Spiritual Junkfood

-“Teachers do not correct the student…even if what he says is contradictory to what the Bible teaches.”
-“It is a sin to bore young people with the gospel.”
- “Scripture memorization is outdated, intimidating and embarrassing.”
Imagine if you were trying to find a church that offered a sound Children’s Ministry or Youth Group and those were the things told to you by the leaders of those groups. Would you allow your child to attend? Would you take action if you knew those types of things were being advocated by your current churches youth program or Sunday school? Those are quotes from some of the largest, best known publishers of youth curriculum; publishers such as Youth Specialties, Group Publishing, Gospel Light Publishing and Cook Publishing. I’m sure that you have heard of some of them. Mickels and McKeever have written a stinging expose of what is being taught to our youth in the name of Christianity. Curriculum publishers have abandoned the sufficient Word of God and replaced it with an emotionally based, humanistic form of education (or perhaps more appropriatetly, brainwashing?). Throughout the pages of this book are references to games, studies, programs and events that teach children to look inward to their subjective feelings, rather than training their minds to look to, and apply the Word of God. Here is one example:

Group Publishing has an activity designed to help the youth to “think green,” and to learn stewardship of God’s creation. With that objective, blindfolded children gather outside in the midst of trees to hug and feel them with their hands. Then, after everyone has had a chance to hug a tree, the teacher is instructed to proceed with touchy-feely questions such as: “How did it feel to hug a tree?...How did you feel when you recognized the tree you hugged?” (p.29).

This absurd activity will condition youth in the church to accept a philosophy that is at odds with biblical truth. If you have children or adolescents involved in programs at your church, do yourself a favor and inspect the curriculum being used. You may be in for a shock! This book will give a great starting point for identifying and understanding the secular humanism which has been incorporated into modern youth curriculum. Also, you’ll be glad to know that Spiritual Junk Food received ringing endorsements from people like Jay Adams, John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul, D. James Kennedy & Erwin Lutzer. “This is a much needed warning about the influence of popular psychology in curriculum that is supposed to reflect strong Biblical teaching.” (from Lutzer’s endorsement). Don’t wait to read this book! Do it soon. Read ‘em & Reap!
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Posted by: Tim at October 6, 2004 08:30 AM