Doctrine
is all the church teaching in matters of faith and morals.
We are in a time when new age
philosophy has infiltrated the church and badly enough, is promoted by the
youths.
A major 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 behaviour
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, empowerment's etc. .
Modern Christianity: Personalizing/living out your faith, new age
practices repackaged with Christian lingo and terminology on premarital sex,
drug use, drunkenness, and profanity. E.g. 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 the 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.
The 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 contrary to 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."
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 all, 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 call to
mind that wonderful refrain, "Faith of our Fathers, Holy Faith, we will be
true to thee till death".
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