Reformation Faith Today

Christianity Today had an article last year on the resurgence of Calvinism among younger folks. The article talks about mostly 20s and 30s finding doctrine so attractive. But it also points out that even teenagers are more and more being fed the pure and strong Word of God expressed in these great doctrines.

My prayer is that our young folks will become sponges for truth as expressed in the great doctrines of the Bible. As they are exposed to the great doctrines, they will no doubt be pointed to the great God who saves sinners and builds us up in the most holy faith.

Here is an excerpt:

The young people I talked to want churches to risk disagreement so they can benefit from the deeper challenges of doctrine. Joshua Harris said years after he graduated from high school, he bumped into his old youth pastor in the grocery store. The pastor seemed apologetic as they reminisced about the youth group’s party atmosphere, focused more on music and skits than Bible teaching, Harris said. But the youth pastor told Harris his students now read through Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology.

“I think there’s an expectation that teens can’t handle that, or they’ll be repulsed by that,” Harris told me. “[My youth pastor] is saying the exact opposite. That’s a dramatic change in philosophy in youth ministry.”

Pastor Kent Hughes senses the same draw for students who cross the street from Wheaton College to attend College Church. “If there’s an appeal to students, it’s that we’re not playing around,” Hughes said. “We’re not entertaining them. This is life and death. My sense is that’s what they’re interested in, even from an old man.”

The entire article is here.