"Breaking News"

There was a time period in world history and even American history when being uninformed about current events was a legitimate excuse. That time period is long gone. The internet, television, and social media have made cultural issues part of our daily routine. Recently, Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty made rather controversial statements about homosexuality. The news was ablaze with debate about Christianity and homosexuality. Are the two compatible? What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Is this a first amendment issue?

I quickly learned most Christians, especially our youth, have no idea what the Bible says on homosexuality or other current cultural topics. They simply give a robotic response that has been stamped into them. When a young person is asked “why” they have a certain belief they often respond, “the Bible says so” without any specific understanding of what Scripture actually teaches on the subject. That answer may be a good start, but far from being adequate.

The Bible is our foundation, it must be! As a Christian educator this is what brings me alongside the parents. Our foundation is the same, Scripture. This is why at the beginning of my history classes I often discuss the current cultural topics. This engages the student to think about their surroundings and the world in which they live. Because of social media and television my students are often informed about current cultural trends and issues. It is from this point that I direct them to Scripture. We discuss the issues openly in light of the scripture. Students need to hear current events discussed and analyzed by peers, teachers, and parents for the following reasons:

1. Current cultural issues will affect them
2. They will eventually make a decision on what they believe
3. The “Bible says so” is simply not a sufficient answer
4. If we don’t help mold their thinking someone else will

Whatever the current issue may be students should be well informed about the topic and what Scripture teaches. As parents and teachers we should not avoid difficult cultural topics. It is these difficult topics that our young people often wonder about the most. Why? Because these are the issues they most often deal with in their interactions with the lost world. We must teach them how to take Scripture and apply it practically to their everyday lives as Christians!

-Bret Yates, Social Studies/History Instructor

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