THEME

DEFINTION

FRUIT IN TEENS

BIBLICAL ALTERNATIVE

Relativism

• No absolute standard or life
• Each person determines what is right for himself

• No consistency of lifestyle
• No internal restraint
• Susceptibility to influence of others
• Dislike of rules

TRUTH: A willing submission and obedience to the commands and principles of Scripture

Individualism

• No higher goal than my happiness and pleasure
• No higher purpose than meeting my own needs, wants, rights, & desires

• Selfishness, self-centeredness, “rights” focus
• Lack of commitment to others
• Laziness, irresponsibility
• Grumbling, complaining

TWO GREAT COMMANDS: Life shaped by practical commitment to love God and to love neighbor

Emotionalism

• Feelings the most influential, most important indicator of what is right and best
• Feelings as personal guidance system

• Teen moved by what feels right—good feelings focus
• Seldom acts against feelings
• Sensitive to approval or disapproval of others

BIBLICAL FAITH: Commitment to test everything by the truths of Scripture

Presentism

• Focus on the present—living for the moment
• Focus on present personal happiness
• No sense of delayed gratification or investment

• A “got to have it now” mentality
• No focus on long-term investment
• No sense of consequences
• Impulsive decisions

ETERNITY: A personal commitment to do everything that I can do with an eye toward the reality of eternity

Materialism

• No recognition of the spiritual world
• Goal of life is experiencing physical pleasure and possessing material goods
• Focus on what is seen

• No independent pursuit of the things of the Lord
• No focus on character and attitude
• Focus on clothing, beauty, friends, & things

SPIRITUALITY: A life that is shaped by a seriousness about issues of the heart and relationship with God

Autonomy

• No sense of innate, natural responsibility to a higher authority than self
• No functional recognition of the existence of God and call to live to His glory

• Tendency toward rebellion to authority
• No real Godward focus in life
• Authority and correction seen as negative

CREATUREHOOD: life guided by a recognition of the Creator and living to His glory

Victimism

• No sense of personal responsibility for actions
• Belief that I am what my experience has made me
• My defects are the result of others and situations outside of my control

• Regular patterns of blameshifting
• Excusing, rationalizing bad behavior—defensiveness
• Lack of confession
• Lack of sense of need for personal change

SIN: humble recognition of struggle with sin within and temptation without; thankfulness for the forgiving grace of Christ