We’ve been told that it “takes a village” to raise a child. I don’t think that’s right. I believe it takes a family. Over many years we have moved the responsibility for the spiritual training of children from the family to the church and it’s not working. The statistics regarding the loss of our youth are overwhelming. George Barna, Josh McDowell and others have statistics stating that 85% of teens raised in evangelical churches in America stop attending church in their late teens and early 20’s. Other studies show we are losing them much earlier.
I recently viewed a video which makes a strong argument that our current methods of training our children is at fault. In essence, the argument is that spiritual training is the responsibiity of the family, particularly the father. Our current system of age divided training places the responsibility on youth pastors and sunday school teachers. The parents are relieved to believe that someone “more qualified” is taking care of this responsibility for them. We, as parents, grandparents and great grandparents, come to believe we are filling our responsibility if we are putting the kids “in Sunday School” and are really super if we have them in Christian school.
It isn’t working and, if you think about it, isn’t biblical. I strongly suggest that you click on the graphic above and watch the “trailer” and order the dvd. It is very thought provoking.
Our dedicated workers in churches throughout the church are not to blame. They are sacrificing greatly to perform our responsibilities without the tools that God gives a parent for their child. We need to prayerfully re-evaluate our responsibility to our children and the biblical mandate for carrying out that responsibility. Some questions to consider:
At what age should children begin to attend worship services with their parents?
How can we assist and train parents in their responsibilities?
How do we assist single parent families?
What about the children whose parents are unable or unwilling to be responsible for training?
A woman came to her pastor and said, “When should I start the religious training of my child? When will he be old enough? Is it too early to start at six years of age?” The pastor said, “No, that’s too late.” She said, “Well how about six months?” He said, “That’s too late.” She said, “Then when should I start?” He said, “With his grandparents.”
It takes a family and with today’s broken families, it takes an extended family.
As we were told on Sunday, we don’t want to leave a single child behind. We all have responsiblities. Our greatest is to follow the biblical model for carrying out our responsibliities.
Please pray about it and
Be blessed.
Nick
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