Apologetics for internet generation

[JoChris]

How do other Christians born before the Internet approach young people now, knowing their thinking style is extremely different to us oldies?

I am a Gen Xer. I graduated from high school the year before IT subjects were introduced into senior curriculum.

My sons think they know everything because they have Google. Young people especially I have interacted with over the years online have the same attitude.

How have Christians here approached young people who know more about the Mandela Effect or Flat Earth Theory than the 10 commandments?

 

[Douglas Summers]

How do other Christians born before the Internet approach young people now, knowing their thinking style is extremely different to us oldies?

I am a Gen Xer. I graduated from high school the year before IT subjects were introduced into senior curriculum.

My sons think they know everything because they have Google. Young people especially I have interacted with over the years online have the same attitude.

How have Christians here approached young people who know more about the Mandela Effect or Flat Earth Theory than the 10 commandments?

Hi JoChris, You can not approach those who know everything, without prayer and being filled with the Spirit. Too many try to witness, by being clever with Scripture,when the truth would do just fine. What do you know about God? I would ask them, Then, depending on their answer, I would ask them if they are willing to carry that belief to the grave? For the Truth has not changed over 2000 years. People need a personal relationship with the Lord.....not a corporate church doctrine.

 

[New Day Coming]

I struggle a lot here with my kids... My son seems to have a love of trashy YouTubers and my daughter an insatiable appetite for "teen" books. Both things seem to be nothing more than programming. At the same time, getting them to church is so hard at the moment.

It feels to me that there is a generation addicted to, and dulled by "entertainment" and it reminds me of the poor folk who get addicted to Crystal meth and can't enjoy anything else after a time.

Any prayer or wisdom greatly appreciated!

 

[JoChris]

Hi JoChris, You can not approach those who know everything, without prayer and being filled with the Spirit. Too many try to witness, by being clever with Scripture,when the truth would do just fine. What do you know about God? I would ask them, Then, depending on their answer, I would ask them if they are willing to carry that belief to the grave? For the Truth has not changed over 2000 years. People need a personal relationship with the Lord.....not a corporate church doctrine.

You sound experienced with witnessing! I have never done that with strangers in real life. I have tried to with my sons. (Long story short - I was a backslidden woman who married an atheist, only returned to God when my sons were already preteens.)

How do you assess the difference between lack of knowledge about Jesus and willful ignorance when communicating with non-Christians, whether online or real life?

One noticeable difference between us and i-gens online: it is rare to get non-Twitter length responses from young people. I have had to learn how to shorten responses as a result.

 

[Eugene]

How do other Christians born before the Internet approach young people now, knowing their thinking style is extremely different to us oldies?

Dear Sister JoChris, knowledge increases, but the old nature in man doesn’t change; it must be overcome and counted as dead, and that takes maturity.

I remember reading of the young adult saying how embarrassed they were of their parent’s ignorance when they were a teen, and are now amazed how much they have learned in such a short time.

How do we teach the UN-teachable? By example and love shown through a life lived for Christ. We must always remember that it is God working in them to will, and to do of His good pleasure. Are your children in Christ? If so praise the Lord and pray for their spiritual growth. God is never going to fail or forsake them.

 

[JoChris]

I struggle a lot here with my kids... My son seems to have a love of trashy YouTubers and my daughter an insatiable appetite for "teen" books. Both things seem to be nothing more than programming. At the same time, getting them to church is so hard at the moment.

It feels to me that there is a generation addicted to, and dulled by "entertainment" and it reminds me of the poor folk who get addicted to Crystal meth and can't enjoy anything else after a time.

Any prayer or wisdom greatly appreciated!

My younger son loves youtube too. Thankfully he has a poor opinion of mainstream pop music artists - some video clips would have been banned in the 80s when I was a teenager - but the dark lyrics of some alternative artists' songs concern me.
Half way between classical and heavy rock if that makes any sense. Not relaxing at all. He tells me I think too much when I explain the message I am hearing.

 

[JoChris]

Dear Sister JoChris, knowledge increases, but the old nature in man doesn’t change; it must be overcome and counted as dead, and that takes maturity.

I remember reading of the young adult saying how embarrassed they were of their parent’s ignorance when they were a teen, and are now amazed how much they have learned in such a short time.

How do we teach the UN-teachable? By example and love shown through a life lived for Christ. We must always remember that it is God working in them to will, and to do of His good pleasure. Are your children in Christ? If so praise the Lord and pray for their spiritual growth. God is never going to fail or forsake them.

No my sons are not Christians. This is why this issue is close to my heart. What started for my sons has become a concern for young unsaved online too.

My older son (aged 20) had a non-Christian upbringing, I tried to introduce Christian morals using fleshly reasoning. It certainly does not work. He needed the Gospel and I only told him the full Gospel earlier this before he went away to Uni. I worried too much about potential conflict.

My younger son (17) I have tried to communicate about God a lot more, he even read some of the bible, Gospels but got upset at Book of Romans when he saw not everyone would be saved.

I have spent a lot of time over my spiritual lifetime moving my ways of thinking to God's ways. I relate to C.S.Lewis' main character in Pilgrim's Regress a lot. (I know to treat C.S.Lewis' theological works especially with great caution)

I realise how much my past worldview affected how well I could understood God that now I see so clearly. My worldview when I was a young convert was extremely different when I heard the Gospel preached again in 2006.

Jesus and the apostles didn't use exact same method for healing the sick or preaching, although the same Gospel message was given. My concern is how do we deliver online the Gospel message to the iGeneration, without diluting it?

 

[Eugene]

My concern is how do we deliver online the Gospel message to the iGeneration, without diluting it?

We don't need to dilute it. God uses His word as the catalyst in calling the world, and your prayers are heard. Do not be surprised at the trials that may be involved in your son's being drawn to the word. Above all, live your life in faith, and I think you're going to be amazed at its influence on their lives. There's many a soul having merely heard about God that come to calling on His name when in a foxhole in the midst of an enemy. I've come to the place in my life I expect miracles instead of just hoping for them.

I am presently praying for the half sister of my grandchildren that is scheduled to have one of her breasts removed this coming Thursday I think it is due to cancer at the age of thirty-three. I haven't seen her in years but she is a Christian and I know God has heard my prayer, and can give her another option or completely heal her.

Regardless the outcome, we serve a loving Father that didn't spare His own Son for our sake, and He is going to be with us until forever. I will certainly be in prayer for your sons.

 

[Douglas Summers]

You sound experienced with witnessing! I have never done that with strangers in real life. I have tried to with my sons. (Long story short - I was a backslidden woman who married an atheist, only returned to God when my sons were already preteens.)

How do you assess the difference between lack of knowledge about Jesus and willful ignorance when communicating with non-Christians, whether online or real life?

One noticeable difference between us and i-gens online: it is rare to get non-Twitter length responses from young people. I have had to learn how to shorten responses as a result.

Hi Jo Chris, First, ask yourself this question, is your assurance of salvation dependent upon you?.....or dependent upon the Lord? If your answer is "you", then your building upon sand as a foundation. If you say it is upon the Lord, then, not only are you building upon "The Rock," But you also have the "Cornerstone" of the Temple. If a man repents at hearing the word of God,.....Then God regenerates us by rebirth through the Holy Spirit, (The new man in us). It is all God's doing by faith in Him. There is not one thing you can do to add to your salvation, It is by faith alone. From the most fallible and weakest believer to the most illustrious saint....all have the same standing before God. (saved / eternal security). But our state (maturity) is not as instant as our salvation, for we must grow in grace. Not into grace, but in Grace that we have received from God. Once you have trusted the Lord with all things that He said he would do, then you witness that Spirit of Joy, confidence,faith, hope and charity. You see, then Christ is doing the witnessing through the Holy Spirit in us. (1 Cor. 12:1-31) (1 Cor. 13:1-13). Don't let denominational doctrines rule over the sovereignty of God. We are going to have struggles in this world system, Trust the Lord, but know Him first.. And ask the brethern to pray with or for you in your reasonable service unto the Lord, not hindering or grieving the Spirit that will use us as vessels. Above all, Trust the Lord and look toward future things (remembering His promises) that, "I will never leave you....." (Heb. 13:5-6).

Christ in us
Douglas Summers

 

[Douglas Summers]

I struggle a lot here with my kids... My son seems to have a love of trashy YouTubers and my daughter an insatiable appetite for "teen" books. Both things seem to be nothing more than programming. At the same time, getting them to church is so hard at the moment.

It feels to me that there is a generation addicted to, and dulled by "entertainment" and it reminds me of the poor folk who get addicted to Crystal meth and can't enjoy anything else after a time.

Any prayer or wisdom greatly appreciated!

Let your kids and husband know exactly how you feel and why without prejudice, and let that work on them through time. How you sincerely feel may run interference with their worldliness and cause them to at least think about it?

 

[Shine the Light]

There is almost nothing as convincing as a life lived honestly, I agree.

 

[JoChris]

We don't need to dilute it. God uses His word as the catalyst in calling the world, and your prayers are heard. Do not be surprised at the trials that may be involved in your son's being drawn to the word. Above all, live your life in faith, and I think you're going to be amazed at its influence on their lives. There's many a soul having merely heard about God that come to calling on His name when in a foxhole in the midst of an enemy. I've come to the place in my life I expect miracles instead of just hoping for them.

I am presently praying for the half sister of my grandchildren that is scheduled to have one of her breasts removed this coming Thursday I think it is due to cancer at the age of thirty-three. I haven't seen her in years but she is a Christian and I know God has heard my prayer, and can give her another option or completely heal her.

Regardless the outcome, we serve a loving Father that didn't spare His own Son for our sake, and He is going to be with us until forever. I will certainly be in prayer for your sons.

Very interesting that you brought trials into it. My son showed no sign he had considered any form of spiritual beliefs until by God's mercy he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. This occurred due to the final medical test for army recruitment and an irregular heartbeat was picked up. It totally changed his life from becoming a highly skilled tradesman to an extremely reluctant university student.

He may have to be on heart medications permanently unless God intervenes and heals him completely. I found a medical journal which said only 1 in 3 people with dilative cardiomyopathy improve. His condition has moved from very serious to borderline normal heart beat strength, some signs of heart size shrinkage (positive sign - some heart muscle had been working too hard) within one year and a half.

I was able to introduce his story into it gradually - you know that was not by chance, it had to be God. He looked sheepish and admitted that there had to be some type of Higher Being. Week he went away to university I went into detail about Jesus, God's son coming to earth to die for our sins, how "near enough wasn't good enough", reminded him of 10 commandments and then explained that in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus explained that God looked at the heart as well, everyone needs to believe in Jesus to be forgiven etc.

He looked thoughtful but just couldn't believe. I realise that God has to open both my sons' eyes for them to be saved.

 

[JoChris]

Hi Jo Chris, First, ask yourself this question, is your assurance of salvation dependent upon you?.....or dependent upon the Lord? If your answer is "you", then your building upon sand as a foundation. If you say it is upon the Lord, then, not only are you building upon "The Rock," But you also have the "Cornerstone" of the Temple. If a man repents at hearing the word of God,.....Then God regenerates us by rebirth through the Holy Spirit, (The new man in us). It is all God's doing by faith in Him. There is not one thing you can do to add to your salvation, It is by faith alone. From the most fallible and weakest believer to the most illustrious saint....all have the same standing before God. (saved / eternal security). But our state (maturity) is not as instant as our salvation, for we must grow in grace. Not into grace, but in Grace that we have received from God. Once you have trusted the Lord with all things that He said he would do, then you witness that Spirit of Joy, confidence,faith, hope and charity. You see, then Christ is doing the witnessing through the Holy Spirit in us. (1 Cor. 12:1-31) (1 Cor. 13:1-13). Don't let denominational doctrines rule over the sovereignty of God. We are going to have struggles in this world system, Trust the Lord, but know Him first.. And ask the brethern to pray with or for you in your reasonable service unto the Lord, not hindering or grieving the Spirit that will use us as vessels. Above all, Trust the Lord and look toward future things (remembering His promises) that, "I will never leave you....." (Heb. 13:5-6).

Christ in us
Douglas Summers

This is the area where my mind and heart are in conflict. My head knows scripture shows God has foreordained who shall be saved, only the sheep are drawn to the Good Shepherd, my heart goes "what am I leaving out? What could I say better? I saw the truth straight away, it seems so obvious..."

 

[for_his_glory]

I've never had any children, but was one myself many years ago so I will just give my story.

I'm from the baby boomer generation and as a child my siblings and I went to Church, but never got much out of it. When I turned 15 I quit going as it was to boring to me. As a teen I was a typical teenager who would party somewhat on the weekends, but the rest of the week pretty much home bound as we were only allowed to go out on the weekends. Naturally we did not have computers or the fancy phones back in the day, but three things I did have was a friend that was a Christian I hung out with at times and on occasion went to her church and a friend that was not a Christian and very worldly. The third friend I would not get to know until a few years later and his name was Jesus.

I'm not going to say it was an easy friendship at first with Jesus as I left Him by the wayside so many times because of my lack of knowledge. To make a long story short it was the influences in my life that I finally many years later made that commitment to God as I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. So, what I am getting to is the influences that are in your kids lives will be the ones they will stick to unless a better influence is introduced to them. Teens want to have fun and if Church is boring to them then they will not want any part of it. They need to be introduced to a Christian youth group that has fun while they learn about Jesus. It's not that Jesus has rejected them, but that they just do not know that much about Him. If there is no youth group where you attend Church maybe you can suggest having one and also getting involved with it as this could draw your kids into becoming active in it.

Never give up and always pray for their salvation in the Lord and allow the light of Christ shine through you that they will see that light.
God bless you.

 

[Douglas Summers]

This is the area where my mind and heart are in conflict. My head knows scripture shows God has foreordained who shall be saved, only the sheep are drawn to the Good Shepherd, my heart goes "what am I leaving out? What could I say better? I saw the truth straight away, it seems so obvious..."

What ever brings you joy from the Lord.....share it. That is also witnessing.

 

[JoChris]

I've never had any children, but was one myself many years ago so I will just give my story.

I'm from the baby boomer generation and as a child my siblings and I went to Church, but never got much out of it. When I turned 15 I quit going as it was to boring to me. As a teen I was a typical teenager who would party somewhat on the weekends, but the rest of the week pretty much home bound as we were only allowed to go out on the weekends. Naturally we did not have computers or the fancy phones back in the day, but three things I did have was a friend that was a Christian I hung out with at times and on occasion went to her church and a friend that was not a Christian and very worldly. The third friend I would not get to know until a few years later and his name was Jesus.

I'm not going to say it was an easy friendship at first with Jesus as I left Him by the wayside so many times because of my lack of knowledge. To make a long story short it was the influences in my life that I finally many years later made that commitment to God as I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. So, what I am getting to is the influences that are in your kids lives will be the ones they will stick to unless a better influence is introduced to them. Teens want to have fun and if Church is boring to them then they will not want any part of it. They need to be introduced to a Christian youth group that has fun while they learn about Jesus. It's not that Jesus has rejected them, but that they just do not know that much about Him. If there is no youth group where you attend Church maybe you can suggest having one and also getting involved with it as this could draw your kids into becoming active in it.

Never give up and always pray for their salvation in the Lord and allow the light of Christ shine through you that they will see that light.
God bless you.

Unfortunately our church youth group only meets one Saturday a month + breaks on holidays and my younger son works part time on weekends. It has helped him grow up quite effectively. That is why the thought never occurred to me.

Prayer for both my sons is definitely needed. I wish I was better at getting on their wavelength.

 

[brujaq]

Unfortunately our church youth group only meets one Saturday a month + breaks on holidays and my younger son works part time on weekends. It has helped him grow up quite effectively. That is why the thought never occurred to me.

Prayer for both my sons is definitely needed. I wish I was better at getting on their wavelength.

I pray the Lord Jesus put a hunger and thirst for God in your sons and husband .. I pray that their eyes are opened and they become disgusted with what they see of the godless world and become uncomfortable and began to think and see things of God , that they become convinced there must be more to life . I pray the Lord put you on a mission to seek his annointing that breaks the yoke , that you develop even more love for every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God and that Jesus lead you into the abundant life to influence others with a determination that wears off on others .. I pray the Lord give you the strength to pray and fast over your hearts desire and receive it .. I pray your sons meet interesting committed Christians who are impressive and love the Lord and his Word .. Lord Jesus give JoChris wisdom , confidence and guidance with joy with faithful patience that her sons will bring glory to your name and that you give them testimony with a mission to learn and lead others of their generation to Jesus , Amen , do not fear and wait on the Lord for your miracle with thanks sister .. Study and learn Gods promises to us and joyfully pray/remind him of them while making requests to our Father in heaven .. Be as determined as a bulldog not to let go of your vision and I know you will as Jesus makes a way .. .. In Jesus name I ask, and give thanks, Amen .. May Jesus give your sons the heart of King David as men after Gods own heart ..

 

[Douglas Summers]

Unfortunately our church youth group only meets one Saturday a month + breaks on holidays and my younger son works part time on weekends. It has helped him grow up quite effectively. That is why the thought never occurred to me.

Prayer for both my sons is definitely needed. I wish I was better at getting on their wavelength.

Hi JoChris, (True Christ) Do not always rely upon the local Church to teach the (true Christ). When I was young and in school, I imitated those who I went to Church with, and their godly teachings fell by the wayside in the High School atmosphere. That is why it is important to have a sincere, "one on one" discussion with your children. Discussions should be: What do you understand about Christ?, What do you understand about Salvation, How much you love them, Christ is not for material wealth, but for eternal life. What you expect of them (obedience)., And above all, that they can come to you about any problems or trouble they have gotten into, no matter how bad they think things are, for that is how much you love them. Teach your sons how they should treat a lady....get them on your wave length. And always ask the Lord to look over your children. I did all these things, we are a close family, and we talk or see our children just about every day. My daughter is going to be 49 next month and my boy is 47 and are both married. They are still babes to us. Without God, we are just driftwood in a sea of troubled waters.

Standing on His promises
Douglas Summers

 

[for_his_glory]

Unfortunately our church youth group only meets one Saturday a month + breaks on holidays and my younger son works part time on weekends. It has helped him grow up quite effectively. That is why the thought never occurred to me.

Prayer for both my sons is definitely needed. I wish I was better at getting on their wavelength.

I find it is harder to be a witness to your own family, but sometimes a door of opportunity does open that allows us to shine a little light in there, but never let it over shine. Other words say a little something about Jesus as the Holy Spirit will give you what to say and as a few words can go along way like sweet candy they will want more of. All of you are in my prayers.

 

[JoChris]

I find it is harder to be a witness to your own family, but sometimes a door of opportunity does open that allows us to shine a little light in there, but never let it over shine. Other words say a little something about Jesus as the Holy Spirit will give you what to say and as a few words can go along way like sweet candy they will want more of. All of you are in my prayers.

You certainly have that right. With my father I have tried to explain Christianity too. I found the questions and statements he used quite different to what I heard from my sons and other young people online.
He insisted on using (now disproved) anti-Christian liberal theological arguments like claiming bible books were written centuries later, miracles are just simply implausible - basically out of date *intellectual* arguments.

In contrast I have found young people simply do not know anything about bible/ care more about religious tolerance and potentially hurt feelings.

With my sons I have always insisted that truth is truth, no matter if it hurts feelings or not. I always insist on evidence for claims and so on.