Date: 9/9/2009
<br>Author: Devin
<br>Title: Responsibility of the Church?
<br><br><br>“Whose Responsibility?”<br><br>We often hear people say the Church is losing its young people.  Exactly what do they mean by this statement?  It seems to me that this is not usually given as a statement of fact but rather intended to be an indictment of the Church for failure of some sort.<br><br>The truth of the matter is that the Church has no young people to lose.  God has entrusted children to their parents, not the Church.  “And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:  but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).<br><br>The Church has the same responsibility to young people that it has to anyone else – preach the Word.  It is not the Church that must decide at what hour your teen must be in.  It is not the elders that tell your children what to watch.  The Church does not choose the friends your children can have in your home, nor the ones they run with at school.  It is not the Church that allows them to smoke, use language that would shock a sailor, or drink beer and/or whiskey.  It is not the Church that allows your daughter to sit on the lap of a young man.  It is not the Church that allows young people to abuse or destroy the property of people good enough to invite them into their home as guests.  Teachers are not the ones who allow a boy or girl to leave their workbooks (and Bibles) at home.  Who should see to these things?<br><br>Parents, we are not really that dense.  Who is kidding whom?  If your child is lost, do not blame the Church.        - Lewis G. Hale ..... Sayre Church of Christ, Sayer OK<br><br>(copied from the Fairview Church of Christ bulletin via Larry Page)<br><br>Man, talk about feeling like you have been punched in the mouth.  That's exactly the way I felt when I first read the article above.  But, I must admit, I think Mr. Hale hit the nail on the head.  I certainly believe the Church should do all it can to assist its young people in beginning and maintaining a satisfying relationship with the Lord.  I think it's wonderful that our elders have seen the need to hire a youth minister to help direct the young folks who call Fairfield home.  I know Rodney and Sheila will do a tremendous job in helping our youth group make strides spiritually.  But, at the end of the day, it is we as parents who should take total and complete responsibility for the spiritual well-being of our children.  Many of us are learning on a daily basis that it takes a tremendous amount of courage to parent correctly.  Not only that, but it takes back-bone, discipline, determination, patience and perseverance.  Should the Church help?  Yep.  But they should be in the co-pilots seat.  We as parents should be flying the plane.<br><br>Go the extra mile - Devin<br><br><br>