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Churches Losing their Children
I got asked a question lately, that I would like to share with you and ask that you expand upon in the comments – “Why are we losing our children?”
Here are my arguments based upon personal experience:
1. Our children don’t understand why we do things how we do them. Exodus 12:26 demonstrates that when children ask about the Passover, the parents send them to the rabbi. Nope, that is not what it says! Parents, instruct your children. Don’t wait on the preacher to get around to preaching on it. I will never forget a woman in her 80’s asking me, “Why do we take the Lord’s supper on Sunday’s?” I am thankful she felt comfortable enough to ask me, but considering she “grew up in the church”, why didn’t she already know? If she didn’t know, then how could she have taught her children?
2. When explaining why we do what we do, we use bad arguments. For example, in the past I heard the argument that every time singing is mentioned in the NT, it never mentions an instrument. One of the times listed is when Paul is in prison with Silas and they are singing but nothing is said about instruments. Does anyone really expect there to be musical instruments in the cells? (Acts 16). As a teenager I remember arguing for a position on another topic and thinking, “This is a bad argument I am using, but it is our argument”.
3. There is almost exclusive preaching against denominations and bad “churches of Christ” – There are times when preaching against something is necessary, but negative preaching about others can lead to pride. The Pharisees saw themselves as separate from the people. It leads to pride and hypocrisy.
4. There is not enough emphasis on the gospel – By emphasis I mean preaching and teaching and living – in the family and in the congregation. Are we showing how the Bible keeps focusing on Jesus in the OT lessons? Jesus said the scriptures are about Him (John 5:39).
Now let me get more personal. I grew up in a congregation of about 40 people. No boys my age. The two girls were my good friends, but that is not many kids, is it? I stayed faithful, as have those two other girls. Before that, I was part of a larger congregation. I had friends in a larger church that had this saying within: “First, children sit with their parents. Second, they sit with their friends in the back. Finally, they leave through the back door.” Churches with children for our children is not the most important thing a church can offer our children.
I completely understand looking for a church with companions for our children. Such can be spiritually bolstering. But some people forsake scriptural churches for churches with programs for their children. That teaches the wrong lesson. It teaches church is for them being served. Plus, didn’t Jesus say we must love Him more than our family (Matthew 10:37)?
I’ve got a theory – Often we ask questions that are not asked in the Bible. Never does Paul write to Timothy or Titus, or to churches and congregations about how to not lose their children. My theory is, when we ask questions not found in the Bible, do we need to reevaluate our questions? Focus on the gospel as the answer to any question, even for our children.
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