6/1/15

“If you look around your church today, two-thirds of the young people who are sitting among us have already left in their hearts; soon they will be gone for good.”  This is the shocking conclusion from a study Answers in Genesis commissioned from America’s Research Group, led by respected researcher Britt Beemer. The results may unnerve you – they may shake long-held assumptions to the core – but these results need to be taken seriously by the 21^st century church and by Christian parents. 
 
The study found that we are losing our kids in elementary, middle school, and high school rather than college.  This is an alarming wake-up call…for the church, showing how our programs and our approaches to making disciples of our children under age 18 are failing…for parents, showing how our fractured and harried families, with their misplaced priorities, are failing to influence the character of Christ being formed in our sons and daughters.  Our children are paying the price for the breakdown in what should be a mutually supportive disciple-making partnership between the church and Christian parents. 
 
Southern Baptist Convention researcher Ed Stetzer noted, “There is no easy way to say it, but it must be said.  Parents and churches are not passing on a robust Christian faith and an accompanying commitment to the church.  We can take some solace in the fact that many do eventually return.  But, Christian parents and churches need to ask the hard question, “What is it about our faith commitment that does not find root in the lives of our children?”
 
It is my opinion that the answer is not complicated.  It is actually quite short and simple: We must do a better job of defending the Word of God, living out the Word of God and teaching the Word of God to our children while we have them [birth to age 18].  

Pray with me… Father God, there is no task that is more demanding … no task that is more rewarding than making disciples of our children and grandchildren.  Consistently showing them and constantly teaching them what it means to follow Jesus, to be changed by Jesus and be on mission with Jesus throughout their lives.  Empower us as parents and pastors to lock arms in this vitally important task.  We pray in the name of Jesus, the One we worship, love, obey and serve above all else and above all others, amen.

Blessings,
Pastor Ken