Yesterday, I started a series of common open doors to the enemy based on the  “Can We Talk About This?” series I have the privilege of being a part of here in Amarillo at a local church.

We began this series by talking about common open doors to the enemy.  We all know that if you leave your windows cracked or door unlocked a thief could come in.  Right? So then, why are we as believers in the habit of doing so with the thief Jesus warns us about?

“Thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

“Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him standing firm in the faith..” 2 Peter 5:8-9

There are so many ways we can open doors to the enemy, but I want to share with you the second that I believe is very common in believers today…

Open Door #2: Hypocrisy

When I was preparing for my book, Rescue: Raising Teens in a Drowning Culture,  I asked a group of college students “What do you hold against my generation?”

Take a look at what they had to say…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrSXyEG9cAI&feature=youtu.be

Hypocrisy was their answer.

Definition of hypocrisy is: the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform, pretense.

I hear from young people all the time that although there are lots of people in church, the church people aren’t living like believers during the week.  It is often most difficult to share Christ with kids raised in church–they have been around this kind of hypocrisy their whole lives.  Authenticity is VERY important to millennials.  We should all be “all in.”

Did you know 80% of kids leave the church and don’t return after graduation?  However, 70% will stay in church or join a new church during college if they serve in church prior to graduation. We, as the body of Chris,t have to be authentic in our faith.

Let’s be genuine.  Let’s not let the next generation see us as hypocrites.  Let’s not open this door to the enemy.

My love,