There is a generation who believed in Jesus ...yet, they also believed that their children needed a better chance here on earth. They sent their children to what they believed were the best colleges. Best often meaning most expensive and prestigious.

And those children, who were no longer children, were following the confidence of their new leaders ...not their family values and traditions.

Many of those young adults left the faith, having faith in new ways, new discoveries, and new understandings.  They began to focus on the created instead of the Creator.

Why??  

Was it only their totally faith and commitment to their professors??  

Of course not.

What then??

Here are some perceptions:

• They believe that God failed them ...some then viewing God as uncaring, and not answering prayer.  Expectations were not met, and life was riddled with disappointments ...not the promised pedigree of being a Christian.  The rewarding life they felt was ahead of them as a result of them being a Christian ...seemed to be nothing short of empty. Many of them also had to face the death of someone close to them ...someone they cared about, or felt they loved.  This is always difficult to deal with, yet especially so if the death was by suicide.
• Evolution was very well-documented, and though seemingly rather impersonal ...it did not carry with it the empty promises and expectations.  As people evolved, things would get better.
• The old cliches of: "Just have faith!" seemed insincere answers to questions they were interested in having answered.
• They felt cut by a double-edged sword ...with alleged legalism pushing a deception with its misconception of having to be perfect, while at the same time seeing that actions often speak louder than words and there are many professed Christians who are hypocrites ---being equally immoral, rude, and judgmental.
• The focus switched from our Creator to a feeling that if we didn't protect the planet God gave us ...God would be unable to do anything to save us.  But, really God would not often even enter the conversation ...and we become the caretakers of our planet, having to cure world hunger, curb war, and bring about world peace.
• Our present world that we live in, with those around us whom we live with ...seem more real to us than an invisible God.

The fact is, when people think we have an impersonal God ...they are ignoring the simple truth that God sent His Son. How much more personal can it get??

And Jesus walked this this earth as a humble man ...born in a manger, having to escape Herod's wrath as a child, then traveling about with His parents while learning a trade.  As He became to a respected adult age, He traveled about attempting to help change everyone's bleak outlook on life, providing a hope, then suffering a cruel horrendous death for what He believed in ...which is eternal life for us in paradise, with Him.

Today, not much in academia will give much time or emphasis to what Jesus did.  They ignore what accepting Jesus would entitle them to ...but, instead allow a bitter disparity to grow. And a society which has been given false hopes will readily attach onto a government entitlement mentality with a philosophy of, "It is better to receive than give."

That appears backwards to me ...though very common in practice. One time I'm sure it's not backwards is when we receive Jesus ...and give ourselves a break.  

Yet, it could be argued that we must first give Him our heart ...and then give to others without having to receive anything in return.  In truth, if we have the greatest gift and we don't lose it by giving to others ...then forget the semantics, Jesus gave His life, and wants to receive us as His followers.

It is rather simply ...yet, we cannot afford to simply miss it!!