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out God in our town for many years, and we don’t need Him now.” . Strangely enough,' it is considered lawful for professors to indoctrinate their pupils with atheism, skepticism, and other godless philosophies. Con sequently, the only conception of a life philosophy or religious belief that most of our young people receive in their daily classrooms is strictly anti- christian. A few years ago this situa tion was true only of our institutions of higher learning; but in recent years atheistic teaching has crept into our high schools and even junior high schools. It is difficult for students to remain unmoved by thé philosophies of those whom they consider the intellectuals. It is understandable that many stu dents accept as the only system of truth the. antichristian view of their professors, eyen though it be in di rect opposition to Scriptural truth. Particularly is this to be expected when their Sunday-school t e a c h e r s have not been trained for the great task of “dividing” the Word, of God, of winning souls to Christ, and of guiding the growth of their pupils, but have presented the Christian mes sage in a negative, an indifferent, or an ineffective manner. All too fre quently, these Sunday-school teachers have not even been believers in Christ as Saviour, but have merely featured lessons on social problems, book reviews, and similar subjects. The harmful effects of the five-day antichfistian training are difficult to counteract in the one-hour Sunday- school session. Our Christian educa tion program, therefore, must be full and vital and fruitful, if we would overcome Satan’s agents and would develop spiritually intelligent children of God. The Influence of Individual Testimony Perhaps the most powerful influ ence for Christ is the individual Chris tian life and witness. Evangelical groups often are reminded: “The only gospel the world reads is the gospel- according-to-you.” If this is true, what kind of a gospel is the world reading in the lives of professing Christian men and women? What do unbelievers think of the reality, the power, and the grace of Jesus Christ as they see these qualities expressed in Christ’s followers? Are they so im pressed as to be convicted of their own need of Him? This is Christ’s purpose for every believer. A young business man, refusing to acknowledge his need of Christ, said this: “I don’t see any reason that I should bother going to church. Judg ing from the church fellows I know, I can be just as good a Christian without attending church.” He had no uriderstanding of the terms he used.
What Is to Be Done? If the church is to meet her re sponsibility, she must go “ all out” to win American youth fo Jesus Christ. She must be humble yet great enough to evaluate frankly her program and effectiveness,*to take inventory of her physical and spiritual equipment and personnel, and then to make neces- - sary revisions which will step up her efficiency to a point worthy of her Lord and Master. The Christian home must awake: to its great task—that of m o l d i n g temples of God and giving to the world young men and women strong in the faith as it is in Christ Jesus. How are we to meet our problem of godless education? We must fortify, our young people against vain philoso phies by rooting them firmly in the Word of God so that they may discern between false ideology and the Truth. They must be brought to understand the “reason for the faith that is in” them, so that they will not e'asily be moved. Another answer is to be found in the faithful Christian schools and colleges. These are pitifully few, it is granted; but those few merit thé full est cooperation of the Christian home and church—cooperation in finance, in prayer, and in the entrusting of their youth to Christ-centered educa tional programs. The privilege of studying under godly teachers and of enjoying daily Christian fellowship could* be coveted for every Christian. Backing our professions, our prayers, and our programs, there must be a faithful life witness. We Christians have one great calling—to glorify God. Above all other desires, that should be the passion of our souls. Anything less than that is falling short of God’s purpose in our salva tion. Oh, that Christians might awaken from their lethargy and self- excusings and take a long look at the greatness and glory of their God and His salvation! Then, through the mir ror of His Word and the cleansing and renewing power of the Holy Spirit, we may look to God to conform us “ to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29). Young people of America are NOT “gospel hardened.” They are ne glected, falsely taught, misdirected, and blinded. The church has failed them. The home has neglected them. Education has misguided them. The defeated or negative testimonies of individual professing Christians have closed their hearts to the gospel. These young people constitute one of the most stupendous missionary opportunities of all time.
Since he had enjoyed neither the bene fit of a Christian home nor of a Sun day-school training, what basis did he have for his evaluation other than the life testimonies of those professing Christians whom he met? They utterly failed him; and his natural reaction to their negative witness killed any possible respect for the church, and closed his heart against its message. 'A young woman who was visiting in the home of family friends made the following remark to the daughter of the household: “I had never seen a Christian young person before I came to your home.” This girl’s parents were Christians, but she had not con sidered their faith applicable to her youthful life and program. Once she had witnessed the fact that Christ’s call is to young people, and that He really works in their lives, she too gave her heart to Jesus Christ. Young people today are brought up on pragmatism—whatever “works” is true; therefore they are observant and exacting of all that seeks to influ ence them. What confidence will they place in the God of weak religious people? They want truth, but that truth must prove itself to them. In this study, little mention has been made of the excellent Christian in fluences (godly homes, churches with long-visioned Christian education pro grams, truly Christian schools and col leges, evangelical lay organizations, radio broadcasts, and Spirit-filled personal workers) which endeavor to counteract the poisonous elements of the general background and which afford the contrasting bright spots in the picture. All these agencies are indeed appreciated. But they are too few and too poorly supported to exert the needed impulsion. Those Christians who -are enjoying the privileges of the few bright spots have taken them for granted and have harshly judged other young people on the basis of their own advantages. Instead of endeavoring to build right attitudes which will open the way for a reception of the gospel, and of seek ing to develop Christian philosophies of life and well-grounded and full- orbed Christian lives that can stand the attacks of atheism, modernism, pragmatism, and all the rest, they are inclined to be satisfied with the simple preaching ministry. While the latter is important, it is not suffi cient. Unless that ministry is pre ceded and followed with wise and sympathetic education in Christian truth and life, its work will be weak ened and frustrated.
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