In our fast-paced, ever changing, always evolving world, we are often easily swayed by what’s current or popular. Whether it’s baggy jeans that you can fit your science textbook in your pocket circa 1998 or black-rimmed glasses, skinny jeans, and coffee houses, there are trends in our society that lure us in. I know that’s not true of everybody, as there are the outliers who won’t conform. They wouldn’t wear skinny jeans or use an iPhone if their lives depended on it. But even in that case, they have fallen into a trend of our society. It seems as though we are either in or we’re out, we’re trendy or we’re not, we know who we are or we don’t. With all of the dividing lines in our culture it’s easy to lose our identity, it’s easy to forget what actually matters.
During the summer of 2014, we surveyed over 2000 middle and high school students during NTS Camp. Part of that survey included questions that gave us insight into student theology. We asked questions about Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Father, the Gospel, heaven, the Bible, and other religions. These questions allowed us to see how well the students knew what they believed and how confident they were about it.
Knowing what you believe and why you believe is crucial to Christianity in our current society, as it has been in the past. There are plenty of people and groups that have distorted a few details of the Bible or Christian teaching and without a solid knowledge of what the Bible says and what we believe, those distortions can begin to sound correct. We live in a society that wants to please everyone all the time, but most of us believe in a God who isn’t always politically correct.
So, what did our survey reveal about student theology? Here’s an overview.
WHO IS JESUS?
When it comes to Jesus, our students seem to have a fairly solid understanding of who He is and what He’s all about.
Two-thirds of those surveyed said they believed Jesus was fully human, slightly more than that said they believed He was fully God. When asked if Jesus lived a perfect life on earth without sin, nearly three-quarters answered “Yes.” The rest were split between “No” and “Not Sure.” We asked the students which they feel the know most about: the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit. 78% answered Jesus, 17% said the Father, while only 5% said the Holy Spirit.
The other questions dealt with application of these beliefs. Is Jesus the only way to God, 67% said, “Yes” and 18% were unsure.
Do you understand and could you explain the Gospel? 43% were unsure if they understood or were not confident in being able to share the Gospel fully or correctly. This is alarming, but we’ve already covered that in another blog. When asked if all religions or faiths lead to God, two-thirds said, “No,” but the other third we’re either unsure or answered, “Yes!”
CONCLUSION
With all of this data, what conclusions can we draw?
According to what we see in the survey, it appears that our student’s theology rests heavily on Jesus. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it doesn’t allow them to base their beliefs on the Trinitarian God of the Bible.
I don’t want to jump to conclusions here and state that our students are heretics or that those who teach them are wrong, I’m simply pointing out what the data tells us.
Without a greater understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit, how do we teach students to use discernment, to hear from God, or to follow His promptings? Without a right understanding of the Father, our students could easily be led to believe that God really does hate certain types of people, causing us to hate them too.
What all of this boils down to is the fact that our world preys on those who waiver in their beliefs. Christians are bullied into believing they are the bad guys. What a strong theological foundation allows us to do is to stand firm when opposition arises. It gives us a perspective on this world that we can’t attain by ourselves.
It’s easy for me to sit here and write this blog, looking like a finger pointer or an accuser. But, like a good sermon, this comes from my heart and it affects me too. I know there are areas I have to grow in. There are questions that I need to seek answers to.
It’s time that we stop pretending that we know it all or stop voiding the tough questions. My challenge to all of us is that we dig in and seek truth. Our world needs Christians who know what they believe and can show the world God’s love and compassion in the midst of whatever new trend, theory, or law comes our way!
Kyle Wood
Director of Operations & Communications
Never The Same
© 2015, Never The Same