A Second Slice of the Archives: Our Kids Are Not Goats!

Until things really get up and going, my plan is to draw from some of my past documents that I feel provide insight into my approach to ministry and may even be beneficial to those who find the subject of interest. I will update and adjust content as deemed necessary, but as you will likely see the original purpose glinting through, I will give the specific backdrop for a document when it might be helpful.

This entry originated at a time when our church was seeking direction in the future of our youth ministry and I wanted to provide a biblical foundation for any future program. My desire was to see something that was not just “acceptable” from a biblical point of view, but a true help to parents who are often confused and hampered in their parenting roles by the very programs that promise to serve them. You will see that what follows is mostly scripture, but I think that the headings are all the interpretation that these scripture need for the purpose at hand. More could be said (and perhaps I will take the time to do just that at a later date) but I hope that what follows will at least give some justification for the reason that our church does not have a “typical” youth program.

Biblical Principles for Training Godliness in Youth and Children

1. Children Are a Blessing, Not a Curse

Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

2. Children and Youth Are Vital to Church Life

Matthew 19:13, 14 Then little children were brought to Jesus that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked their parents. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:2-6 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. 6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

3. Children Need to Be Taught, Not Entertained

Psalms 71:17 (A Psalm of David) O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works.

Ephesians 4:14 We should no longer be (like) children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

4. It Is Primarily the Parent’s Job to Raise Godly Children

Deuteronomy 6:6, 7 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 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.

Joshua 24:15 Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Psalm 78:5-7 God has established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel,

Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; 6 That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, 7 That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments;

Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Colossians 3:20, 21 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

5. God Holds Parents Responsible for Lack of Parenting

Jeremiah 5:7 “How shall I pardon you (context: parents–collectively) for this? Your children have forsaken Me And sworn by those that are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, Then they committed adultery And assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.

1 Samuel 3:11-14 Then the LORD said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. 14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

6. Any Program That Is Not Transformational Is a Failure

Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Titus 2:11, 12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

1Peter 4:2-4 We should no longer live the rest of our time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, the worldly think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

7. We Are All in This Process Together

Deuteronomy 31:12, 13 Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God.”

Isaiah 56:3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, “The LORD has utterly separated me from His people”;

Malachi 4:5, 6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

1 Thessalonians 2:10, 11 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,

3 John 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Parameters

1) Any activity should strengthen not fracture families.

2) Any activity should have a spiritual emphasis.

3) Any activity should encourage parent participation.

4) Any activity should have male leadership when boys are involved and female leadership when girls are involved.

5) No activity should encourage unbiblical behavior.

6) No activity should purposefully exclude a part of the church that might benefit from that activity.

7) Any activity that is questionable or offensive to any individual or family of the church should be run past the Board of Elders before pursuit.

Thoughts

1) Fathers need to be utilized as much as possible for spiritual leadership.

2) Fun is fine, but worldly frivolity is not. How can you determine the difference?

Ask: Is this activity leading our children closer to the world or closer to Christ?

3) The best way to lead the world to Christ is to live like Christ, not like the world.

4) Our youth are the future leaders of our church (as well as other churches), we should not just aim at helping them to survive the world, but to overcome the world.