God is real. He is holy and loving, awesome and intimate, all-encompassing and all-indwelling. He is not a concept. He is not a method. He is not a religion. He is a person and a personality.
Being raised Christian often hinders young people from seeing this truth. Second generation Christians struggle with the "idea" of God versus the "person" of God. The idea sounds really good, but if they lack an encounter with Him, they walk away. If not in person, at least internally, going through the motions each week.
I feel that one of my main missions in life is to work with those who were "raised Christian." The ones whose parents were saved after they went through the struggles of life and can't seem to comprehend why their "Christian child" could ever doubt, ever fear, ever fall. "You have everything I wish I had at your age!" Maybe, maybe not. If you really wished you had it, you would have had it. Christ is within reach to all. It's unfair of these first generation Christians to put this burden upon their children. They need to allow those "raised Christians" to work through their questions, to fall and be lifted up, so that they truly can become "raised Christians."
I also feel that this is why so many second generation Christians seek what they call "The Second Blessing." They want an encounter, and since they feel that they're already "saved" they desire an experience to match it, like their parents had, so they seek something else beyond it. But this isn't scriptural - we have all we need upon salvation. (Ephesians 1:13,14, II Peter 2:3,4)
That's also why so many second-generation Christians start to depart from the Word of God and seek experiences, which leads to a dilution of the Word. I read blog after blog of these young people trying to manipulate the Word to match what they're feeling, applying all of their logic to argue into acceptability things that are sin. Let's be clear: There is no acceptable sin. But since this is what (and who) they are experiencing, they try to bring God and the sin to the same level. This simply cannot happen. Not because I don't want it to happen - it CAN'T happen. ("What fellowship can light have with darkness?")
What's the answer? A real encounter with Christ. This blows the flesh right out of the person. If all you're concerned about is a 'social gospel' (which every true believer should be concerned about) then you'll miss the real gospel - an invasion of Christ into your own heart. We've lost the sense of the "good news" because so many of our kids have simply been "raised Christian," - inoculated into the program, instructed in the religion - that they don't know what 'the Gospel' really means. So they scurry after experiences and into social programs that make them think they're bringing the gospel into the world, when all they're bringing is a helping hand. They are trying to create their own encounters, and in a sense, their own gospel.
Again - don't get me wrong. Every believer is empowered to be a helping hand in this world. But apart from Christ, that's all it is. With Christ - it's a healing hand, and there is a huge difference between the two. There is no true helping without a healing, and there is no true healing unless there is acknowledgment of sickness. That's why the standards cannot be adjusted to the experiences.
I fear that we're raising a generation with this mindset. However, one-by-one I've encountered some who want the Truth and they're coming, and they're coming hard. These are the ones who will be true "raised Christians," the ones who will find the true Gospel. These are the ones who will eventually become the true difference-makers in this world.
3 comments:
wow, this concepts of "raised Christianity" as you call it is one of my deepest concerns. that concern is for those who have not yet realized the truth and engaged in a real relationship with the real God. i know i have a growing relationship with God. being fairly new to this relationship, there are a lot of little topics about the christian life that i don't have definite answers on yet that i hope to continually get figured out according to the truth of God, but in my relationship with God, i am 100% certain. I've experienced the radical grace that is only from God, a gift from God, and by this i have been saved ( from my old self really) though faith (ephesians 2:8-9). there is nothing more real to me.
i speak briefly about my self, only so that i can speak honestly about this topic. i also must add that i still don't believe it is my place or anyone else's place to say whether or not someone is a Christian. that is between God and the person, only God knows the heart.
this is what's at the heart of my concern- many kids growing up under christianity, in a christian house, christian school, church, everything, being raised christian never actually have a relationship with God. God never saved them from anything. at most, and i dare say, there parents, teachers, and sunday school teachers tried there best to save them, not even so much that they love God, but that they will fit this mold of christianity that they themselves are still trying to fit, (they might not have it figured out either). and for what, to keep there kids out of trouble? have them grow up to be "good people"? none of this amounts to anything of value. because kids grow up and soon enough they ask them selves if all this stuff they have been taught makes sense. raised christian kids go one of three ways at this point. along the lines of what you said, they get deeper and deeper into this made up christianity. they look for that second blessing, or they are constantly searching for that next spiritual high. they fill there lives with the things of Christianity and not the truth of christianity, that is Christ.
secondly, they completely turn away from christianity. to there credit they realize what they have been taught really doesn't do what those people said it would do. they don't feel saved from anything, there is no victory over sin in there life so why keep trying? this groups problem is that they gave up. they knew what they had wasn't right but instead of find what is right (a relationship with God) they turned away with a bad taste in there mouth for christianity because of the "christianity" they received.
the last group of kids would be those who do search after the really real. they want to know if there is any substance to Christianity ,they seek God and God saves them.
my concern is that there are too few kids in the third category and way to many in the first and second. its becoming more clear to me too that the people responsible for raising these kids need to be engaged in a relationship with God so that when they say they are raising them in the faith, there only motivation is that there children have the same relationship with God that they do. and for those who do have a relationship with God and are in a position to raise or teach kids, it is extremely important to break the mold of "raised Christianity" and replace it with the mold that s in the Bible, Jesus himself. it is important for anyone who has a relationship with God to let the truth be known and to be bold in there faith.
i apologize for the length of this comment (I'm thinking about starting my own blog), i could keep going on, but i wont. it is just that this is such a concern for me. since my relationship with God started, this idea has been in my head and on my heart. thanks for sharing this topic and be encouraged and have hope that there are kids who are still seeking Him.
final thought : "raised Christians" pray to a God they don't know. what do you think?
Peter, trust me - I am very encouraged. An no need to start a blog - your responses will do just fine!!
Anyway, to answer your question - Yes - these "raised Christian" kids often are living in no faith but some mold of their parents that their prayers are more recitals than actual prayers to a living, loving, personal God. This is dangerous.
As I've said, they become inoculated, like they've received the 'shot' - and now it's even harder to reach them because they think that they're okay. Every message is for someone else.
Again - I am encouraged by many Christian home-kids. Like you and others, you've embraced a true relationship with Christ as your own and are seeking deeper things. But so many turn away or find their comfort in the form, not the substance of Christianity. Thanks for your thoughts. They mean a lot.
It is true that it is important that everyone be in love with God's word and serve Him unconditionally as it is our reasonable service.
God is a God of His word, but He is also a God of experience as well. (Moses in the desert etc.)
It not merely a relationship of knowledge attainment. We do from time to time need a touch from God and a time of refreshing. He is a living God who wants to show Himself strong to those who love Him. We do not seek the signs however, we seek Him. As a result of seeking Him, His Word is performed and we are transformed, people are healed, circumstances change etc.. (Book of Acts and early church)
The youth need this as well. If we look at Daniel and David, we can see that as they both served God, and walked in faith, that God moved on there behalf and they experienced Him in many ways. Many times it is these reference points that helped them in future battles. We need to come to church to worship, but we also need to come expecting to see God move powerfully in lives. Many are afraid or so cautious about these things that they do not leave room for God to do anything outside their box. Youth need to see elders contending for these things. The world is feeding them the other side of supernatural, but they need to see the One who cast the Devil down like lightning and made and open spectacle of Him, the God who raised from the dead, and the God who said "these signs shall follow them that believe..." Shall...
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