apol 220 Week 7

Reply to at least 1 classmate’s thread offering a response to the cultural trend presented by another student.

Student 1

Sarah Kennedy
Discussion Board Forum 2
COLLAPSE

One of the most challenging cultural trends of late modernism today, has to do with the Ethics of Authenticity, and the quest for fulfillment and identity, which I believe goes hand in hand. 

In the textbook Chatraw and Allen display research from Gabe Lyons and David Kinnaman. To paraphrase, the study shows that when it comes to desires, enjoyment, and personal identity most of the surveyed Christians agree with the rest of the United states in that; one should pursue what they desire, that enjoyment in life is most important, and that you find your identity by looking inward. 1. Like non-church goers, many in the church are missing a sincere connection with God and are seeking fulfillment elsewhere. 

People are constantly searching for the next thing that makes them happy, we search for our identities in our jobs, families, looks, school, even marriage. 2. We live in a world that sells gods, we pick and choose in hopes to get what we need. When these idols lose their luster, we go on searching everywhere but the place we should go. How long can a person go on like this without feeling a sense of hopelessness? As life goes on fruitless, people will push the limits in attempt to find that feeling of being happy all while becoming more distant to God. 

Christians do not have it so easy when it comes to sharing their thoughts on the matter, it is hard to plant the seeds of the spirit when you are figuratively being beaten away with a stick. We are told that we are being hateful, and oppressive by the world. Sadly, even some churches, are telling Christians that they are wrong when it comes to Gods view of morality and sexuality. With the world changing in this late modern age, I fear our youth is most at risk. We must become bold and confident warriors for Christ in a world that tells us our personal convictions are our own and we are wrong to share them. 

1. Chatraw, Joshua D., and Mark D. Allen. An Invitation to Apologetics at the Cross. In Apologetics at the Cross: an Introduction for Christian Witness, pg. 229. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018. 

2. Ibid., 231