This is Sparta: A Call to Arms for the Next Generation.

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

“For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

“And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.”

~ Ephesians 6:10-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

According to the Bible, we are in a war. Not against people, but against Satan and the forces of darkness. The moment we declare our allegiance to God, the forces of evil in this world go on the offensive. And we are called to be ready. Unfortunately, it seems that few of us are prepared to fight for what we believe—especially the youth of this generation.

Take a look at how we have been bringing up future generations for the last fifty years. 

Generally speaking, children being raised in the church go to Sunday school every week, learn Bible stories, sing songs, and make crafts, which they then show to their adoring parents. This is all good for the very young, of course. But unfortunately it tends to go on far longer than it should. Some kids today stay in Sunday school until they are 11, 12, or even 13 years old. At which point they usually start attending youth group. But again, these groups are failing to prepare our children.

Often times, the kids in youth groups are not paying attention to the message and are more interested in the group's social aspects. They use youth group as a time to play games, hang out, and flirt with their peers; instead of using it as a time to grow in their knowledge of God’s word. Essentially they are drinking milk when they should be eating solid food. (1 Corinthians 3:2)

So where is the discipleship? The leadership? Where is the instruction in righteousness?

I would hope that the parents are taking it upon themselves to teach their children about God—this is their calling, after all. (Proverbs 22:6) But once the kids are out from under their parent’s roof, they’re on their own. And too often the faith of their parents never became their own.

They go into the world unprepared, both spiritually and intellectually. They walk straight into a spiritual war-zone where their faith is challenged at every turn. The world bombards them with the idea that sin is good and admirable, and tells them that the Bible is nothing more than a bunch of fairy tales and the outdated ideals of a few elitist individuals, hell-bent on manipulating the week-minded for personal gain. 

Prominent individuals and great minds tell them that Jesus was just a man, that God is dead, and that religion “breeds ignorance” and hinders “free thinking.” And so many young Christians fall away.

Now I think one possible reason for this is that we have inadvertently taught our children to believe whatever they're told without question. We mean well, of course. We teach them about God and the Bible. But we don't necessarily teach them to think critically for themselves or encourage them to ask hard questions. So when inexperienced young Christians head out on their own, they do exactly what we've taught them to: They believe whatever they're told without question. Only now, what they're being told is the exact opposite of everything they learned growing up.

The truth is, Satan knows that the church is always just one generation away from extinction. He knows that if the old die without passing the flame, then the church will die with them. So what better way is there to destroy the church than to destroy the next generation of Christians? And what better way to destroy the next generation of Christians, than to discredit the Bible? If Satan can eliminate God’s Word as a factor, then what little defense they had will be stripped away.
We are locked in battle with an enemy who is literally trying to disarm us. Yet, we continue to treat church as if it is a “Country Club for Christians” and send children off to war dressed in tin-foil armor, carrying cardboard shields and wooden swords, while Satan sits behind a machine gun waiting for a chance to pull the trigger.

So what do we do?

I say we take a stand, here and now.

We need to teach our kids how to defend what they believe, logically and effectively. We need to reform our youth groups into training grounds—not just spiritually, but intellectually as well. We need to train up the next generation to be Warriors of Faith—Spiritual Spartans. They need to know how to use every tool at their disposal: The Bible, history, archaeology, philosophy, and science. We need to teach them how to think critically and encourage them to ask the hard questions. They are the church and they need to be able to discus difficult topics—not only among themselves, but among others also—comfortably and with authority. The last thing we need is for them to believe everything they're told without question. They need to be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, checking all things against God's Word to see if what they're being told is true.

Satan isn’t stupid. He knows that if he can destroy the Bible’s credibility, he will effectively strip us of our armor and weapons. So we need to know how to use extra-biblical information to reinforce what the Bible teaches. If people won’t listen to the Bible, they may be persuaded to listen to the facts. Use the hard evidence of the Bible’s validity to crack their defenses, and then use God’s Word as the knockout punch.

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

~ Hebrews 4:12 New Living Translation (NLT)

We are at war.

  We've been trying to fight lions with lambs when what we really need are Spartans—a generation of trained warriors, well equipped and ready to fight for the Truth.

But we also have to teach them how to stand together.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians, the Roman Empire ruled over the entire known world. The armor he was describing in Ephesians 6 was that of a Roman Legionary.

The Romans did not fight alone. They fought as one. A solder on his own was nothing. But a legion of soldiers working together—fighting in tight formation—was unstoppable. That is what we need to be. We need to be trained and equipped as individuals. But we also need to surround ourselves with others. We need to have people to lock shields with. We need accountability.

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 New Living Translation (NLT)

So it is up to us.

Youth leaders: Challenge your students to be more than they are and make provision for those who are ready and willing to learn to fight for their faith. Give them the choice to become “Spartans,” and encourage them to do so. Kids need to know the Bible and how to use it effectively in battle. But they also need to be able to think critically and defend their faith with logic and supporting evidence, should the need arise.

Pastors: Preach the truth and be ready to disciple the next generation. Make it your priority to be there for them. They need to be a part of the church now, not when they grow up.

Parents: Teach your children the ways of God and instruct them in everything to the best of your ability.

Children and Young adults: You are the church today. You are the next generation; the leaders of tomorrow. The enemy wants to destroy you, so you must be prepared. But be encouraged. Take up the full armor of God, and educate yourselves. Someday, you will have to take up the fight. You must always be ready to give a defense of the hope that is in you. (1 Peter 3:15)

Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Help one another. Teach the next generation the truth. Teach them to think critically and to use all of the tools God has given us. The evidence is plain to see. The Bible, archaeology, history, philosophy, and science all reveal God’s truth, for He has made it so. (Romans 1:19-20) But above all else, pray for each other, and hold one another accountable.

Today is the day we make our stand. Right here. Right now.

Satan wishes to disarm us so that he may stamp us out entirely, starting with our youth.

Satan and the forces of darkness say, “Lay down your weapons!”

I say, “Come and get them!”

What say you?