Not All Right

Embracing the philosophies of this world does not produce peace and satisfaction - it actually produces inner turmoil, despondency, mental challenges, and perhaps even death...through taking one's own life or having the years of a life robbed out of a person because of the hopelessness of this world. It's certainly a bleak picture, but Jesus offers a true way to peace, according to John 16:
31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?
32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Believing in Jesus, believing God's Word produces peace. Looking to the world for answers can produce the opposite - turmoil, anxiety, and hopelessness. We can consider in what we are trusting. If we believe that the philosophies of this world can satisfy our inner longings, we become vulnerable to disappointment and despair. We must look beyond human ideas and seek the One who has come to bring us eternal and abundant life. 

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The clash of worldviews is all around us - the search for answers has resulted in people turning to authoritarian, unbiblical solutions - submission to the world's ideas rather than the authority of Scripture. Colossians 2 states:
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

It was a simple headline of a commentary that did not contain a byline.  You can find it on the Washington Examiner website - it was written in late October last year, and it's entitled, "The kids are not all right."

While we are seeing positive signs among those in Generation Z - today's young adults - indicating an refreshing, passionate devotion to Christ, the fact is, there are warning signs. 

The article points out, regarding the findings of an October poll:

According to the latest Harvard-Harris poll, not only do 41% of those aged 18-24 think Hamas should be considered “militants,” not “terrorists,” but 51% of the same age group believes “the Hamas killing of 1200 Israeli civilians on Israel can be justified by the grievances of Palestinians.”

It goes on to say: "In other words, a majority of Generation Z believes the raping, murdering, beheading, and kidnapping of Jewish civilians by Hamas is just fine. Only 24% of the rest of America agrees."

But, there are other discouraging findings; for instance, "Two in every five Zoomers believe government should have the power to prevent people from making offensive statements. Just 27% of Generation X agrees."

A significant number of Gen Zers take a dim view of our our country; the summary at the Washington Examiner states:

Not only do 40% of Zoomers believe that the founders of the United States are “better described as villains” than “heroes,” but 60% of them also disagree with the statement that “America is a fair society where everyone can get ahead.” Given these perverse beliefs about our nation’s history, it is not surprising that only 36% of Zoomers say they are proud to be an American. By contrast, 86% of those 65 and older are proud of their country.

And, the roots of this warped view can be found in the conditioning they receive in cultural Marxism - specifically, the division of people in society into "oppressed" and "oppressor."  The article says:

This “oppressed” and “oppressor” worldview has bred a culture of victimhood. Since possession of an “oppressed” identity is the only path to moral salvation, Gen Z has become obsessed with finding a way to consider themselves oppressed. Witness the Zoomers suddenly deciding they are gay, lesbian, or transgender. Many will, one hopes and expects, grow out of it, but for now, they act on the fact that one quick pronoun change can transform them from evil oppressors to sanctified oppressed.

This article contends that this view is taught in the classroom and reinforced in social media. 

And, the discouragement has become lethal.  The Examiner states: "The proportion of young women reporting clinical depression within the last year has gone from 11% in 2011 to almost a third today. Twice as many teenagers are taking their lives today as were 15 years ago."

But, I still have hope.  Because there is a Savior who died for us, who came to earth to not only teach us how to live, but to show us how to die - to self, to sin - and to live an abundant life.  His death and resurrection also mean that we can live forever.  To a generation that is trapped in discouragement, Jesus offers true freedom.