Steven Garofalo
Spirituality/Belief • Education • News
GenZ IS NOT HOPELESS!
By Steven Garofalo, Citing CBN Article, December 20, 2024
December 20, 2024

Gen Z is often talked about as a very conservative but sometimes depressed generation. Today, through an article by CBN, Christian Broadcast Network, published on 12/17/2024 04:55:30 PM by writer Charlene Aaron, I am going to show you that there is new hope, new life, and new energy happening with Gen Z. Let’s get started.

A Gallup survey found a surprising number of teenagers feel the pressure to be perfect all the time, leading to negative emotions. Young Life, a Christ-centered ministry that focuses on helping kids to know Jesus wanted to learn more in hopes of turning those feelings in a more positive direction through something called the “Relate Project”. What is “Relate Project?” It’s a study aimed to bridge the gap, offering a deeper understanding of Gen Z.

The study starts with communicating that "Around 40 percent of young people don't know or don't believe that they're worthy of love," Dr. Arthur Satterwhite, Young Life Ministry Vice President told CBN News. "It's something that should burden us all." 

The study found that relationships and communication, not online but in person, are on the minds of this generation.

More than half communicate most often one-on-one with their closest friend.  Another 20 percent talk through phone calls, Facetime, or WhatsApp. The remaining 25 percent tend to use texts, email, and direct messages to communicate with friends.

The research also found that friends and family are the primary sources of help for adolescents. 

THE REALITY OF MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES

Sadly, 40 percent of Gen Z worry about their mental health. When it comes to technology the study found that over 35 percent turn to social media when they feel anxious. This is an opportunity to reach out.

"The opportunity for us is not so much how do we get them off of it? It's how do we help them leverage it for positive aims? How can we equip them with a theology of technology that helps them to process, 'Where and how can this help me think and go deeper in my relationship with God?'" he said.

It is a goal that Stafford Craymer with Young Life in Virginia Beach, VA wants to dive into with young people.

Cranmer wrote that, "It can't just be verbal proclamation," said Craymer. "There's gotta be something tangible that kids can remember that they can hold onto, that they can touch, can relate to in their personal lives."  

COMBATING THE PANDEMIC’S AFTERMATH

Sadly, today, kids are a little less innocent, said Young Life volunteer Casey Heron. "This crazy pandemic I think took away some of their innocence and kind of forced them to grow up a little bit too quick."

“Satterwhite believes such challenges can be solved by the gospel through new strategies.” 

"This research is helping us understand what is the context that might inform what are today's methods. What are the new wineskins and what is then the new wine," Satterwhite commented.”

It is a shift that other ministries such as InterVarsity and CRU are also considering as they review Young Life's findings.

They say that it's been fun to see these other organizations who are struggling with some of the same things with a similar heart for young people, wrestle with, writing, “'Man, what are the implications for our ministry? How might we be more intentional about creating belonging for the young people that are calling our community home or being drawn to our community?'" Satterwhite described.”

"I think that we have had to and have become people where we're constantly sharing our lives with these students," said Young Life Staffer Gabby Brubaker. "We are entering into the lives of kids day in and day out consistently."

SIGNS OF REVIVAL AS GenZ RESPONDS TO TRUTH FAITH

When it comes to faith, GenZ is responding positively. Study and Young Life found that faith as a framing story helps folks, especially young people, to contextualize: 1) “what does belonging mean?” 2) 'Where do I fit in?' and 3) What could that look like as we help them to know not just who they are but who they are and what they're called to. That's what we're seeing as a direct correlation to increased flourishing."

It is a flourishing that Young Life as a ministry continues to shape. "There are 60 kids showing up every Friday before school to go to Bible study," Heron said. "We started, there might've been 10 people and that was a big number for us. So, to have 60 and it's just continuing to grow again, I think these kids are really resonating with the purpose, the love, the consistency that Jesus gives and they're really grabbing hold to that."

Natalie Browning, Young Life Volunteer said: "I know and have seen kids walk from death to life,". "They're not hopeless. This generation is not hopeless."

AS PARENTS OF GenZ CHILDREN

I would like to interject as a parent of three GenZ children that this generation is great source of hope for the country and world at large. They have seen what evil, sinful men and women leaders can do to other people. They sadly have seen the aftermath of the experiment called divorce on a wholesale level. They have seen corruption in government, business, school shootings, and people turned into literal zombies through drug abuse. And the list goes on. 

GenZ are more conservative in many ways and those in this special generation who currently trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior as well as those who will trust in Christ will turn the United States and world around for the good. Genz has seen the greed, selfishness and immoral side of humanity to a degree that most of us over the age of 50 didn’t. And they are turning to Christ through the love of others who would share God’s love with them. 

So today, I call on GenZ, on the parents of GenZ and the grandparents of GenZ to become proactive in building deep family relationships first and helping this young generation connect in human terms to God and to one another instead of or at least more so than a phone or computer screen.

There is hope for this generation and God has a plan for them. And it’s for this reason that “This Generation Is Not Hopeless'” While 40 Percent of Gen Z Feels Unlovable, Signs of Revival are emerging and you and I can help them grow in their faith, in relationship skills, and in their love for God and one another.

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While true in one sense, the truth is that we are called to get out of the cacoon and into the battle of good and evil as representatives of Lord and Savior-standing slbodly for His goodness once saved. We are not called to relax by the beach but to share the love and truth of a Christ with anyone who happens to be at the beach when we are visiting. And the same wherever we go 24/7.

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DO PETS GO TO HEAVEN?

When I was in seminary, the question was raised as to if pets or animals in general go to heaven. Our professor, Dr. Norman Geisler said this: “Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the Cross for the human race, not animals.” I was working out at the gym one day when one of the regulars, who had just moved to Charlotte, NC from California told me that one of her beloved dogs died; and would that dog go to heaven. I have her the same answer. But, was that the whole story? That’s what we are going to look at today.

In a peace by Michael Housman, Founder of GotQuestions.Org, Housman wrote that “The BIble does not give any explicit teaching on whether pets or animals in general have souls, or spirits, or whether pets and other animals will be in heaven.

His answer was short but the animals not having souls maybe up for debate.

We can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject though Housman wrote. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15 and 22) have the “BREATH OF LIFE” that is, both man and animals are living beings. Furthermore, the primary difference between human beings and animals is that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals are not.

Being made in the image and likeness of God means that human beings are like God in some ways; they are capable of spirituality; they have a mind, emotion, and “will”; and part of their “being” continues after death.

If pets and other animals do have a “soul” (or spirit or immaterial aspect), it must therefore be of a different and lesser “quality”. This difference possibly means that pets and other animal “souls”  do not continue in existence after death.

Another factor to consider regarding whether pets will be in heaven is that animals are a port of God’s creative process in Genesis. God created the animals and said they were good (Genesis 1:25). Therefore, there is no reason why there could not be pets and animals on the NEW EARTH as described in (Revelation 21:1). 

In the end, there will most definitely be animals during the millennial kingdom (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25). It is impossible to say definitely whether some animals of these animals might be the pets we had here on earth. We do know that God is just and that when we get to heaven, we will find ourselves in complete agreement with His decision on this issue, whatever that turns out to be.

So, there you have it. I think that’s the best answer on the subject in all honest. Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to our channel and check out StevenGarofalo.Com for exclusive content and early release of our two weekly podcast.

Until next time, I’m your host Steven Garofalo, and this is your reason for truth for today.

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AN ETHICAL ECONOMY IS GOOD FOR ALL
By Steven Garofalo, May 2, 2025

WHAT MAKES A GOOD ECONOMY

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Today, I am going to show you through Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 that vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, will devour one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Let’s get started.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor is an interesting subject in light of wealth, corruption, and the human heart. This subject effects many things, including what makes a good economy. 

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, verses eight to nine, Solomon says the following:

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
“8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

COMMENTARY: There are two things king Solomon is saying here within the theme of the vanity of WEALTH and HONOR. Wealth and honor are two different things, as one can have wealth with or without honor or honor with or without wealth. That being said, let’s look at verses 8 and 9 independently to see the simple message God provides us today through Solomon.

BREAK DOWN
Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY & WEALTH
 “8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them." 

COMMENTARY: Verse 8 clearly illustrates that there is a corruption at every level of government, with higher level oppressors plundering the equally oppressive lower-level magistrates. This perhaps explains the st state of America and the world. With blackmail running. Rampant and the public sector unchecked, they have been robbing the everyday citizen of their hard earned money. As a result, the system became insulated and division between the haves and have nots became more defined. When the high level government officials rob and abuse those below them, someone above that person robs and abuses the higher level person himself.

In America, where we print money out of thin air for the world, in this short period of history, there is little need to plunder those under one authority because there is so much to steal that those in authority can simply pay them off or blackmail them; whichever is most convenient. Either way, Solomon makes abundantly clear that when there is nobody minding the ship, evil perpetuates to the point of overtaking the government in whole. As a result, we end up with a 2024 government, riddles with corruption, immorality, blackmail, lawlessness, and all other things evil due to the lack of God-ness which equates to “goodness”. 

Economically speaking, when this happens to a country, its own economy begins to decline into debt due to their insatiable desire and emotional need for more money and resources. When resources are stripped and money is squandered, the elite few are smart enough to collect those resources and money and we end up with a U.S. Stock Market where only 5% holds up to 80%  of the entire market wealth. 

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
The answer and solution is to keep to return to the system we created in the first place which is free market capitalism that allows those who desire to work hard, to have a fair chance at success, making money and turning a fair profit. This is called “honor for everyone”.

HONOR FOR EVERYONE
"9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

CONCLUSION:

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, devours one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Solomon (Qohelet) considered goverment to be frustrating becuase it was a necessary evil, something deply flawed but indespsnsible. On the one hand people sould "not be shocked" when they see OPPRESSION and injustice in a governmental province (v.8). After all, bloated government bureaucracy tends to frustrate justice (v.8b). On the other hand, government has it advantages (v.9). Many hold to the belief that this verse continues the negeative assessment of government. Others see this passage better understood more positively since it fits with Qohelet's normal pattern of "on the one hand, on the other.." way of teaching. 

Even a corrupt government is better than anarchy, which devastates a country, it's culture and in Solomon's time, an agrarian economy that would lead to starvation. Keeping to God's ways is the only solution to man's sinful nature; especially in governmental rule. In the end, a king who devotes himself to developing the resources of the land ushers in a systems that brings the opportunity for profit to all, not just the corrupt few.

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SOLA SCRIPTURA
A Protestant & Catholic View Comparison

I grew up Catholic and now go to a Protestant or non-Catholic church in Charlotte, NC. Michael Houdmann, Founder and CEO of GotQuestions.Org writes that a major difference between the two boils down to believing in the Bible alone as God's word verses believing that God's word plus man's input as the divine inspired word of God.

WHAT DO PROTESTANTS BELIEVE?

A major difference is the issue of sufficiency and authority of Scripture. While Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the source of God's special revelation to mankind, it also speaks to everything we need to understand as necessary for our salvation from sin.

Protestants view the Bible as the STANDARD for Christian morality and ethics which governs our behavior. This is called sola scripture and is one of the five Solas in Christianity. (Solas meaning "alone" in Latin. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes clear that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV).

WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

Catholics do not believe in sola scriptura hence do not believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. They see both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition as equally authoritative and binding on the Christian. While not all Catholics hold to doctrines such as purgatory, praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc., the Catholic doctrine hold to them even though they have little or no mention or basis in the Bible. In truth, these doctrines are based on Roman Catholic traditions based on the Catholic Church's insistence that the Bible and tradition are equal in authority. The problem with this is that it undermines the sufficiency, authority, and completeness of the Bible. The view of Scripture is at the root of many, if not all, of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

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