4 min read
Have you noticed that kids these days seem to think differently about the Bible and Christian beliefs? Well, a recent study from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University has some news that might surprise you. They found out that a lot of kids between 8 and 12 years old don’t hold the same Christian views that many adults do. This could mean big changes for Christian beliefs in the future.
A group of smart people at the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University did a big project. They asked a lot of kids between 8 and 12 years old, their parents, and some church leaders about what they believe, especially about God and the Bible. Guess what? Only about 36% of these kids said they believe that Jesus is the only way to go to heaven if you say sorry for the bad things you’ve done. That’s not a lot, right?
When the study asked these kids if they believe in Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven, only about 36 out of 100 said yes. And when it comes to seeing the Bible as the true word of God and a guide for knowing right from wrong, only 25 out of 100 kids agreed. That’s not a lot, especially when you compare it to what their parents and church leaders think.
What’s even more eye-opening is that only 21 out of 100 kids turn to the Bible when they’re trying to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong. This is a big deal because it shows that not many kids are using the Bible as their go-to guide for making decisions.
George Barna, who helps lead the research, is really worried about this. He says it’s a big problem for churches in America. If things don’t change, Christian beliefs might not be as common in the future. He’s been watching this trend for over 30 years, and it’s been going downhill. Nowadays, only a few adults really stick to a biblical worldview, and it’s even rarer among parents of young kids.
Barna thinks it’s super important for parents and churches to help kids understand and develop a Christian way of seeing the world. He says kids are like sponges, soaking up all sorts of ideas and beliefs. If parents and churches don’t step up, kids might end up getting their beliefs from TV, the internet, or their friends instead.
So, what’s the big message here? It’s time for parents, churches, and anyone who cares about Christian beliefs to really focus on helping kids understand and value a biblical perspective. If not, we might see a lot more kids growing up without these traditional Christian views.
