The complaint of the Christian actress on Twitter reflects the tiredness of many with media which intentionally ignore matters of faith.
It is urgent to reflect on the issues and challenges of childhood, both as a society and as local churches.
November 20 is the World Children's Day, a date when the media offer a space to the reality of children.
The risk is to give just a quick and superficial look at the reality. But just leaning to the surface, we can perceive several challenges that would be worth deepening.
DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE
One of them is the demographic challenge. Europe leads the worldwide drop in fertility rates. According to the experts, the reasons are diverse, but some figures are incontestable.
It is increasingly difficult for young couples to consolidate a life project. In many European countries, it takes longer to enter the labor market, job precariousness stretches over time, and women choose or have to delay or forgo giving birth.
This imbalance between vital and biological maturity barely appears in the political debate, despite the consequences that this situation can have for the society as a whole, such as the problem that many European countries have with the decrease of the pension savings fund.
INDIVIDUALISM AND LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY
This socio-economic situation goes along with a prevailing individualist philosophy, what some sociologists call the prolongation of adolescence. We stretch a life stage in which responsibilities are scarce.
Our consumer culture encourages self-satisfaction and eludes sacrifice. And there are not many counterweights which offer a positive promotion of family, quite the contrary.
UNPROTECTED CHILDREN
What is the situation of children in Europe?
In Spain, for example, the NGO Save The Children reported that one out of three children is at risk of social exclusion. What are we doing to change this situation?
On the other hand, we see with concern the advance of gender ideology in health care and education. Governments are trying to impose a vision of sexuality that does not have scientific support, while at the same time questioning the capacity and responsibility of parents in the education of their children.
CHILDREN IN OUR CHURCHES
How do Christians respond to this challenge? What happens in the churches?
As Javier Martín, coordinator of an emerging Working Group for Children of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance, says: “We should continue to be amazed at the place Jesus gave children in His Kingdom”.
Is this gospel reality reflected in our churches? These challenges related to childhood need to be addressed seriously and urgently.
An interview with the socio-political representative of the European Evangelical Alliance about how evangelical Christians work at the heart of the European Union.
Are Christians called to make a difference in environmental care? What has creation care to do with "loving our neighbours"? An interview with the Global Advocacy and Influencing Director of Tearfund.
An interview with Lars Dahle, of the Steering Committee of the Lausanne Movement Global Consultation on Nominal Christianity held in Rome.
Nico Spies, a Christian worker in Athens, gives details about the wildfires in Greece.
The first evangelical congress on childhood and family was held in Madrid. Pictures of the event, November 1-2.
Students, graduates and staff of the global evangelical student movement reflected together on how the books of Luke and Acts apply to today's universities.
Photos of the Lausanne Movement Global Workplace Forum, celebrated in Manila.
Images of the fifth EFN gathering. Experts, activists, counsellors and church leaders met in Pescara, Italy.
The World Evangelical Alliance's General Assembly 2019 in Jakarta, Indonesia, brought together 800 evangelicals from 92 countries to pray, worship and cast vision for the new decade of holistic discipleship.
Adrian Reynolds, Associate National Director for the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), explains how a godly leader should be.
The hip-hop artist and his gospel choir performed ‘Jesus Is King’ songs in a Houston prison. Images of the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
“It is not just pastors who do ministry. When the saints are doing the ministry too, the Body of Christ is build up and grows towards maturity in the faith”, says Greg Ogden, Chairman Global Discipleship Initiative.
Opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Evangelical Focus.
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