John Piper on the Importance of Teaching Doctrine to Teenagers
In my last post, I mentioned new research by Mark Regnerus that seems to indicate that college doesn't really change students. I've had some good conversations with friends about the article and interview below. I hope it is sparking conversations for you as well.
A good friend of mine passed along a recent post by John Piper. Piper offers a helpful reminder and challenge when faced with "new research." In this particular piece, Piper refers to another study by Regnerus. In Good Doctrine Makes Better (Teenage) Saints, Piper compares Regnerus and Ron Sider:
"Here it is again. More evidence from surveys what the Bible makes so plain: superficial, non-doctrinal, non-serious Christians sin pretty much like the world; but more serious, more doctrinally oriented Christians lead lives that are morally distinct. Two years ago Ron Sider flagged this in his book The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience: Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World?
Now a new book by Mark Regnerus called Forbidden Fruit: Sex and Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers gives the same bleak picture of so-called 'evangelical teenagers' who sleep around as much as unbelievers. But again the book points out that 'the 16% of American teenagers who say that their faith is ‘extremely important to their lives’ are living chastely' (Gene Veith, “Sex and the Evangelical Teen,” World, August 11, 2007, p. 9)."
Piper's conclusion:
"Yes. Pray for sure. And work our heinies off teaching and preaching and modeling the Truth. And resist an entertainment model for youth ministry. And cultivate a joyfully blood-earnest atmosphere for worship. And call for our youth and our retirees to go risk their lives somewhere for the risen King Jesus. This is where serious truth-driven ministry takes us."
Three questions: (1) Is that how you spell "heinies"? (2) Do you think Piper is on to something? (3) Do you have any good examples of solid, "serious truth-driven ministries"?
A good friend of mine passed along a recent post by John Piper. Piper offers a helpful reminder and challenge when faced with "new research." In this particular piece, Piper refers to another study by Regnerus. In Good Doctrine Makes Better (Teenage) Saints, Piper compares Regnerus and Ron Sider:
"Here it is again. More evidence from surveys what the Bible makes so plain: superficial, non-doctrinal, non-serious Christians sin pretty much like the world; but more serious, more doctrinally oriented Christians lead lives that are morally distinct. Two years ago Ron Sider flagged this in his book The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience: Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World?
Now a new book by Mark Regnerus called Forbidden Fruit: Sex and Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers gives the same bleak picture of so-called 'evangelical teenagers' who sleep around as much as unbelievers. But again the book points out that 'the 16% of American teenagers who say that their faith is ‘extremely important to their lives’ are living chastely' (Gene Veith, “Sex and the Evangelical Teen,” World, August 11, 2007, p. 9)."
Piper's conclusion:
"Yes. Pray for sure. And work our heinies off teaching and preaching and modeling the Truth. And resist an entertainment model for youth ministry. And cultivate a joyfully blood-earnest atmosphere for worship. And call for our youth and our retirees to go risk their lives somewhere for the risen King Jesus. This is where serious truth-driven ministry takes us."
Three questions: (1) Is that how you spell "heinies"? (2) Do you think Piper is on to something? (3) Do you have any good examples of solid, "serious truth-driven ministries"?
posted by Derek Melleby | 9:26 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home