What Will Happen to the Church of Tomorrow?

by Bro. Elijah Abanto

A wise Christian talked to me about this article last time and made some advice to improve this article. The changes are exhibited by the following article. --editor

With very few exceptions, all the parents that I know of want their children to have a bright future. They want them to become the best they could be, the greatest potential they could be, and especially for us Christians, we want them to become saved and to live a life that's pleasing to God and His Word--doctrinally and practically.

But I'm afraid that our dreams for our children might not become a reality. We thought what we are doing is the best way to raise them, but we don't know--we might be wrong. We think that our methods are right, and they seem to be good at first--then later we wonder, "Why did that happen to my child?" And with that we must consider an important question.

What will happen to the church of tomorrow? If we are not careful, the children today could be the apostate adults tomorrow--the apostate church of tomorrow. Little by little, change in doctrine and living would destroy future generations.

You don't have to look far away to see that it's happening. The trends say that. I personally know of one church that has a service for adults and a service for young people. Not that separating church services between age groups is bad, but that's not the case. The reason why they have separate church services is because the adults want hymns and the young people want the 'alive' songs! What's frightening is that most of the young people are children of the adults of the same church! What's more, the children of another church are mocking the choruses they are singing at Sunday school, and, as one of their teachers has said, they are throwing crumpled papers to the teacher while in class! Also, in an old church I know, while all the adult ladies are dressing in right apparel in church service, the young people are wearing mini skirts or spaghetti's. And they grew up there in the church!
I'm not saying it's all our fault--the example set by the adults is strong enough to make them think of the right way to do things. But, the question is, could it be that there may be something wrong with what we are doing? I'm afraid kids are getting enough of Bible stories and not a bit of doctrine. I'm afraid we are just letting (or forcing) our children to do something, and they don't have the least idea why they should do this, or why they should do that this way or that way. And so, when they grow up, they would not believe it, or do it, or at least do it the way we expect them to do it.
What's more alarming is that we are not aware of it, much more do something about it.

Let's be reminded: your children - our children, are the church of tomorrow. What we are teaching them and not teaching them will determine what kind of church we are forming for the future.

It starts with us parents. Read Deuteronomy 6. This chapter will refresh you on the importance of children to be taught and trained. Consider verses 1-2 and 7,

Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:

That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged...

...And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (emphasis mine)

This principle also applies to the way the church teaches its children, because it is where families are built. The church and the family must not contradict each other, whether doctrinally or practically.
Now let's do a check-up. Try asking or observing a child (12 and below, could be your child) about certain aspects of our faith and practice. That will tell you if you are doing your job.
Doctrine. Ask him about some of the basics of our faith. How many Gods are there? How can you be saved? What do you think about the Bible? Can baptism bring you to heaven? These are some of the many basic questions you must check in the child's being. If the child answers wrong in these basic questions, that means he hasn't really learned what he must believe. Timothy learned the cardinal doctrines of the faith when he was young (2 Timothy 3:15), and it had become undeniably one of the factors why he became one of the youngest church leaders of his time.
Attendance. Do you really like attending church, or are you just forced? If you attend church, do you believe it's needed to attend all of the services and not be late? Do you need to behave in the worship service? Many parents are choosing to leave their children in their houses when attending church, basically because they think their child will just mess things up. But it's a matter of teaching and training.
Another word about church attendance: I would not recommend separate churches, or a children's church, a youth church, and an adult church, though I know that God does use them to bring salvation and spiritual growth to many. If you would look at the scriptures, you would not find any single principle about separating them; instead, scriptural examples implying a family sort of attendance are rampant. (See Deuteronomy 16, specially verse 11; also Luke 2, when Jesus turns twelve)
Offering/Giving. If children are not trained to give now, it is more probable that they will never give later, or they will be selfish. Ask, What do you think about putting money in the offering plate? Is it right? Don't think they will learn it when they grow up. It starts NOW.
One significant example of early-age giving in the Bible is the child who brought the five loaves and two fish to Jesus. (John 6:8-10) Though what stands out more is Jesus' wondrous miracle, carefully studying the passage will bring to light the giving heart of the child. Where must have that giving spirit come from?
Music. What songs to do you like, choruses or hymns? Are you bored with hymns, and want lively songs instead? Though not entirely applicable to all, it is generally reasonable to say that what children sing today will determine what they sing tomorrow. If all they sing are shallow songs without some deeper, richer language, the hymns could probably be alien to them later. What's more important, tell them why they must be singing that, and why they shouldn't be singing this--that could somewhat put strength to the belief you want to mold in them.
To have an idea of how Jesus and the N.T. believers treat music, look up the passages in the parentheses (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Acts 2:46, 47; 16:25, 26; I Corinthians 14:15, 26; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13). Though these passages are not clear on the instrument issue, not mentioning instruments can give a clue. You can also study the instruments used in the Old Testament, and see if all are used in temple worship.
Worship and Service. Think that you are in front of God, what will you do? Would you like to sing in the choir? Join the church activities? Go with an adult sharing the Bible? Or teach? Reverence to and eagerness to serve the Lord are nurtured and developed. Are they growing wanting more and more to serve the living God?

What will happen to the church of tomorrow? It depends on us. Let us examine our practices. Maybe we are ignorant about the how, but the Bible is never short of principles and guidelines to do that. All we need to do is carefully study it.
Let us learn to nurture them. And who knows? God may use them to turn the world upside down again.