By Arnie Cole
U.S. and U.K. Youth Struggle Significantly More Than Youth of Other Developed Nations As I’ve reviewed our latest general population study findings of major developed countries and the U.S., Back to the Bible is very concerned about what to do for our kids and grandkids.
82% of transgender individuals
have considered killing themselves,
and 40% have attempted it.
One of the first things that jumped out at me was the suicidal tendencies of teens in the U.S. and the United Kingdom—they are significantly different from the other seven countries in the random sample study. For boys in the U.S. and U.K., the tendency is double or greater. And for girls it is even worse.
As I looked closely at the data in all these studies, it became clear that these poor kids have lost their faith, which causes me to ask: What is creating this situation in the U.S. and Great Britain that isn’t found in the other 7 developed countries? How is faith nurtured or protected differently in those countries? Once I discover the answers, I’ll share them with you.
Meanwhile, I came across a Pew study that says 5% of our U.S. population is transgender. The report also explains that current 13 to 17-year-olds are significantly more likely to identify as transgender compared to older generations. Knowing that 82% of transgender individuals have considered killing themselves, and 40% have attempted it, you can see that kids trapped in this mindset are suffering, and without a body of believers to help them, they have nowhere to turn.
Now, I promise there is good news, but stay with me because there is one more story you need to hear. It’s a heartbreaking account by the New York Times about Jessica Bradshaw who was kept in the dark by her daughter’s school only to discover what was going on by accident.
The article described how Mrs. Bradshaw’s daughter was allowed by her school to go by a boy’s name, use male pronouns and use the boys’ restroom for six months. Here’s the kicker:
Mrs. Bradshaw was confused: Didn’t the school need her permission, or at least need to tell her?
It did not, a counselor later explained, because the student did not want “his” parents to know. District and state policies instructed the school to respect “his” wishes.
“There was never any word from anyone to let us know that on paper, and in the classroom, our daughter was our son,” Mrs. Bradshaw said.
It makes me furious that so many governmental agencies are taking active steps to help lead kids down a life of transgenderism without the knowledge or consent of their parents. It’s another indication that struggles are gaining ground.
But here’s the thing, sexual confusion and sin isn’t new. The first Christ followers lived in a world where immoral acts were not only ok, but good, even romanticized. That’s why Paul urged the people in Colossae to “put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. …. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.”(Colossians 3:5, 7) The people
in this church came from all walks of life, leaving behind all variety of sin to follow Jesus.
Remember, our Savior has the power to save anyone from any situation. He saved me and that came as a surprise to many! So if we, like Paul, want people to put off their “grave clothes”, we need to offer them the “grace clothes” of Jesus. That starts by looking at every
person as someone who was created and loved by God — and like us — in need of a Savior.
That’s why we’re excited to invite everyone into our goTandem app to meet Jesus. Everyone. As for our personal interactions, it means that you and I need to get to know people as people, even transgender people. No, we don’t condone their lifestyles, but we also do not run from them or think of ourselves as better than them. After all, we too need God’s grace and forgiveness.
Hey, I understand our country is well on the road to making some poor decisions. But we’re not there alone. Jesus is with us. His Word and His promises still hold true. God is still in control, and we have a job to do! So today, let’s pray for Holy Spirit opportunities to ask the right questions, listen to honest answers, and invite others, especially young people, to share the new life of Jesus with us.
In this together,
Arnie Cole