A New Moral System and churches are part of the Problem

Today The Barna Group released the results of their latest survey. Titled, Young Adults and Liberals Struggle with Morality, http://www.barna.org the findings are neither shocking or unexpected. The United States is adrift without a clear moral rudder and many churches are clearly a major part of the problem.

Barna states, "We are witnessing the development and acceptance of a new moral code in America," said the researcher and author (George Barna), who has been surveying national trends in faith and morality for more than a quarter-century. "Mosaics have had little exposure to traditional moral teaching and limited accountability for such behavior. The moral code began to disintegrate when the generation before them - the Baby Busters - pushed the limits that had been challenged by their parents - the Baby Boomers. The result is that without much fanfare or visible leadership, the U.S. has created a moral system based on convenience, feelings, and selfishness."

Now before anyone out there in the blogosphere jumps to a conclusion that I am blasting our pastors or churches, I am not saying anything that I have not already shared with them.

Look carefully at what Barna states ......."Mosaics have had little exposure to traditional moral teaching and limited accountability for such behavior."

We have separated the generations as far from one another as we can. We have left it for each generation to find their own way.

What we are seeing is the result of the loss of the intergenerational community within the local church. We have eliminated adult connections within the church particularly when it comes to the young generations and the impact is being felt.

One of the most stunning outcomes from the Barna survey was the moral pattern among adults under 25. The younger generation was more than twice as likely as all other adults to engage in behaviors considered morally inappropriate by traditional standards. Their choices made even the Baby Boomers - never regarded as a paragon of traditional morality - look like moral pillars in comparison.

We will not change the moral climate of our nation until we change the moral climate of our families and churches.

The climate change needed is to return our churches back to the intergenerational family God intended us to be.

A place where all generations are valued and where the lives of all generations are woven together.