By Carrie Brown McWhorter
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist
A recent study suggests that teens read the Bible less when they are busy with school and activities, but student leaders say parental example can help reverse that trend.
The Teen State of the Bible 2016 report, commissioned by American Bible Society and conducted by Barna Research in May, found that 69 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 own a Bible, but only 25 percent of teens read the Bible four or more times per week. More than half of the 1,013 teens surveyed, 53 percent, say they wish they read the Bible more.
The No. 1 reason given for the decline was “being too busy with life’s responsibilities.” It’s a concern echoed by many students.
“I am not satisfied with the amount of time I spend reading the Bible, but I feel as if I don’t have enough time in the day to even get little things done after going to school and work,” said Kaitlyn, 18.
Big change in students
Emma, 17, said she too has trouble prioritizing Bible study during the week.
“I am never home. I get up at 5:30 for school, get home at 7 at night, do two hours of homework, eat dinner with my family and then pass out,” she said.
Bill Morrison, senior Baptist campus minister at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said he has not noticed a big change in college students in terms of Bible reading.
“We deal with students who take their faith pretty seriously and always have,” Morrison said.
Morrison has seen more interest in small group Bible study and accountability groups among the student population he serves. Students also have more access to the Bible because they have Scripture available on their phones.
One change Morrison has noted over the past two decades is a decrease in biblical literacy.
No foundation
“We have unchurched people who come to our small group Bible studies, and I can no longer depend on them knowing the stories of the Bible,” he said. “There is no biblical foundation, so they don’t know about Moses or Noah or David and Goliath.”
Barna researchers found that a high percentage of American teens, 86 percent, view the Bible as sacred literature.
‘Respect for … Bible’
Arthur Satterwhite, senior manager of national movements mobilization at American Bible Society, said, “American teens sometimes get a bad rap as being uninterested or even anti-faith. But (the) Teen State of the Bible report shows that a majority of America’s teens have respect for and interest in the Bible.”
Among the 18 percent of teens who increased their Bible reading, 55 percent said that they did so because they “came to understand [Bible reading] as an important part of [their] faith journey.”
“Many teens are recognizing that the Bible speaks to the complete human experience — the struggles and trials and triumphs of life,” Satterwhite said.
Making reading a priority
The study also found that teens notice their parents’ Bible reading habits and the influence of faith at home. Half of teens surveyed said they see their parents reading the Bible “frequently” or “sometimes” and said the Bible has “a lot” of influence on rules at home.
Scooter Kellum, youth ministry strategist in the office of collegiate & student ministries at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, helps Alabama Baptists with ministry to students in grades 7–12. He believes parents remain the top reason teens make Bible reading a priority — or don’t.
‘No. 1 thing missing’
“Studies continue to show that the No. 1 influence on teens is still their parents. If that is true, the No. 1 thing missing is not seeing the example set by their parents of spending time with the Lord at home,” Kellum said.
Teens assume their youth leaders read the Bible. However, if they don’t see their parents engaged in reading Scripture or hear them talk about Scripture or Jesus at home, they don’t see faith as a priority, Kellum said.
“If parents will train themselves to live a godly life and not just a church life, we will see a difference in our kids’ spiritual lives. I believe we will also see a difference in our homes, in our churches and around the world.”
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