In the struggle for the hearts and minds of our young people, what can Christian schools and parents do to fight the moral confusion among our youth? I want to look at four different strategies.

First, we need to recover moral certain­ty ourselves. The time has come to recog­nise that moral confusion is not only out in the world, but affects Christian homes and schools as well. We have lost much of the moral confidence that is central to the faith. As a damaged nerve saps our strength, so lack of moral clarity leaves us dangerously exposed in raising children. The young have eyes as sharp as eagles in spotting our uncertainties.

The nerve of character building has been damaged by the idea that it is not fair –– even for Christians –– to try to have chil­dren follow what their parents believe! If we have a crisis of convictions while Johnny is a child, don’t be surprised if he has a moral crisis as a teenager. If a school teaches spiritual and moral truth as matters of personal choice, it undercuts the author­ity of God.

Second, let’s not underestimate the dif­ficulty for children. At the early age of nine or 10, the focus of a child’s life moves quickly from the family to the world. Peer influence increases. Children listen to other moral voices.

Most prime-time TV shows are an out­rage to Christian virtue, but access to these is the rule, not the exception. The secular schools present a view of life begun by chance, lived in a meaningless world and an impersonal universe. Drug and sex “educa­tion” reduce sin to expected behaviour which can be “safely” managed. Rock/pop music culture, which is so full of moral rebellion, completes the unhinging process.

We can make the struggle easier for our youngsters by taking the initiative to con­trol these factors at home and school.

Third, we must stress in our teaching that actions have consequences. A big part of moral growth is learning about what fol­lows from our actions. At first base, we must teach the eternal consequences of life. There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. We are squeamish about eternal judgment, and this note is vanishing from much preaching. We can expect little change in the moral crisis among our children if we are unfaithful to Scripture at this point. Restore the eternal consequences in the minds of your family, and your school and Sunday school students.

Actions have consequences in this life too. But a problem in teaching morality to young people is that they lack the experi­ence of life to be able to work out conse­quences of actions for themselves. Moral teaching has to go well beyond “do this and don’t do that”. We must explain the rea­sons. Take the wisdom of Solomon for example. The Book of Proverbs is written to provide moral and spiritual wisdom for immature young people.

Fourth, we must rediscover the purpose of the Christian life. Too many Christians have become self-focused, seeking out per­sonal peace and fulfilment. “Follow Jesus and you will have a happy life,” we often tell the children.

If we imply this is what the faith is about, we sell them short and contribute to the crisis. We must teach the Bible in its full flowing context of God’s plan moving for­ward in the Kingdom of Christ. We must call children to honour the King and all his laws, and prepare for a life of loving service in his Kingdom.

But young people need help to see what God’s Kingdom means for them. We have shrunk the idea of God’s Kingdom so much that it has come to mean largely our personal enjoyment of peace with God. This strong tendency to push the Kingdom inwards saps moral energy from the personality, and undermines our capacity for discipleship.

Young people need to see the larger con­text of their personal Christian life. The Kingdom of God has been growing for more than 2000 years. Our life today is rooted in the events and experiences of the people of the Kingdom. Yet we and our young people are largely cut off from these roots.

The Hebrews carried Joseph’s bones with them out of Egypt, as a tangible sign of their faith that God would keep his promises. It signified their continuity with Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, the context of their life, giving continuity and meaning. We 1990s Christians carry few “bones of Joseph” with us on our pilgrimage.

Losing our roots and a sense of continu­ity in the plan of God are morally destabilizing. If we lack a vision of the great plan and purpose, there is no reason to restrain ourselves. There is no motive for sacrifice and service in a cause greater than our­selves. Most people have no idea of God’s mighty deeds for our people, because their parents and teachers have not told them of the sacrifices and the revivals. In our moral confusion we are guilty of the charge of the prophets, “you have forgotten...”

Our children and students need to know how the Christian faith has shaped our society, our law and civil life; that our freedom is built ultimately on God’s law and the gospel. They need to know of our saints and martyrs, reformers and preach­ers, our “heroes and heroines” of the faith. We must restore access to this heritage to our youth.