Can you imagine...

...a church without a Children's, Teens &/or Youth ministry?

Did you just GASP!? - that was my reaction too. So let's explore this a bit more...


Have you noticed how quick some parents are to drop off their children in the children/ teens/youth area so they can enjoy the adult service undisturbed? In fact, I always smile when I go to a church and see parents ask: 

"Where do you keep the children?"

Now there is nothing wrong with that question in itself but everything wrong with leaving the spiritual upbringing of your children to the church.

I assume that some parents may hinge that attitude/expectation on Isaiah 54:13 - 

All your children will be taught by the Lord, 

and they will have much peace [prosperity; wholeness]. (Expanded Bible)

or even Proverbs 22:6 - 

Train up a child in the way he should go, 

and when he is old he will not depart from it. (NKJV)

I firmly believe that children should be taught of the Lord in church - only as a second line of defence i.e. reinforcing what their parents have done. It's not up to the church to lay the foundation in a child's life. When God first talked about raising children directly, He stated His confidence in Abraham who would train and raise his children in the way of the Lord.* Did you notice the promise at the end of the verse? It's a promise to the parent not to the church.

Another scripture that clearly states the role of parents is Deut 6: 5-9

5 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might. 6 And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then] 7 You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets (forehead bands) between your eyes. 9 And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Amplified)

Knowing all these, my question and quest is: 

"How can we help - equip and encourage - parents to step up and train their children in the way of the Lord - not leaving it to the church and/or Christian schools?" 

I'm not saying that parents are not doing their part but some are not doing enough. Why should any parent need to report their child to the Sunday School teacher or Pastor for reprimand? We need to help parents parent successfully - hopefully we won't need to do something as drastic as closing the Children/Teens /Youth ministries. May God help us in this quest...feel free to share any tips.

Reference:

* Gen 18: 18-19 - 18 Abraham’s children[Abraham] will certainly become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him[12:1–3]. 19 I have chosen [known] him so he would command his children and his descendants [household]to live [keep] the way the Lord wants them to, to live right and be fair[…by doing righteousness and justice]. Then I, the Lord, will give Abraham what I promised him.”