Why Are We Losing the Kids? Sandra M. Platt
Available at Amazon
www.amazon.com/Why-Are-We-Losing-Kids/dp/1539596206/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490786364&sr=8-1&keywords=why+are+we+losing+the+kids
Of all the problems within Christianity today, child evangelism may be the hardest to face. Sadly, many will turn from the truth, following their emotions and embracing the traditions of the multitudes instead.
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." –Matthew 7:13-14
Our modern views on Child Evangelism are a reflection of these flawed perspectives. Decisional Regeneration (the heart of Easy Believism) has convinced us that salvation is as simple as coercing a profession; and who is easier to coerce than a child? This philosophy has resulted in an unbiblical shift in the direction of the Church. In many churches the children’s ministries now take priority over all others.
It has become a matter of great urgency to evangelize children right out of the nursery; but where is the urgency in bringing adults, young adults, or even the elderly to Christ? Have we decided that they are beyond reach, or as a Nineveh to us? Are we, as Jonah’s, fleeing our God given command? Is child evangelism really even biblical evangelism and discipleship? If so, why do we NOT see the early church evangelizing children?
Have God’s commands for us changed? Were his instructions for us insufficient? Did he somehow fail to foresee the need today to reach families through children’s ministries? Have we somehow become wiser than God? Or could it be that we’ve forsaken the right way and begun instead to do that which is right in our own eyes?
We spend thousands of dollars and countless hours on VBS, Bible clubs, Youth Groups, and Camps every year and yet we continue to lose these kids once they reach adulthood. Then we spend equally ridiculous amounts of money funding studies to find out why we’re losing them. Is it really so hard for us to see that they simply are not truly saved? That “they went out from us” (1 Jn. 2:19) because they were not of us?
How long will we pretend not to see the false converts we’re reaping from this false gospel we've sown? Reclaiming Biblical Christianity answers these questions and more, evaluating current trends in the light of God’s unchanging word. Will we obey God, or continue to lean to our own understanding?
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." –Matthew 7:13-14
Our modern views on Child Evangelism are a reflection of these flawed perspectives. Decisional Regeneration (the heart of Easy Believism) has convinced us that salvation is as simple as coercing a profession; and who is easier to coerce than a child? This philosophy has resulted in an unbiblical shift in the direction of the Church. In many churches the children’s ministries now take priority over all others.
It has become a matter of great urgency to evangelize children right out of the nursery; but where is the urgency in bringing adults, young adults, or even the elderly to Christ? Have we decided that they are beyond reach, or as a Nineveh to us? Are we, as Jonah’s, fleeing our God given command? Is child evangelism really even biblical evangelism and discipleship? If so, why do we NOT see the early church evangelizing children?
Have God’s commands for us changed? Were his instructions for us insufficient? Did he somehow fail to foresee the need today to reach families through children’s ministries? Have we somehow become wiser than God? Or could it be that we’ve forsaken the right way and begun instead to do that which is right in our own eyes?
We spend thousands of dollars and countless hours on VBS, Bible clubs, Youth Groups, and Camps every year and yet we continue to lose these kids once they reach adulthood. Then we spend equally ridiculous amounts of money funding studies to find out why we’re losing them. Is it really so hard for us to see that they simply are not truly saved? That “they went out from us” (1 Jn. 2:19) because they were not of us?
How long will we pretend not to see the false converts we’re reaping from this false gospel we've sown? Reclaiming Biblical Christianity answers these questions and more, evaluating current trends in the light of God’s unchanging word. Will we obey God, or continue to lean to our own understanding?
Can A 4 Year- Old "Get Saved" ?
I recently heard testimony and praise about a 4 year- old child that “got saved”. The tearful story of the ecstatic Grandmother of the child, evoked an emotional celebration within our local congregation. Halleluiah’s and Praise the Lords were heard from some, as others smiled and nodded their approval. I honestly had to wonder though, “Am I the only one who thinks this is a bit unlikely?”
You might ask, “Don’t you believe that a 4 year- old can be saved? Well, if you mean by that: “Can a four year- old be taught a couple of bible verses and catch phrases and told to love Jesus (the unseen person he has not met), and then led to repeat a prayer with the promise of Heaven as a reward?” Absolutely! Without a doubt, I believe that he can perform this act. This however, IS NOT bible salvation. Do people honestly believe that it IS?
Now, on the other hand, if you were to ask whether I believe that a 4 year- old can understand his lost condition as a sinner condemned before a righteous God to an eternity in Hell, repent and trust in Jesus Christ alone as his only hope of forgiveness; I would have to say that I think it is pretty unlikely. Granted, there may possibly be children that young who do indeed have great spiritual understanding beyond their years, and as much as every parent wants to believe that their child is such a spiritual phenomenon; I would imagine that it is truly rare.
Almost every child in church today believes in Jesus. “… the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19 That does not mean that they are saved. (Most of these children also believe in Santa. That does not make them elves, or even very discerning.) Simply believing in the existence of Jesus or even in the facts of His death, burial and resurrection is NOT salvation. Praying a prayer is also NOT salvation.
As a former Catholic, from a child, I believed in God, and that Jesus Christ was the sinless son of God, who came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for my sins, and rose again the third day. I even knew him as the one who saves us from our sins, but I was not saved. It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s that through the conviction of the holy Spirit, I began to see myself as a sinner, and became repentant toward God. Even then however, there remained within me, a stumbling block which prevented me from truly believing the gospel. I was still clinging to the works-based salvation method that I had been taught, believing that I could offer something toward the price of my pardon.
When through the hearing of the word, God shined the glorious light of the gospel of Jesus Christ into my heart with the truth of salvation by grace through faith, and not of works, my life was never the same! Praise God for His great mercy toward me!
Is this not the same salvation that He offers to all? Obviously, not all will have the same stumbling block to overcome, but all must come through that same repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ alone. THIS is biblical salvation, not merely praying a prayer, or professing to believe some facts to earn entrance into Heaven.
I have heard many give their own testimonies of “getting saved” at a tender age such as this. Often they have fond memories of kneeling before a manger scene or making a decision somewhere, but rarely is repentance toward God or even genuine faith in Christ even expressed. Most often, praying a prayer is the highlight of their memory, with no testimony of changed life.
Many of these confess that they lived apart from God for a great deal of time, or that they experienced a “recommitment” later in their lives, in which sanctification and changed life began. Those things should begin WITH salvation, not years after. Can I suggest to you that according to God’s word, SALVATION was probably the thing that came later, and not just a “recommitment”.
Some may argue that children do not have much sin to change from, especially children who grow up in church. They are generally “good” kids. Well, if they were not sinners saved by grace then they are NOT SAVED at all.
“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark 2:17
Jesus came to call SINNERS to REPENTANCE, not the righteous, or even self-righteous. There IS NO salvation without repentance, and NO new life without change.
If your salvation amounts to pretty much the same scenario, with no repentance or changed life, I would beg you to please “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”2 Corinthians 13:5 “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12
If you’re a Teacher, it’s time to take responsibility for what you’re teaching. We want so much to see our children saved, that we may think it is a small thing if a child makes a false profession. We may even think it will help them to choose right later. but in our zeal, we may actually be doing more damage than good.
When we offer salvation without repentance, instead strengthening them in the word and preparing them to receive the Savior, we are inoculating them against the gospel by removing their fear of the Lord and assuring them that salvation is already theirs.
Often, the aim of child evangelism is to get these children to “accept Jesus” and ask Him into their hearts at the earliest possible age. Sadly, most times, this is before they even know what sin is. Who would ever expect a toddler to understand the concepts of repentance and faith? Often grown-ups struggle with understanding these things, and yet, we begin pressuring these children for a decision right out of the nursery.
We fear to scare them with talk about Hell, and yet we think they should be accountable to God for their sin and competent to make a conscious and abiding decision about their own souls? What sort of insanity has overtaken our minds? Then, we trust that these toddlers and preschoolers, who do not know their right hands from their lefts, REALLY meant that decision we coerced them into making?
What are we thinking? How did salvation become such a small thing to us that we view it as merely coercing a prayer from anyone? We should be ashamed of ourselves AND our Christianity to minimize such a precious gift from God to a mere parlor trick or numbers game. This is sure not MY Christianity. Is it really yours?
I remember when I was first saved, believing that we just needed to give people the answer- that Jesus paid it all! I thought that once they knew that, then of course they would be saved and changed just as I was. So, I shared the answer (the gospel) with as many as I could, and I too, led those people through prayers and assured them that they were saved. It didn’t take long, however for me to see that these were empty professions from people who most often, didn’t even know what the question was, or care, let alone WANT the answer. These people said the prayers, but were not saved, or changed. They did not become new creatures, and I had to accept that when I told them that they were saved I had told them a lie.
How long will we continue to lie to people, and to our children? How long will we lie to ourselves? How long will we hold onto our man made prayer as guarantee of salvation?
Preach the gospel to everyone, but assure no one. That job belongs to the Lord.
“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:20-21
I recently heard testimony and praise about a 4 year- old child that “got saved”. The tearful story of the ecstatic Grandmother of the child, evoked an emotional celebration within our local congregation. Halleluiah’s and Praise the Lords were heard from some, as others smiled and nodded their approval. I honestly had to wonder though, “Am I the only one who thinks this is a bit unlikely?”
You might ask, “Don’t you believe that a 4 year- old can be saved? Well, if you mean by that: “Can a four year- old be taught a couple of bible verses and catch phrases and told to love Jesus (the unseen person he has not met), and then led to repeat a prayer with the promise of Heaven as a reward?” Absolutely! Without a doubt, I believe that he can perform this act. This however, IS NOT bible salvation. Do people honestly believe that it IS?
Now, on the other hand, if you were to ask whether I believe that a 4 year- old can understand his lost condition as a sinner condemned before a righteous God to an eternity in Hell, repent and trust in Jesus Christ alone as his only hope of forgiveness; I would have to say that I think it is pretty unlikely. Granted, there may possibly be children that young who do indeed have great spiritual understanding beyond their years, and as much as every parent wants to believe that their child is such a spiritual phenomenon; I would imagine that it is truly rare.
Almost every child in church today believes in Jesus. “… the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19 That does not mean that they are saved. (Most of these children also believe in Santa. That does not make them elves, or even very discerning.) Simply believing in the existence of Jesus or even in the facts of His death, burial and resurrection is NOT salvation. Praying a prayer is also NOT salvation.
As a former Catholic, from a child, I believed in God, and that Jesus Christ was the sinless son of God, who came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for my sins, and rose again the third day. I even knew him as the one who saves us from our sins, but I was not saved. It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s that through the conviction of the holy Spirit, I began to see myself as a sinner, and became repentant toward God. Even then however, there remained within me, a stumbling block which prevented me from truly believing the gospel. I was still clinging to the works-based salvation method that I had been taught, believing that I could offer something toward the price of my pardon.
When through the hearing of the word, God shined the glorious light of the gospel of Jesus Christ into my heart with the truth of salvation by grace through faith, and not of works, my life was never the same! Praise God for His great mercy toward me!
Is this not the same salvation that He offers to all? Obviously, not all will have the same stumbling block to overcome, but all must come through that same repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ alone. THIS is biblical salvation, not merely praying a prayer, or professing to believe some facts to earn entrance into Heaven.
I have heard many give their own testimonies of “getting saved” at a tender age such as this. Often they have fond memories of kneeling before a manger scene or making a decision somewhere, but rarely is repentance toward God or even genuine faith in Christ even expressed. Most often, praying a prayer is the highlight of their memory, with no testimony of changed life.
Many of these confess that they lived apart from God for a great deal of time, or that they experienced a “recommitment” later in their lives, in which sanctification and changed life began. Those things should begin WITH salvation, not years after. Can I suggest to you that according to God’s word, SALVATION was probably the thing that came later, and not just a “recommitment”.
Some may argue that children do not have much sin to change from, especially children who grow up in church. They are generally “good” kids. Well, if they were not sinners saved by grace then they are NOT SAVED at all.
“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark 2:17
Jesus came to call SINNERS to REPENTANCE, not the righteous, or even self-righteous. There IS NO salvation without repentance, and NO new life without change.
If your salvation amounts to pretty much the same scenario, with no repentance or changed life, I would beg you to please “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”2 Corinthians 13:5 “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12
If you’re a Teacher, it’s time to take responsibility for what you’re teaching. We want so much to see our children saved, that we may think it is a small thing if a child makes a false profession. We may even think it will help them to choose right later. but in our zeal, we may actually be doing more damage than good.
When we offer salvation without repentance, instead strengthening them in the word and preparing them to receive the Savior, we are inoculating them against the gospel by removing their fear of the Lord and assuring them that salvation is already theirs.
Often, the aim of child evangelism is to get these children to “accept Jesus” and ask Him into their hearts at the earliest possible age. Sadly, most times, this is before they even know what sin is. Who would ever expect a toddler to understand the concepts of repentance and faith? Often grown-ups struggle with understanding these things, and yet, we begin pressuring these children for a decision right out of the nursery.
We fear to scare them with talk about Hell, and yet we think they should be accountable to God for their sin and competent to make a conscious and abiding decision about their own souls? What sort of insanity has overtaken our minds? Then, we trust that these toddlers and preschoolers, who do not know their right hands from their lefts, REALLY meant that decision we coerced them into making?
What are we thinking? How did salvation become such a small thing to us that we view it as merely coercing a prayer from anyone? We should be ashamed of ourselves AND our Christianity to minimize such a precious gift from God to a mere parlor trick or numbers game. This is sure not MY Christianity. Is it really yours?
I remember when I was first saved, believing that we just needed to give people the answer- that Jesus paid it all! I thought that once they knew that, then of course they would be saved and changed just as I was. So, I shared the answer (the gospel) with as many as I could, and I too, led those people through prayers and assured them that they were saved. It didn’t take long, however for me to see that these were empty professions from people who most often, didn’t even know what the question was, or care, let alone WANT the answer. These people said the prayers, but were not saved, or changed. They did not become new creatures, and I had to accept that when I told them that they were saved I had told them a lie.
How long will we continue to lie to people, and to our children? How long will we lie to ourselves? How long will we hold onto our man made prayer as guarantee of salvation?
Preach the gospel to everyone, but assure no one. That job belongs to the Lord.
“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:20-21
Should Evangelizing Children Be the Primary Emphasis of the Church?
Our Views on Child Evangelism are a reflection of our flawed perspective of salvation. Easy Believism & Decisional Regeneration have convinced us that salvation is as simple as coercing someone to make a profession; and who is easier to coerce than a child? This has caused an unbiblical turn in the direction of the Church. Because of this, nearly everyone involved in the local Church works in children's ministries.
If you were to ask any Christian today about their Church you would undoubtedly get an enthusiastic response describing their thriving Children’s ministries and youth groups. Some of the more elite Churches even boast a Christian school on the premises. But if you ask these same people about the soul-winning or discipleship programs at their church their eyes glaze over and a confused look quickly spreads across their faces.
We spend thousands of dollars, and sacrifice countless hours on VBS, Bible clubs, Youth Groups, Church Camp, and Children’s parties every year. We work until we drop trying to bring in children through our programs in hopes of winning them to Christ, but is this really what God would have us do? Most people will angrily reject what I am about to say. Some will even hurl false accusations against me, suggesting that I am promoting the discontinuation of Children’s ministries or that I simply do not like children. Let me state very clearly, that I love children (I have three of my own) and I am NOT suggesting that we discontinue children’s ministries. I emphatically agree that we should “train up a child in the way in which he should go” raising them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I believe in Sunday school and Christian education as well.
What I am suggesting is that somehow we have allowed children’s ministries to become the primary focus of the modern day Church. You might ask, “What’s the problem with that?” The problem is that this was NOT the focus of the early Church, nor is it what we are commanded to be doing.
There are no recorded accounts of child evangelism, no patterns for bible clubs or VBS to follow, and no pro-teens ministries. What then was the early church doing? They were going out and preaching the gospel to men and women; and as many as were saved joined themselves to the church where they continued stedfastly in the apostle’s doctrine. Is it possible that there were children in the audience at times? Of course it’s possible that they were there and benefited as well from their parents hearing the word preached, but they were never the object of attention, not until the early 1800’s.
I sincerely hope that any reading this article will put aside their own personal opinions and preferences and attempt to sufficiently understand my position; and then as Bereans, search the scriptures to see if these things be so without allowing their emotions to get hot. I personally know of many genuinely godly Christians who have spent years devoted to ministering to children. I am not in any way suggesting that it was without value.
Many sincere philosophies have been developed to support our actions. We say, “If we don’t get them saved as kids, we will lose them.” But, guess what? We’re still losing them. I have also heard some say, “If it weren’t for the kids’ programs, the parents wouldn’t come.” Why not? Obviously, it is because they are not saved themselves. If the parents were saved, they would come. Today, many claim that we must reach people through their children. I have even heard Missionaries tell of how they begin first by setting up children’s ministries. They go in with balloon animals, face-painting and children’s games to win the parents’ trust. The problem is that these are merely the philosophies of men and not the biblical commands of God.
Matthew 19:14 is frequently cited as our command to evangelize children: “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” What were these children coming to him for? Their parents brought them to him so that he could lay his hands on the and pray them. It was an act of blessing. It was not a matter of conversion. As a matter of fact, the parallel passage in Luke describes them as infants. Does an infant have sufficient understanding to believe unto salvation? Certainly not. “And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.” (Luke 18:15)
We know that Jesus told his disciples not to forbid the children from coming to him, and he did bless them. We are not even told that these infants were baptized, so why would we construct such an assumption as to imply that Jesus commands us to evangelize children? It is never even implied that we are to seek after children to evangelize, but simply that we are to not prevent them from hearing of and being drawn to the Savior.
This is another verse which is also claimed as justification for our methods: “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” (Luke 18:17) That does not mean that everyone must be saved while they are a child, but that they must receive him with child-like faith. Some have even gone so far as to suggest that if a person is not saved as a child, they will not be saved at all. That is quite a stretch of its true meaning. Viewed in the proper context neither of these two verses can truly stand as a biblical precedent for focusing all our evangelism efforts on them.
If Jesus, or the disciples interpreted them that way, it certainly would have been a great and urgent matter in every generation to evangelize the children. We should expect then to have seen some of the disciples evangelizing children. Surely there would have been some pattern set forth for the church to follow. We should have seen such things practiced by the early church. Children’s ministries did not appear on the scene until the early 19th century.
If it were God’s intention that we focus our evangelism primarily on children, shouldn’t we find evidence of such in his word? But we do not. Instead what we see in the scriptures is Jesus and the disciples focusing their efforts on adults. Did God fail to foresee the need today to reach families through children’s ministries? Have we decided that God’s instructions for us were insufficient? Are we now somehow wiser than God?
Why do we not see accounts of such things? Because the isciples and the early church were obediently following the commands of God, teaching faithful men who would be able to teach others also. Somehow we have abandoned the biblical patterns set forth in the scriptures and begun to go a different direction. We have decided that we know better than God. Instead of going out to preach, and making disciples of those who are saved, we stay in and play games with the kids. Child Evangelism alone, cannot take the place of what God has commanded the church to do. When did we decide that we would honor the traditions of men over the commandments of God?
Many would say, “So what, if this is not what God commanded, some are still being saved. So, how can it be wrong?” Some might even suggest that I am simply splitting hairs. Does it really matter?
It certainly does matter to God how we do things. How can we possibly look into his word and think that it doesn’t? Offhand I can think of several examples: Aaron’s sons took it upon themselves to offer strange fire before God. What was God’s response? He struck them dead. “And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” (Leviticus 10:2)
Uzza, reached out his hand to steady the ark, which was resting upon an unsteady ox cart, although he knew he was never to touch it. What was God’s response? He was also struck dead. “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.” 1 Chronicles 13:10
Another example would be Saul. God commanded Saul to utterly destroy all of the Amalekites, men, women, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass as well as all that they had. But Saul chose to do things his own way. He saved alive King Agag, and also the finest of the sheep and oxen.
“And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” (1 Samuel 15:13-14)
“And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.” (1 Samuel 15:26)
Not only have we rejected the word of the Lord, and chosen to do things our own way; but if we were honest, we would have to admit that the church today isn’t even full of bleating sheep, but goats instead. We are currently reaping the harvest of our Easy Believism gospel. The grown-up children of the Awana generation who claim to have “said a prayer” or “asked Jesus into their hearts” and been saved as a child, show no evidence of changed lives. Most live as Practical Atheists, denying Christ in their daily lives and yet claim His name as Christians. They drink, smoke, take the name of the Lord in vain never darken the doors of a Church and yet say that they are saved and on their way to heaven.
What we’re doing simply is not working. We may receive instant gratification and quick rewards through false professions, but the lasting fruit simply is not there. Partial obedience is really disobedience. Bad trees bring forth bad fruit.
Am I suggesting that children cannot be saved? I would not dare to make such a statement. I have no doubt that God can save anyone at any time he chooses, even a small child. I believe it is even possible that he sets apart certain individuals from a young age for his service. But that does not in any way imply that God’s commands for us have changed, or that God desires for us to focus primarily on child evangelism.
Although I believe it is possible for children to be saved, I find it highly improbable that the large tally of professions, achieved within our ministries are genuine, or result in true salvation. These are ushered through our clubs and VBS every year, and offered promises of assurance. Somehow, we now find it commonplace to have many children raise their hands during and event. We gladly celebrate and pronounce each one saved, proudly boasting of our successes. But we know that biblical Christianity is typically not so. Have we forgotten that strait is the gate that leads to salvation and “few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14)? When did we become the broad way?
In the early church, “… the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47) Now WE add to the Church daily such as we can entertain. The Old Testament Church went out into the world, preaching the gospel from house to house. Those who were saved joined themselves to the Church. Now we lure them in with worldly entertainment, music, fun and games and kid’s specials. We involve them in activities and make them a part of the Church whether they are truly Christians or not, and then wonder why Christians don’t act like Christians anymore.
If this is not what God would have us to do, then imagine the time, energy and money we are spending every year in vain, or more precisely, in disobedience.
“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
We find it a matter of great urgency to evangelize children just out of the nursery. These children, God willing, still have their entire lives ahead of them and yet adults, who may have but few years left on this earth, are neglected. How does that make any sense? Where is the urgency in bringing adults, or young adults, or even the elderly to Christ? Have we simply given up on them? Have we decided that they are beyond reach, or without hope? Have they become a Nineveh to us? Are we, as Jonah’s, fleeing our God given command?
Many insist that we are fulfilling our responsibility to evangelize adults when we manage to bring visitors or parents in through these ministries. We must then ask, “When did the call to go and preach become the command to go and invite, or plan an activity to entice them in?”
These unbiblical philosophies illustrate our distorted perception of the purpose of the Church. The Church is to be a called out assembly of believers. It is a filling and equipping station for disciples of Christ. The church as the body of Christ is to function together as a whole, fitting together perfectly to accomplish this task. Preparing them and teaching them the things they need to know to go and do the same. Somehow, we have lost sight of that image of the Church.
Can we really read the scriptures and believe that it was God’s intention for the Church to spend all of its time and energy working with children? Why have we decided that we should assume the responsibility of training up every child in town? Because we have failed go and preach the gospel to the parents. We have not fulfilled our responsibility to preach the word, and make disciples, so naturally the people are not saved and not training up their own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. So, rather than try to cure the disease, we attempt to treat the symptoms. Instead of fulfilling our responsibilities to the adults of the community, we decide that we will become a surrogate parent of sorts, training up all the children in town.
We go out and gather them all up once a week, teach them things that are contrary to what they learn at home, and hope that they will witness to their parents and possibly lead them to church. Then we use award ceremonies, plays and every kind of worldly enticement to bring the parents in. Even in the rare cases where this does work, the end simply does not justify the means if the means are not biblical. We cannot claim to be true bible believers and measure the validity of our methods by the results. If that were a valid determination, then we would have to also accept the methods of the Mega Churches and thriving false religions as equally valid. We must determine the true worth by how closely it adheres to the scriptures. The word of God is the ONLY true test. All doctrine and spiritual understanding must be established by scripture. Experience alone is not sufficient proof.
What we are doing is trying to put the cart before the horse. Just imagine if we went out and reached the parents, and the parents were truly saved and discipled. These parents would then raise their own children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and also be able to go out into the world and be witnesses, making disciples as well. Why are we so afraid to go out and witness to adults? Is it because we are not strong in the word, and not discipled or equipped ourselves to witness? Could it be the failure of the church to disciple that has brought us to this place? “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”(2 Timothy 2:2)
We want to believe that we are fulfilling the great commission through our Children’s ministries. But are we really? If we look closely at what the great commission really is we will see that we are not.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”(Mark 16:15)
The Great commission is more than simply making converts and baptizing them though. We are commanded to teach them all things that Jesus commanded (to make disciples)
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
In a nutshell, it is this: We are to go and preach. Then the saved are baptized, and join themselves to the church where they are then taught to go and do the same. Preach, baptize and teach, preach, baptize, teach…etc.
Making Child Evangelism and discipleship the primary focus of the church simply cannot fulfil the great commission, because 1. Very few of these children are even really saved. 2. Those who are saved, are often too young and lacking in biblical wisdom and discernment to share the message with others and in turn disciple them, carrying on the pattern set forth.
Most children’s ministries generally produce false coverts through shallow gospel messages, or at best become a very lengthy process. We then spend years trying to teach these unsaved children how to act like Christians. We focus all of our efforts in discipleship on teaching them, but generally see no fruit until they are adults. Those who do continue to seek God as adults are usually the ones who were raised in the church by godly Christian parents. In many churches, discipleship for adults has been reduced to merely training others to lead children’s ministries.
Biblical evangelism in the early church was not committed to focusing on the same people for 15-20 years, (that was called parenting). The Disciples went out and preached the word to whosoever would receive it. The saved were joined to the Church to be taught and trained to continue the work. Those who did not receive it were left behind with the dust of their shoes.
Those who refused the word and were not saved, were not entertained and cajoled for years. When the word was not received, the disciples were actually told to brush the dust off their feet and continue on to the next place. Now, that is not to say that they did not earnestly plead and present their case to whomever they had opportunity. They did not spend years trying to reach the same people over and over.
The Disciples, on the other hand, obediently went out further and further to proclaim the message to others, focusing their time and attention on teaching those who did believe. If we compare our methods to the biblical pattern set forth we will easily see that our ways do not line up. We need to redefine evangelism and discipleship according to God’s word.
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”(John 6:66-67)
Disciples are those who are committed to following Christ. Those who are not committed, eventually walk away. Those that are saved and committed to following Christ should be able to go out and win souls and make more disciples. That is the basic principle of growth.
(Bannon, 2004 9:19:13 PM by RaceBannon)
Our Views on Child Evangelism are a reflection of our flawed perspective of salvation. Easy Believism & Decisional Regeneration have convinced us that salvation is as simple as coercing someone to make a profession; and who is easier to coerce than a child? This has caused an unbiblical turn in the direction of the Church. Because of this, nearly everyone involved in the local Church works in children's ministries.
If you were to ask any Christian today about their Church you would undoubtedly get an enthusiastic response describing their thriving Children’s ministries and youth groups. Some of the more elite Churches even boast a Christian school on the premises. But if you ask these same people about the soul-winning or discipleship programs at their church their eyes glaze over and a confused look quickly spreads across their faces.
We spend thousands of dollars, and sacrifice countless hours on VBS, Bible clubs, Youth Groups, Church Camp, and Children’s parties every year. We work until we drop trying to bring in children through our programs in hopes of winning them to Christ, but is this really what God would have us do? Most people will angrily reject what I am about to say. Some will even hurl false accusations against me, suggesting that I am promoting the discontinuation of Children’s ministries or that I simply do not like children. Let me state very clearly, that I love children (I have three of my own) and I am NOT suggesting that we discontinue children’s ministries. I emphatically agree that we should “train up a child in the way in which he should go” raising them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I believe in Sunday school and Christian education as well.
What I am suggesting is that somehow we have allowed children’s ministries to become the primary focus of the modern day Church. You might ask, “What’s the problem with that?” The problem is that this was NOT the focus of the early Church, nor is it what we are commanded to be doing.
There are no recorded accounts of child evangelism, no patterns for bible clubs or VBS to follow, and no pro-teens ministries. What then was the early church doing? They were going out and preaching the gospel to men and women; and as many as were saved joined themselves to the church where they continued stedfastly in the apostle’s doctrine. Is it possible that there were children in the audience at times? Of course it’s possible that they were there and benefited as well from their parents hearing the word preached, but they were never the object of attention, not until the early 1800’s.
I sincerely hope that any reading this article will put aside their own personal opinions and preferences and attempt to sufficiently understand my position; and then as Bereans, search the scriptures to see if these things be so without allowing their emotions to get hot. I personally know of many genuinely godly Christians who have spent years devoted to ministering to children. I am not in any way suggesting that it was without value.
Many sincere philosophies have been developed to support our actions. We say, “If we don’t get them saved as kids, we will lose them.” But, guess what? We’re still losing them. I have also heard some say, “If it weren’t for the kids’ programs, the parents wouldn’t come.” Why not? Obviously, it is because they are not saved themselves. If the parents were saved, they would come. Today, many claim that we must reach people through their children. I have even heard Missionaries tell of how they begin first by setting up children’s ministries. They go in with balloon animals, face-painting and children’s games to win the parents’ trust. The problem is that these are merely the philosophies of men and not the biblical commands of God.
Matthew 19:14 is frequently cited as our command to evangelize children: “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” What were these children coming to him for? Their parents brought them to him so that he could lay his hands on the and pray them. It was an act of blessing. It was not a matter of conversion. As a matter of fact, the parallel passage in Luke describes them as infants. Does an infant have sufficient understanding to believe unto salvation? Certainly not. “And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.” (Luke 18:15)
We know that Jesus told his disciples not to forbid the children from coming to him, and he did bless them. We are not even told that these infants were baptized, so why would we construct such an assumption as to imply that Jesus commands us to evangelize children? It is never even implied that we are to seek after children to evangelize, but simply that we are to not prevent them from hearing of and being drawn to the Savior.
This is another verse which is also claimed as justification for our methods: “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” (Luke 18:17) That does not mean that everyone must be saved while they are a child, but that they must receive him with child-like faith. Some have even gone so far as to suggest that if a person is not saved as a child, they will not be saved at all. That is quite a stretch of its true meaning. Viewed in the proper context neither of these two verses can truly stand as a biblical precedent for focusing all our evangelism efforts on them.
If Jesus, or the disciples interpreted them that way, it certainly would have been a great and urgent matter in every generation to evangelize the children. We should expect then to have seen some of the disciples evangelizing children. Surely there would have been some pattern set forth for the church to follow. We should have seen such things practiced by the early church. Children’s ministries did not appear on the scene until the early 19th century.
If it were God’s intention that we focus our evangelism primarily on children, shouldn’t we find evidence of such in his word? But we do not. Instead what we see in the scriptures is Jesus and the disciples focusing their efforts on adults. Did God fail to foresee the need today to reach families through children’s ministries? Have we decided that God’s instructions for us were insufficient? Are we now somehow wiser than God?
Why do we not see accounts of such things? Because the isciples and the early church were obediently following the commands of God, teaching faithful men who would be able to teach others also. Somehow we have abandoned the biblical patterns set forth in the scriptures and begun to go a different direction. We have decided that we know better than God. Instead of going out to preach, and making disciples of those who are saved, we stay in and play games with the kids. Child Evangelism alone, cannot take the place of what God has commanded the church to do. When did we decide that we would honor the traditions of men over the commandments of God?
Many would say, “So what, if this is not what God commanded, some are still being saved. So, how can it be wrong?” Some might even suggest that I am simply splitting hairs. Does it really matter?
It certainly does matter to God how we do things. How can we possibly look into his word and think that it doesn’t? Offhand I can think of several examples: Aaron’s sons took it upon themselves to offer strange fire before God. What was God’s response? He struck them dead. “And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” (Leviticus 10:2)
Uzza, reached out his hand to steady the ark, which was resting upon an unsteady ox cart, although he knew he was never to touch it. What was God’s response? He was also struck dead. “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.” 1 Chronicles 13:10
Another example would be Saul. God commanded Saul to utterly destroy all of the Amalekites, men, women, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass as well as all that they had. But Saul chose to do things his own way. He saved alive King Agag, and also the finest of the sheep and oxen.
“And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” (1 Samuel 15:13-14)
“And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.” (1 Samuel 15:26)
Not only have we rejected the word of the Lord, and chosen to do things our own way; but if we were honest, we would have to admit that the church today isn’t even full of bleating sheep, but goats instead. We are currently reaping the harvest of our Easy Believism gospel. The grown-up children of the Awana generation who claim to have “said a prayer” or “asked Jesus into their hearts” and been saved as a child, show no evidence of changed lives. Most live as Practical Atheists, denying Christ in their daily lives and yet claim His name as Christians. They drink, smoke, take the name of the Lord in vain never darken the doors of a Church and yet say that they are saved and on their way to heaven.
What we’re doing simply is not working. We may receive instant gratification and quick rewards through false professions, but the lasting fruit simply is not there. Partial obedience is really disobedience. Bad trees bring forth bad fruit.
Am I suggesting that children cannot be saved? I would not dare to make such a statement. I have no doubt that God can save anyone at any time he chooses, even a small child. I believe it is even possible that he sets apart certain individuals from a young age for his service. But that does not in any way imply that God’s commands for us have changed, or that God desires for us to focus primarily on child evangelism.
Although I believe it is possible for children to be saved, I find it highly improbable that the large tally of professions, achieved within our ministries are genuine, or result in true salvation. These are ushered through our clubs and VBS every year, and offered promises of assurance. Somehow, we now find it commonplace to have many children raise their hands during and event. We gladly celebrate and pronounce each one saved, proudly boasting of our successes. But we know that biblical Christianity is typically not so. Have we forgotten that strait is the gate that leads to salvation and “few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14)? When did we become the broad way?
In the early church, “… the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47) Now WE add to the Church daily such as we can entertain. The Old Testament Church went out into the world, preaching the gospel from house to house. Those who were saved joined themselves to the Church. Now we lure them in with worldly entertainment, music, fun and games and kid’s specials. We involve them in activities and make them a part of the Church whether they are truly Christians or not, and then wonder why Christians don’t act like Christians anymore.
If this is not what God would have us to do, then imagine the time, energy and money we are spending every year in vain, or more precisely, in disobedience.
“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
We find it a matter of great urgency to evangelize children just out of the nursery. These children, God willing, still have their entire lives ahead of them and yet adults, who may have but few years left on this earth, are neglected. How does that make any sense? Where is the urgency in bringing adults, or young adults, or even the elderly to Christ? Have we simply given up on them? Have we decided that they are beyond reach, or without hope? Have they become a Nineveh to us? Are we, as Jonah’s, fleeing our God given command?
Many insist that we are fulfilling our responsibility to evangelize adults when we manage to bring visitors or parents in through these ministries. We must then ask, “When did the call to go and preach become the command to go and invite, or plan an activity to entice them in?”
These unbiblical philosophies illustrate our distorted perception of the purpose of the Church. The Church is to be a called out assembly of believers. It is a filling and equipping station for disciples of Christ. The church as the body of Christ is to function together as a whole, fitting together perfectly to accomplish this task. Preparing them and teaching them the things they need to know to go and do the same. Somehow, we have lost sight of that image of the Church.
Can we really read the scriptures and believe that it was God’s intention for the Church to spend all of its time and energy working with children? Why have we decided that we should assume the responsibility of training up every child in town? Because we have failed go and preach the gospel to the parents. We have not fulfilled our responsibility to preach the word, and make disciples, so naturally the people are not saved and not training up their own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. So, rather than try to cure the disease, we attempt to treat the symptoms. Instead of fulfilling our responsibilities to the adults of the community, we decide that we will become a surrogate parent of sorts, training up all the children in town.
We go out and gather them all up once a week, teach them things that are contrary to what they learn at home, and hope that they will witness to their parents and possibly lead them to church. Then we use award ceremonies, plays and every kind of worldly enticement to bring the parents in. Even in the rare cases where this does work, the end simply does not justify the means if the means are not biblical. We cannot claim to be true bible believers and measure the validity of our methods by the results. If that were a valid determination, then we would have to also accept the methods of the Mega Churches and thriving false religions as equally valid. We must determine the true worth by how closely it adheres to the scriptures. The word of God is the ONLY true test. All doctrine and spiritual understanding must be established by scripture. Experience alone is not sufficient proof.
What we are doing is trying to put the cart before the horse. Just imagine if we went out and reached the parents, and the parents were truly saved and discipled. These parents would then raise their own children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and also be able to go out into the world and be witnesses, making disciples as well. Why are we so afraid to go out and witness to adults? Is it because we are not strong in the word, and not discipled or equipped ourselves to witness? Could it be the failure of the church to disciple that has brought us to this place? “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”(2 Timothy 2:2)
We want to believe that we are fulfilling the great commission through our Children’s ministries. But are we really? If we look closely at what the great commission really is we will see that we are not.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”(Mark 16:15)
The Great commission is more than simply making converts and baptizing them though. We are commanded to teach them all things that Jesus commanded (to make disciples)
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
In a nutshell, it is this: We are to go and preach. Then the saved are baptized, and join themselves to the church where they are then taught to go and do the same. Preach, baptize and teach, preach, baptize, teach…etc.
Making Child Evangelism and discipleship the primary focus of the church simply cannot fulfil the great commission, because 1. Very few of these children are even really saved. 2. Those who are saved, are often too young and lacking in biblical wisdom and discernment to share the message with others and in turn disciple them, carrying on the pattern set forth.
Most children’s ministries generally produce false coverts through shallow gospel messages, or at best become a very lengthy process. We then spend years trying to teach these unsaved children how to act like Christians. We focus all of our efforts in discipleship on teaching them, but generally see no fruit until they are adults. Those who do continue to seek God as adults are usually the ones who were raised in the church by godly Christian parents. In many churches, discipleship for adults has been reduced to merely training others to lead children’s ministries.
Biblical evangelism in the early church was not committed to focusing on the same people for 15-20 years, (that was called parenting). The Disciples went out and preached the word to whosoever would receive it. The saved were joined to the Church to be taught and trained to continue the work. Those who did not receive it were left behind with the dust of their shoes.
Those who refused the word and were not saved, were not entertained and cajoled for years. When the word was not received, the disciples were actually told to brush the dust off their feet and continue on to the next place. Now, that is not to say that they did not earnestly plead and present their case to whomever they had opportunity. They did not spend years trying to reach the same people over and over.
The Disciples, on the other hand, obediently went out further and further to proclaim the message to others, focusing their time and attention on teaching those who did believe. If we compare our methods to the biblical pattern set forth we will easily see that our ways do not line up. We need to redefine evangelism and discipleship according to God’s word.
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”(John 6:66-67)
Disciples are those who are committed to following Christ. Those who are not committed, eventually walk away. Those that are saved and committed to following Christ should be able to go out and win souls and make more disciples. That is the basic principle of growth.
(Bannon, 2004 9:19:13 PM by RaceBannon)
“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7)
“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” (Acts 8: 4)
We must admit that our methods do fit the pattern that God has set forth in his word. As much as we want to insist that what we are doing is right, it simply does not line up with the bible. We must turn back to the Lord and begin again to do that which he has commanded us to do.
“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” (Acts 8: 4)
We must admit that our methods do fit the pattern that God has set forth in his word. As much as we want to insist that what we are doing is right, it simply does not line up with the bible. We must turn back to the Lord and begin again to do that which he has commanded us to do.
What Should we be Teaching?
"The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom..."
When teaching anyone, and especially children, we need to start at the beginning. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10), not the gospel of salvation.
Today, many well-meaning Christians in an effort to lead little ones to the Lord are short-cutting to the gospel instead, and actually short-changing these kids’ spiritual education. The general thought is that if they can simply get these children to “accept Jesus” and ask Him into their hearts BEFORE they even sin, or know what sin is, that will solve everything. What sort of insanity has overtaken our minds? Who would ever expect a toddler to understand concepts such as these? Yet, we begin pressuring them for a decision right out of the nursery.
We may think it is a small thing, if children make a false profession early on. We may even think it will help them to choose right later, but when we offer children a shallow gospel of Easy Believism, and then assure them that they are saved, we remove that fear of the Lord, pushing them further from salvation.
Jesus came “not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matt. 9:13) Only they that are sick need a physician. These kids are in essence, being vaccinated against the gospel by thinking they have the cure without ever knowing that they have the disease.
They should be learning about God, and creation, His holiness, justice and perfect standard of righteousness (according to his law). They should be taught to fear him and obey Him initially, not just to ask Jesus into their hearts.
“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deut. 6:5-7)
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal. 3:24)
"The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom..."
When teaching anyone, and especially children, we need to start at the beginning. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10), not the gospel of salvation.
Today, many well-meaning Christians in an effort to lead little ones to the Lord are short-cutting to the gospel instead, and actually short-changing these kids’ spiritual education. The general thought is that if they can simply get these children to “accept Jesus” and ask Him into their hearts BEFORE they even sin, or know what sin is, that will solve everything. What sort of insanity has overtaken our minds? Who would ever expect a toddler to understand concepts such as these? Yet, we begin pressuring them for a decision right out of the nursery.
We may think it is a small thing, if children make a false profession early on. We may even think it will help them to choose right later, but when we offer children a shallow gospel of Easy Believism, and then assure them that they are saved, we remove that fear of the Lord, pushing them further from salvation.
Jesus came “not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matt. 9:13) Only they that are sick need a physician. These kids are in essence, being vaccinated against the gospel by thinking they have the cure without ever knowing that they have the disease.
They should be learning about God, and creation, His holiness, justice and perfect standard of righteousness (according to his law). They should be taught to fear him and obey Him initially, not just to ask Jesus into their hearts.
“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deut. 6:5-7)
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal. 3:24)
Why are We Losing the Teens and Young Adults?
I personally have heard many answers to this question ranging from music and entertainment to hypocrisy in the leadership to not enough of a church family bond. While these issues may play a part, they fail to identify the true problem. These suggestions may help us to make it more appealing for them and to be better examples, but these are only band-aid fixes for the deeper problem.
Why are they really leaving the church? Well, if at the 1st opportunity to step out from under parental authority, young people choose to walk away from God, I think it‘s a pretty clear indication that their hearts are not toward God. How much simpler can it be? Usually this is because they are not truly saved, although we have tried to convince them that they are.
1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
What’s worse, we have removed their fear of the Lord by giving them false assurances that they are saved. Many of these kids have tried the false salvation we have offered according to our Easy Believism gospel, but nothing really changed in their hearts. They said the prayer we told them to say, learned how to “act” like a Christians, played the games, and followed the rules and yet were not regenerated. So to them, this false salvation represents falseness on every level of Christianity.
Imagine being an unsaved person, still deceived by the world and sin, with no understanding of spiritual things (who thinks they are saved). How silly our traditions, rituals and rote prayers must seem. How worthless our efforts to entertain and coerce others must seem, when they themselves do not truly believe. How hokey and ridiculous would our Christianity be to them? When they are old enough to make their own decisions, Is it really a wonder that they leave at the first opportunity and end the charade?
So, what is the solution? How do we keep the kids? True salvation.
We must return to biblical preaching and teaching which includes repentance so that they can develop a godly fear of the Lord. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...", but instead of teaching them about God and his relationship to man, most often we start with the gospel, telling children to simply “ask Jesus into their hearts”. We spend years trying to convince them to get “get saved” at the earlisest possible time in their lives, but almost NO time trying to teach them why they need a Savior, or what they are being saved from.
Mark 2:17 “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Without a correct understanding of what sin is, and a genuine repentance toward God, faith in Christ is not even possible. Yet we tell these children sometimes at 3 and 4 years old, to “just accept Jesus.” We teach them how to walk and talk and act according to our church standards, but neglect to teach them about God’s laws and his standards.
A simple mention of sin is often all we give.
Galatians 3:24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
These children often have no idea what sin is, other than an offense to Mom & Dad. They do not understand that their actions are an offense to a holy and perfect God who demands our obedience. We fear to tell a small child of eternal damnation in Hell, because we know they cannot comprehend such punishment; but then we trust that same immature intellect to understand something as important as salvation (deliverance from that same condemnation). Then we assure them that their childhood decision was indeed valid.
Parents and teachers it is our job to teach them “the fear of the Lord” and to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the lord so that they will understand their need to repent toward God. Only then will they be willing to hear the words of life that minister faith to them. It is only through that faith that they can receive the Lord, not through a decision.
Many make decisions for Christ, without repentance toward God, but the stony ground of their unrepentant heart is unable to allow the word of God to take root and produce genuine faith. So what happens? That word that was heard simply withers and fades away without producing faith. When they finally are ready to want to make a decision of their own, often the only decision left to make is to reject this Christianity that has never been real to them anyway.
We want so much to see our children saved, but in our zeal, we may actually be doing more damage than good. When we offer salvation without repentance, instead strengthening them in the word and preparing them to receive the Savior, we are inoculating them against the gospel by removing their fear of the Lord and assuring them that salvation is already theirs. We toss it out there so carelessly, and offer our own guarantees without thought. It’s time we take the responsibility for child evangelism a lot more seriously.
How can we know for sure that these children have been truly saved? Just as with adults, we can never know for sure; only God knows their hearts. The bible tells us to look for fruits. Seeing teens and young adults choose to serve God and live for him without compulsion, might just be one evidence.
I personally have heard many answers to this question ranging from music and entertainment to hypocrisy in the leadership to not enough of a church family bond. While these issues may play a part, they fail to identify the true problem. These suggestions may help us to make it more appealing for them and to be better examples, but these are only band-aid fixes for the deeper problem.
Why are they really leaving the church? Well, if at the 1st opportunity to step out from under parental authority, young people choose to walk away from God, I think it‘s a pretty clear indication that their hearts are not toward God. How much simpler can it be? Usually this is because they are not truly saved, although we have tried to convince them that they are.
1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
What’s worse, we have removed their fear of the Lord by giving them false assurances that they are saved. Many of these kids have tried the false salvation we have offered according to our Easy Believism gospel, but nothing really changed in their hearts. They said the prayer we told them to say, learned how to “act” like a Christians, played the games, and followed the rules and yet were not regenerated. So to them, this false salvation represents falseness on every level of Christianity.
Imagine being an unsaved person, still deceived by the world and sin, with no understanding of spiritual things (who thinks they are saved). How silly our traditions, rituals and rote prayers must seem. How worthless our efforts to entertain and coerce others must seem, when they themselves do not truly believe. How hokey and ridiculous would our Christianity be to them? When they are old enough to make their own decisions, Is it really a wonder that they leave at the first opportunity and end the charade?
So, what is the solution? How do we keep the kids? True salvation.
We must return to biblical preaching and teaching which includes repentance so that they can develop a godly fear of the Lord. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...", but instead of teaching them about God and his relationship to man, most often we start with the gospel, telling children to simply “ask Jesus into their hearts”. We spend years trying to convince them to get “get saved” at the earlisest possible time in their lives, but almost NO time trying to teach them why they need a Savior, or what they are being saved from.
Mark 2:17 “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Without a correct understanding of what sin is, and a genuine repentance toward God, faith in Christ is not even possible. Yet we tell these children sometimes at 3 and 4 years old, to “just accept Jesus.” We teach them how to walk and talk and act according to our church standards, but neglect to teach them about God’s laws and his standards.
A simple mention of sin is often all we give.
Galatians 3:24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
These children often have no idea what sin is, other than an offense to Mom & Dad. They do not understand that their actions are an offense to a holy and perfect God who demands our obedience. We fear to tell a small child of eternal damnation in Hell, because we know they cannot comprehend such punishment; but then we trust that same immature intellect to understand something as important as salvation (deliverance from that same condemnation). Then we assure them that their childhood decision was indeed valid.
Parents and teachers it is our job to teach them “the fear of the Lord” and to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the lord so that they will understand their need to repent toward God. Only then will they be willing to hear the words of life that minister faith to them. It is only through that faith that they can receive the Lord, not through a decision.
Many make decisions for Christ, without repentance toward God, but the stony ground of their unrepentant heart is unable to allow the word of God to take root and produce genuine faith. So what happens? That word that was heard simply withers and fades away without producing faith. When they finally are ready to want to make a decision of their own, often the only decision left to make is to reject this Christianity that has never been real to them anyway.
We want so much to see our children saved, but in our zeal, we may actually be doing more damage than good. When we offer salvation without repentance, instead strengthening them in the word and preparing them to receive the Savior, we are inoculating them against the gospel by removing their fear of the Lord and assuring them that salvation is already theirs. We toss it out there so carelessly, and offer our own guarantees without thought. It’s time we take the responsibility for child evangelism a lot more seriously.
How can we know for sure that these children have been truly saved? Just as with adults, we can never know for sure; only God knows their hearts. The bible tells us to look for fruits. Seeing teens and young adults choose to serve God and live for him without compulsion, might just be one evidence.
Recommended Reading: Bringing Children to salvation- Douglas Hammett
Available at Book Heaven Book Store http://www.baptist-books.com/
Available at Book Heaven Book Store http://www.baptist-books.com/
