And the conclusion of the matter? Be intentional. For the Colson Center, I’m John Stonestreet with The Point

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “The Teenage Spiritual Crisis,” reads like a book review of Christian Smith’s landmark study of teen spirituality Soul Searching. And, the phrase coined by Smith back in 2005—moralistic, therapeutic deism—still applies.

But let’s be clear, the idea that God is whoever we imagine him to be and is primarily interested in our happiness and our niceness is one that teens get straight from this culture. Think about it: Why do students so often doubt God but so rarely doubt squishy cultural mandates like “tolerance” and “equality.”

Listen, culture catechizes our teens even if the church fails to do so. At the same time, the church has to take seriously the very real questions teens have about God, themselves, truth, and faith.

My new book, A Practical Guide to Culture, was written to help parents intentionally confront culture with their teens–with truth and hope. Come to BreakPoint.org to find out more.