WAY too many good points to respond to, so I'll limit myself...
WAY too many self-proclaimed Christian parents are sending their kids to progressive/socialist-controlled universities, where they are overwhelmed and indoctrinated. We have long-time friends and family members whose kids are simply awful to anyone who has a different worldview. And social media is training them to move from verbal to physical altercations.
WAY too many churches are not preparing their young people to stand for Christ. It has recently occurred to me that churches have "coverage gaps" in ministry. Whether led by associate pastors or lay leaders, there seems to be no (at best, it's likely rare) intentional effort at a seamless spiritual maturing process. Instead of a consistent walk with younger people, they are passed off from group to group. It's not unlike how public schools often "socially" promote students who clearly aren't ready to move on. Our society is paying the price.
It is not just "progressive/socialist-controlled universities" - it is also in the secondary and even primary education system. The process started back in the 1960s but was in complete control by the mid-1990s - so now we've had two generations of it. And the price gets steeper every year.
Jack, I wasn't suggesting that you needed to reword anything. Sorry, but I was being sarcastic and obviously I shared an unknown reference with you. In the past (pre-internet, at least, and probably before that) it used to be said that the brotherhood in the US and the commonwealth didn't have bishops (in the unscriptural, common denominational usage of that word). Instead, "we had editors" - of publications like Gospel Advocate, Firm Foundation, Contending for the Faith, etc. - and probably going back to the Millenial Harbinger. There were others, of course, just as there are still today. Being bombarded by postings in social media or directly by email messages and texts, it appears that "influencers" have assumed the role that people like Campbell, Brewer, Dobbs, and McGary once had from about 1830 to 1990 or so.
WAY too many good points to respond to, so I'll limit myself...
WAY too many self-proclaimed Christian parents are sending their kids to progressive/socialist-controlled universities, where they are overwhelmed and indoctrinated. We have long-time friends and family members whose kids are simply awful to anyone who has a different worldview. And social media is training them to move from verbal to physical altercations.
WAY too many churches are not preparing their young people to stand for Christ. It has recently occurred to me that churches have "coverage gaps" in ministry. Whether led by associate pastors or lay leaders, there seems to be no (at best, it's likely rare) intentional effort at a seamless spiritual maturing process. Instead of a consistent walk with younger people, they are passed off from group to group. It's not unlike how public schools often "socially" promote students who clearly aren't ready to move on. Our society is paying the price.
Those are both great points. I’ve been trying to sound those alarms for many years, but few want to hear about it.
It is not just "progressive/socialist-controlled universities" - it is also in the secondary and even primary education system. The process started back in the 1960s but was in complete control by the mid-1990s - so now we've had two generations of it. And the price gets steeper every year.
An "influencer" in churches of Christ? (Stateside, I presume?) What happened to editors?
How would you word it differently?
Jack, I wasn't suggesting that you needed to reword anything. Sorry, but I was being sarcastic and obviously I shared an unknown reference with you. In the past (pre-internet, at least, and probably before that) it used to be said that the brotherhood in the US and the commonwealth didn't have bishops (in the unscriptural, common denominational usage of that word). Instead, "we had editors" - of publications like Gospel Advocate, Firm Foundation, Contending for the Faith, etc. - and probably going back to the Millenial Harbinger. There were others, of course, just as there are still today. Being bombarded by postings in social media or directly by email messages and texts, it appears that "influencers" have assumed the role that people like Campbell, Brewer, Dobbs, and McGary once had from about 1830 to 1990 or so.