"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV
Satan isn't original. The same tactics he used in Biblical times, he still uses today. He may tweak them for a certain generation or demographic, but they're the same nonetheless.
So is the case for today's young adults. As a young adult myself, I can attest that from birth till now, our world has been inundated with this world. Whether through social platforms, the media or the classroom, we were raised in a culture that promoted every one of Satan's lies.
Just like every generation before us, today's young adults (18-35 year olds), are a byproduct of the culture in which we grew up. What started as subtle messages in our childhoods snowballed into an avalanche of beliefs inspired by none other than the Father of Lies himself.
Our culture has gradually increased its glorification of extramarital sex, drinking, drugs, abortion, homosexuality, divorce, polygamy and pornography, but the culprit hasn't just been the entertainment or social media worlds. Remember, Millennials (born 1981-1996) didn't always have technology, therefore, our lives haven't always revolved around it.
While in middle and high school, I'd hear stories of my classmates having sex and getting blackout drunk over the weekend. A number of my peers had abortions, some more than one. In English class, we read a book with a scene of a young boy masturbating and stories heralding homosexuality.
And that was just in rural Darke County. These experiences paled in comparison to what I heard and saw in college. Praise God He protected me from ever getting involved with any of it, but that's not the case for too many young adults.
For those never raised in a God-fearing home or those immature in the faith, it's easy for them to go with the flow of the world. When they have a college professor tell them to write a paper justifying homosexuality or face flunking, they go along with it. When they hear our political leaders say abortion is okay and should even be celebrated, they believe them. When society tells them no strings attached sex is okay, they agree.
Does that mean they are beyond hope then, that their hearts are hardened beyond saving? By no means! Our God defeated Satan and his lies at the Cross, and it is His power living within us. The next time you encounter a young adult, here are some ways you can minister to them in the name of Jesus:
Pray for them and against the evil spirits at play behind the scenes (Ephesians 6:12)
Put yourself in their shoes (1 Corinthians 9:21)
Love them like Jesus, not like a Pharisee (Luke 10:25-37)
If we follow Jesus' example, He will soften hearts through us and redeem those young adults who have been lost to this world.
References:
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). Crossway Bibles.
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