Anna1111 wrote:
This is the same article Stacy posted the other day : )
The author makes a few good points - like this:
"In our jampacked lifestyles, parents have treated Sunday school as they do softball or ballet class—drop off the kids for an hour then pick them up and hope they learned something."
But, overall, I'd say she missed it.
I meet VERY FEW Middle Aged Christians (that's us, guys) - of any denomination - who know what the Bible says. Most of the people I talk to have never read the Bible through - not even once. I know even fewer who've read it thru the 20 or so times it takes to BEGIN to plumb its depths.
Most don't pray as a family, or spend time in prayer alone.
Most don't get involved in Church.
Most are more concerned about their kid's GPA, SAT scores, sports stats, or social life than they are with their Spiritual life.
When Children's groups in Churches plan events, they have to first consider the soccer practice schedule and the play practice schedule. When ADULT groups meet - they have to consider when the Superbowl is playing and when the Mall is having a big sale. OR NO ONE WILL COME!
Our Church has weekday morning services. What percentage of people think that Church is more important than their kid's math class that day, do you suppose?
Homeschoolers say, "I do Bible study with my kids at the end of the school day, if we have time, but we often don't"
Instead, they read internet articles about religion now and then, or go watch a "Christian movie" We're offered solid food, but we opt for Cotton Candy and think we've eaten well!
We set for our kids the example of giving God our leftovers, then blame a "liberal agenda in the Church" when they reject the Faith.
No - it's not them - it's US.
Weeelllllll..... I agree with almost all you said.
Could we do better? Absolutely! Do we have to do it "all right" in order to have our kids remain in the faith? Uhm.... no. We can only do the best we can - and that's where the rubber meets the road. I am older than most of ya'll and BTDT. My poor grandkids (and their parents) really don't get why we choose church over sports and school concerts but we do - which means they go to church with us. I really DON"T care about their academic records as long as they aren't trouble-makers and i've always said "I don't care if you're happy, i just want you to have a relationship with Jesus!"
(Instead of the normal parental "I just want you to be happy".) We do pray together, eat meals together, study the Word together.
And still, they are falling away as they get out on their own.
I pray that it is an experimental stage or something and their hearts will turn to (or back to) the Lord. My heart breaks continually over choices i see my grands making as they become adults, even tho' their hearts are loving. I have one dd and one dil that actively live for Christ.
I don't know what other churches do. I don't think our area fits the norm but STILL the kids are falling away. I hope and pray that we are gearing up for a revival! What a blessing that would be!