APATHY: LACK OF
INTEREST/CONCERN IN THE CHURCH
Date of Topic Delivery: 18th
May, 2015
CHALLENGES FACING YOUTHS: NEW AGE INFILTRATION, DOCTRINE
Doctrine is all the church teaching in matters of faith and
morals.
We are in a time where new age philosophy has infiltrated
the church and badly enough promoted by youths .A problem facing youths today
is the incorporation of Faith and Spirituality into their everyday lives.
Youths may think religion is “not cool” which can have a negative effect on
their morals and values. Another challenge that catholic youths face and
struggle with is maintaining their faith in the presence of those who do not
believe or are critical of their beliefs. Living in a society that lacks
religion and moral authority leads youths to engage in immoral behavior and
become hypocritical.
What are the biggest challenges (New age infiltration &Doctrine) facing Christian youths today? There certainly are many. I compiled a top list from surveys that have been done
Corrupt line of thinking that the tools of Satan can be used
for God’s glory e.g. common approach to these practices are the overemphasizing
of signs and wonders through the promotion of contemplative prayer, meditation,
yoga, trances, empowerments est. .
Modern Christianity: Personalizing/living out your faith,
new age practices repackaged with Christian lingo and terminology. On Premarital
sex, drug use, drunkenness, profanity. For example, young people are
often encouraged to believe "the problem" of pregnancy is solved by
contraception and even abortion, both of which are presented as good and
physically trouble free, and that if they do not feel this way about these
things then something is wrong with them. Such illusions are presented as
normal and common in such a way that disagreement provokes isolation and
rejection.
Extra biblical religion that goes beyond the parameters of
scripture. Many do not even know how to read the scriptures for themselves,
they have put their trust and faith into mere men who blind them with cotton
candy theology hence creates people who do not accept the fundamentals of the
true faith.
Turning God into a form of cosmic
energy that can be accessed from His creation, rather than from the creator
being separate from what he has created.
Self-seeking religion that knows nothing to taking up his
cross and following Jesus Christ. Living in an anti-Christian culture.
Gospel about personal success and having self-esteem. It is
all about attaining your human potential and becoming a deity like god, the
word sin and repentance are foreign concept.
Unemployment also worsens every youth problem. All of us,
governments, business, unions, and churches, have to recognize that youth
unemployment is intolerably high. Generations today and tomorrow will pay an
increasing price unless this situation is improved hence we have more youths
going astray the doctrine.
These are some of many issues that Youths have all dealt
with to some extent at some time or another. The bad news is that these issues
won’t go away. As we mature and grow in our faith, we gain experience and
ammunition in battling them, but as long as we live in this fallen world, these
issues, challenges or problems will always be there.
Where do we stand with respect to the New Age? Should we be
doing anything about it?
The only adjective possible for a Catholics is orthodox,
meaning one who adheres to the traditional Faith, sacrificing all human respect
in the service of God, the Truth, and the rights of the Church. You don't have
to join convenes to follow Satan. You just have to stray in your
thinking.
Well, things are very bad, but it isn't game over yet. We're not yet completely controlled. We can still fight, and many people are ---those who acknowledge we are in a war. But to win you have to know everything about the enemy, including strengths and weaknesses. One of his strengths at the moment is that he has infiltrated the Church. Remember the parable about the farmer who, sometime after planting good wheat, saw that he had wheat and cockle growing together and he said, "An enemy hath done this"?
(Mt. 13:24-28). In order to distinguish weeds from good plants, you need to let them grow together for a while. So it was for the farmer. .
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8), and St. Paul condemned anyone ---even an angel---who might try to change the teachings of the Church ( Gal. 1:8-9). So it's our duty to remain faithful to the unchangeable teaching and Sacred Traditions of Holy Mother Church, and never to compromise the Faith for some temporal diplomatic or political advantage. Further; we also have the duty to pass on the Faith intact to the next generation, which is under such great attack. We're reminded of this duty in
Psalm 78:5-7 . "How great things he commanded our fathers, that they should make the same known to their children; that another generation might know them. The children that should be born and should rise up, and declare them to their children. That they may put their hope in god, and may not forget the works of God; and may seek His commandments."
Well, things are very bad, but it isn't game over yet. We're not yet completely controlled. We can still fight, and many people are ---those who acknowledge we are in a war. But to win you have to know everything about the enemy, including strengths and weaknesses. One of his strengths at the moment is that he has infiltrated the Church. Remember the parable about the farmer who, sometime after planting good wheat, saw that he had wheat and cockle growing together and he said, "An enemy hath done this"?
(Mt. 13:24-28). In order to distinguish weeds from good plants, you need to let them grow together for a while. So it was for the farmer. .
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8), and St. Paul condemned anyone ---even an angel---who might try to change the teachings of the Church ( Gal. 1:8-9). So it's our duty to remain faithful to the unchangeable teaching and Sacred Traditions of Holy Mother Church, and never to compromise the Faith for some temporal diplomatic or political advantage. Further; we also have the duty to pass on the Faith intact to the next generation, which is under such great attack. We're reminded of this duty in
Psalm 78:5-7 . "How great things he commanded our fathers, that they should make the same known to their children; that another generation might know them. The children that should be born and should rise up, and declare them to their children. That they may put their hope in god, and may not forget the works of God; and may seek His commandments."
Of course, before we can hand on the Faith, we ourselves must
know, love, and practice it, thus fulfilling the reason for our creation; to
know, love and serve God in this life so we can be happy with Him forever in
the next. Over and above faithfully carrying out our daily duties, this
involves continuous study, prayer and sacrifices, especially for the pope,
daily Christian meditation (not yoga), frequent Confession and Communion, daily
mass if possible, good works and a virtuous life. The best the Catholic
Church has to offer is the gift of faith. To know the love and forgiveness of
the one true God offered to us by his Son Jesus Christ provides an unparalleled
sense of security and makes a world of difference in everyday living and in
eternity. God is invisible, but God is real.
So let us pray as
Cardinal Newman did; "O God, give me . . . eyes to see what is right, and
a heart to follow it, and strength to perform it; and grant that I may in all
things press forward in the work of sanctification and ever do Your will, and
at the length through Your mercy attain to the glories of Your everlasting
Kingdom through Jesus Christ, Our Lord."AMEN
And let us often and fervently recall to mind that wonderful refrain, "Faith of our Fathers, Holy Faith, we will be true to thee till death".
And let us often and fervently recall to mind that wonderful refrain, "Faith of our Fathers, Holy Faith, we will be true to thee till death".
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