires a sustained effort in the context of authentic community, such as what a small group affords.
Therefore, we have created a 12-week, Christian worldview home study program, that is DVD-based (so the host need not have a mastery of the material). The host need only to have a heart for seeing lives changed by God, open up their home for study, learn how to operate their DVD, lead a short discussion time, and pray diligently that God will do His work in the lives of their guests.
We will qualify the initial facilitators through a short training conference conducted around the country this spring and summer. Attendees will experience the content first-hand, learn how to facilitate The Truth Project and receive the set of DVDs in preparation for leading a home study.
Currently, we have scheduled four training conferences, with more planned this fall. Please visit our Web site for dates and locations.
Let me ask you to pray with us that God will bless the vision He has set before us, that we may see a deep revival among His people in this nation and around the world.
I hope to see each of you at one of our upcoming training conferences.
Abba, may it be so!
Dr. Del Tackett
1 Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers. Christian Smith & Melinda Lundquist Denton
2 Ibid.
3 Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers. Chap Clark
Copyright © 2006 Focus on the Family
