The Folly and Vanity of Youth

Dr. Johnson leads us to concise and much needed direction that he emphatically and biblically addresses for the instruction of the young people in our homes and our churches. In this age of easy electronic access to any and everything one desires, biblical instruction leading to clear training from parents and pastors is essential to protecting our children and enabling their understanding of the truth that can be found only in God’s Holy Word. The battle for our children has transitioned from a clandestine effort to one that the enemy now openly proclaims “yes, we’re coming for your children”. This will be a go to resource for parents and pastors in the ongoing battle for the souls of our children. Using the teaching of Benjamin Keach, Dr. Johnson shows us that our children, and their sin, cannot be excused simply because they are young and unlearned. On the contrary, he shows us clearly that our children’s sins must be acknowledged to them and addressed even at the earliest ages. As parents, we are encouraged to not grow weary as we train up our children as their eternal hope lies in the balance. Dr. Johnson gives a much needed exhortation to pastors, encouraging them to in turn exhort parents, by shepherding and encouraging them to stay the course. May the teaching contained herein motivate the reader to adhere to the direction of our Lord as outlined by Dr. Johnson and Benjamin Keach, guiding the reader so that we and our children might always consider the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Freudian psychoanalysis and Pelagian theology found their way, although implicitly, into our personal confessions of faith and practice. Many wrongly see children as innocent and justify their sinfulness by masking it behind culturally acceptable terms and perspectives, like inventing a supposed “age of accountability” which discourages a serious consideration of the urgency of their sinful situation in both their hearts as well as their parents and pastors. Our complacency with regards to their evil state before the Lord, though, is not in line with our Baptist heritage, and more importantly, the Scriptures. Somewhere along the way, we made a wrong turn and have left generations of young people with hall passes unto a woeful fate. We must make correct distinctions between the veil of moralism and liberalism, which both eclipse the glory of the gospel equally. Therefore, we must recover our Baptist heritage of the theology of children and compare it and ourselves with the biblical gospel and its entailments regarding children. There probably is no better figure that represents this heritage than the Particular Baptist minister, Benjamin Keach (1640-1704). Sadly, though, Keach’s teaching and admonitions to both parents and youth alike, although priceless, have more recently not been appreciated or forgotten. Corey has carefully dusted off Keach’s theology of children, reintroduced it to the 21st century believer, and skillfully exegeted it into clear warnings and principles for both parents and children alike. I beseech each reader, whether parent, pastor, or both, to immerse themself into the following pages, compare them (alongside their own understanding of children) to the Scriptures and apply the learned eternal truths to their churches, homes, and hearts. I beseech youth who read this timely, although timeless, book to evaluate their lives and hearts regarding the glory of our Lord Jesus, their standing before him, and finally his gospel.

The first time I heard the content of the teaching of The Folly and Vanity of Youth, I thought the usefulness of these sermons demanded they be published in book format. But I must honestly say that the finished product has far exceeded my already high expectations. If I could describe the nature of the book you hold in your hands, I would say it is an introductory manual to the soul of the youth. Reflecting on the careful observations that Particular Baptist pastor Benjamin Keach made in the 17th century about the condition of young people, Dr. Johnson invites us to look through the windows of their hearts to understand what is at the root of their most common sins and how they should be addressed. As you read on, you will notice that the author not only admirably accomplishes the task of unveiling the hearts of young people, but that he does so using simple language that makes this book delightful. His reflections are permeated with the careful treatment of a pastor who appeals to the reader in a balanced and urgent way. He both confronts sin bluntly and constantly and places before the heart the glorious reminder of God's grace, which is available to anyone who, moved by the weight of guilt, clings to this grace. Read this book for your own edification. Read it with your children and use it to show them what God expects of them. Read it with the young people in your church and make it a necessary resource to get to know them and minister to their hearts with mercy and truth.