What will the future church look like?

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way,

when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Serving God is meant to be a continual legacy. That through us, a new generation is to be raised to serve and follow God. Parents, first and foremost are responsible for seeing to it that their children are taught about God and raised with the bible as God’s word and it being used to be our instruction book for living a Christian life.

In the above verse it speaks of opportunities when we should be teaching. In other words all day long. There isn’t any specific time to teach, our every action and word should show a life of dedication to God as well.

We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,
And His strength and His wonderful works

that He has done.

Psalm 78:4

But parents are not the only ones responsible. Everyone can have a positive effect on a child and not only through family connections. Since we are a part of the family of God, the children around us, within the church are influenced by everyone. Pastors, teachers, leaders, helpers, friends; all are in positions to influence a child.

Many times grandparents even Sunday school teachers and youth leaders have a easier time getting through to a child about God. Other times it may be a favorite aunt or uncle who is an example to them. Kids see and hear so much more than we realize. They watch our every move and hear many things meant only for adults. Much of which is not good.

We cannot live inconsistent lives and expect the children of the church to grow up and be strong Christians, when we aren’t. Parents who don’t join their kids at church, or who slack of too often are setting their kids up to do the same. Language, the way we dress, what we watch on TV, gossip, prayer or lack there of; all of these are images and examples set down into the heart and mind of our church kids.

A posterity shall serve Him.
It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
They will come and declare His righteousness

to a people who will be born,That He has done this.

Psalm 22:30-31

Kids in the church, all ages, are being shown how to live the life of a Christian. Is it the right one, a good example? Are they seeing surrender, sacrifice? Are they being taught how important it is to pray for others? Or will they learn back-biting and gossip and selfishness? Will they see and be taught examples of resisting temptation? Or will they have seen that it is okay to lie, have sex outside marriage, cheat and steal? Will they become adults who read the word and not live it or will they not even read it? Will they grow to live a life of compromise to the world or stand strong in their faith and belief in the bible?

We as a church are all responsible. Even those of us without kids, or without kids still at home. If we see a family faltering/struggling? Do we gossip, point fingers or do we step in with prayer and even if possible help, suggestions, mentoring.

That the generation to come might know them,
The children who would be born,
That they may arise and declare them to their children,

Psalm 78:6

Right now we have a generation of young adults and teens that are sick of the church being hypocrites. Is that what we want the future to be? Empty churches because we can’t walk the talk?

Some of our church kids, will grow up and have kids of their own. Other young adults will be new members. What kind of Jesus followers will they see? What will the next generation of believers look like? Will they even be believers?

What type of legacy do we as a church want to leave? We are in the last days. The beginning ‘birth pangs’ of the end times, whether you accept it or not. We may even be the last generation of believers to be able to leave a legacy, to live as an example. What are we preparing our kids for?

That they may set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments;

Psalm 78:7

Until next time, God bless.

~Brenda

 

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