Everlasting Life
Through Faith in Jesus
I was told today about a young secular high school student who's choir went to a church to sing some Christmas music which had quite a few scriptural references (I know, amazing!), some Jewish songs, etc. Every year the music has a particularly gentle Christian feel. I suspect the choir teacher may be a Christian. They sang their music and then politely listened to a man (not really a pastor, but church representative of sorts) preach a 30 minute talk.
Initially my heart jumped at what I thought would be a Gospel message that was shared. But, heard that the kids came away only remembering being told stuff like: if they believe in evolution they were going to go to hell. Upon inquiring a little further it sounds like they heard a fire and brimstone type of talk in a put down sort of way.
The talk started out telling the kids that they probably didn't understand what the music lyrics even meant, which put down the choir teacher, who does apparently take time to carefully explain the music to the students (what a great way for this teacher to create a conduit to the bible for these young people by the way). It as at that point hearts closed up to hearing anything else bible related.
The whole tone was just a very negative experience for these kids, rather than coming away with food for thought. A kind of attacking secular ideas and putting people on the defense. Even the teacher was not impressed.
Sigh...I know that there are things about God that cannot be sugar coated, and I've had some pretty frank conversations with my kids. But, the way this was presented really left a bitter taste in the young students mouth. They came away feeling put down. My heart is concerned for kiddos with backgrounds that this might not have been the best approach for. I found myself praying that God would bring good out of this still.
Of course God can use anything to reach people, and I give this person at the church the benefit of the doubt that he was sincerely trying to reach these kids for Christ, that his heart was in the right place in regards to that. It is a brave thing to talk about Christ with a whole group of kids, but I do think that approach is very important.
It seems to me that given the tenderness of young hearts (some who are dealing with really tough stuff in their lives) a softer and gentler approach would be good. Gently tell them the truth, and keep the door open. I just wonder if perhaps simply sharing a personal testimony of what Jesus Christ has done in one's life would have drawn their interest in better and then an open invitation to come by and talk if they had any questions....maybe give out a card or church brochure.
I wanted to come here and ask people if and how they have approached sharing the Gospel with groups of young kids. If so, would you mind sharing? I think that it would be very beneficial in getting some good approaches and ideas that doesn't squelch their spirits.
Initially my heart jumped at what I thought would be a Gospel message that was shared. But, heard that the kids came away only remembering being told stuff like: if they believe in evolution they were going to go to hell. Upon inquiring a little further it sounds like they heard a fire and brimstone type of talk in a put down sort of way.
The talk started out telling the kids that they probably didn't understand what the music lyrics even meant, which put down the choir teacher, who does apparently take time to carefully explain the music to the students (what a great way for this teacher to create a conduit to the bible for these young people by the way). It as at that point hearts closed up to hearing anything else bible related.
The whole tone was just a very negative experience for these kids, rather than coming away with food for thought. A kind of attacking secular ideas and putting people on the defense. Even the teacher was not impressed.
Sigh...I know that there are things about God that cannot be sugar coated, and I've had some pretty frank conversations with my kids. But, the way this was presented really left a bitter taste in the young students mouth. They came away feeling put down. My heart is concerned for kiddos with backgrounds that this might not have been the best approach for. I found myself praying that God would bring good out of this still.
Of course God can use anything to reach people, and I give this person at the church the benefit of the doubt that he was sincerely trying to reach these kids for Christ, that his heart was in the right place in regards to that. It is a brave thing to talk about Christ with a whole group of kids, but I do think that approach is very important.
It seems to me that given the tenderness of young hearts (some who are dealing with really tough stuff in their lives) a softer and gentler approach would be good. Gently tell them the truth, and keep the door open. I just wonder if perhaps simply sharing a personal testimony of what Jesus Christ has done in one's life would have drawn their interest in better and then an open invitation to come by and talk if they had any questions....maybe give out a card or church brochure.
I wanted to come here and ask people if and how they have approached sharing the Gospel with groups of young kids. If so, would you mind sharing? I think that it would be very beneficial in getting some good approaches and ideas that doesn't squelch their spirits.
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