Replacing Parents with Programs

We have to rethink the role of parents in the church’s strategy to evangelize and disciple the younger generations. Replacing parents with programs will not solve the problems.

In order to ensure the greatest success for the next generation, parents and the local church must partner together to evangelize and disciple the children. If parents are to teach their children the ways of the Lord, they must be intentional about bringing spirituality into their conversations.

Some parents, upon realization of the biblical mandate for parenting, are too guilty to admit they have neglected spiritual conversations in the home and are too ashamed to make the needed change in their homes. Unfortunately, multiple families are simply too disinterested in making Christ the center of their homes.

Many parents expect the church to do all the work associated with their children’s spiritual upbringing. Parents’ general attitude towards their involvement normally consists of connecting their children with the most qualified professionals, leading the most appealing programs, and then stepping out of the professionals’ way. 

How can parents safely assume that another person will have as much concern about their child’s salvation as they will themselves? Due to seemingly sufficient children’s programming in churches, parents have eased into complacency regarding their children’s spiritual development. Nevertheless, a church’s staff and the children’s parents must agree upon a biblical, healthy partnership to give each child the best opportunity to follow Christ.

Additionally, many de-churched young adults have lost contact with their spiritual mentors from youth. In light of the high turnover rate of pastoral staffs in churches, many of these spiritual mentors for young people are replaced within a short amount of time, causing a lack of consistent spiritual leadership. Plus, once one group graduates, a new group of students takes their place and requires the student pastor’s limited time and attention.  

Many college students were involved in a church, especially their youth group, in middle school and high school. Once they got away from home, however, they stopped growing in Christ and connecting to a church. If a relationship with God had been mentored by a student’s parents and not merely a church staff member, the student would continue to have access to his or her mentors while in college.

Solutions?

1. Expect parents to do what God expects them to do.
2. Rethink your church gatherings to avoid separating the family in every environment.
3. Find ways to unite the teaching focus in church among discipleship curriculum.
4. Create opportunities for families to grow together.
5. Provide resources for parents to raise the bar.
6. Encourage young people to honor their parents.
7. Let your church ministries serve as a second voice to what is taught in the home.