"Why I Won't Send My Future Children To Church Youth Groups/Sunday School" My Video Blog..steemCreated with Sketch.

in #parenting7 years ago (edited)

I know that some may find this video blog to be very progressive or non-traditional in thought, but I truly believe that Sunday Schools and youth groups can have the potential to confuse your children without your realizing it. Please don't get me wrong....I know that there are many wonderful Sunday School teachers and youth leaders out there that are very sincere, but I still believe that parents should be careful when allowing their children to participate in such groups. I also would like to share that I am a Christian so please understand that I want the very best for Christian young people to learn all that they can about the thing of God and I mean that very sincerely. But I do feel it is important that I address these issues...

I never participated in a youth group but I did attend Sunday School on a regular basis from age 5 until the age of 17. Now, just to be fair, I learned many wonderful things in Sunday School class that still benefit me to this day. On the other hand, there were teachings that were propagated that were not always the belief of my parents or of the doctrine of the church where I attended. But even if you discount all of that, youth groups and Sunday Schools can be a distraction as they are now often designed to be an entertainment club while parents attend church in the sanctuary.

Are we really seeing the fruit of youth groups? I don't believe that this is the case. For example, most kids that attend youth groups generally leave once they graduate high school and never return to the church where they had been a member. All of those car washes to raise money on youth mission trips, Christian concerts and youth rallies, become a thing of the past as they move on to college or whatever they endeavor to do as adults. Their parents keep on going to church but they cut their own trail. Don't misunderstand me, we are all entitled to exercise free will as to whether we attend church as adults or not. But my point is that the youth ministry may not be helping that cause but rather just showing the youth a fun time while operating under the umbrella of religious involvement.

My cousin who holds advanced degrees in theology, used to work in youth ministry and realized that wasn't cut out to do it anymore because he felt that he wasn't really making a difference. He told me that parents would come to him and ask him to talk to their children about issues that they should have been discussing with their own children. Again, I'm sure that there are youth pastors that have been positive influences on young people, but at the end of the day, I think it should be the parent's responsibility to teach their children the beliefs that they wish to impart unto them.

I know that this video blog might touch on an subject that some may disagree with, but something tells me that there are a host of others who can identify with what I am talking about and that's why I decided to share it with you. I won't always make everyone happy but I do need to speak out on what I think is important and relevant so others may benefit from it.

Thanks so much for your support of my content and please feel free to follow me @breakingtonight
I appreciate all of your upvotes, resteems and comments and want to thank you for all that you do!

Have a great day! :)

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The modern day church left the morals of God along time ago. They teach a hyped up gospel that has no purpose for life. It gives us a since of euphoria but it gives no life lessons. Morality is the battle of our times and amoralism won. Until we teach the morality of God or as I call it his Law. The battle is lost.

@rusticman1
You make an important point and hit the nail in the head. I believe that parents need to get involved and lead their children rather than delegating to someone else.

You are hitting on an important subject here! Often such groups are used as dumping grounds for kids. There is no substitute for family time, where the parents, especially the father, shares his faith with his children through scriptures, and through how he conducts himself publicly and privately.

Keep posting!

@steveitt
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this subject and for appreciating my perspectives on youth ministry in the church.

Great food for thought!

Thanks for commenting on my video blog, @hibiscus

Have a great day! :)

You too!

Good post bro,, Jesus and the Holy Spirit need to be the center of any church gathering, youth included. It is not the place for "fun" activities that don't draw people to relationship with God..

Thank you, brother!
You make a valid point and I pray that more and more would begin to realize that, as well!
@wilx

I am so grateful to see that as a young man you are seriously thinking about the future of your children, rather than just dumping the rearing responsibility of raising of them on your partner and family as so many do. I have many thoughts of the "churches" today, just like all the versions of the Bible. None of them conform to the original (KJV). I consider the people the church, not a building,..where 2 or 3 gather, in Spirit and in Truth.

I am very honored by your thoughtful comments, @holdilocks
I think you made some really good points and thank you for entering into the conversation! Have a blessed evening! :)

Have a wonderful weekend and God bless you also. : )

Thank you very much and have a terrific weekend, as well! 😊
@holdilocks

I have both worked with youth and at times have had my kids in youth group. So often the emphasis is on behavior modification and not heart transformation, and the gospel of grace is absolutely lost in it all.

I'll say amen to that, @tlester
I do agree with you that the gospel of grace is often not focused upon and it ends up being a place where there is too much attention on activities and ways to reform behaviour. You must watch Joseph Prince?

Actually i have only watched Joseph Prince a time or two. I am more of a John Piper/ John Macarthur kind of girl.

Prince preaches on the gospel of grace rather than on works oriented gospel. I used to listen to John MacArthur on Moody radio almost every night when I was growing up.

I think he's probably one of the best expository teachers of our time. Just my opinion. Thanks for your post. Really great.

You're very welcome and thank you for your comments, too! :)
@tlester

Great post! Didn't know church youth groups or Sunday school are a thing! Don't think we have many of these in Europe. Can't remember anybody mentioning going there when I was a kid. We just played outside the whole weekend!

It became more popular in American churches in the 1980's and still is to this very day. Thanks for commenting on my post and I hope all is well with you! Have a great day! :)

You to have a great summer day!

I hope you do too, my friend! 😎
@amy-goodrich

I agree. Church kids don't learn how to successfully debate the evolution theory because they never learned, to mention just one point. This very issue causes many of them to leave the church when they go to college. The church of tomorrow wiped out by ignorance. Parents should also pay attention to what their kids have learned, both at church and school. Sad situation. I upvote and follow.

Yes, I know many young people who got confused in college because they weren't grounded in proper theology. So you're right about that, @johnandutoit
Thanks so much for your upvote and follow!

You make a good point. We don't want to send our children to a place where they could be confused for a long time, we need to know what information is being taught to a child during his or hers formative years.

I agree! Those are the crucial years where a child needs to be taught by their parents on in the presence of their parents. @suziescorner

thanks for sharing

You're welcome and thanks for your comment, @machour
Just followed you! :)