There are many programs in the diverse church denominations to try and keep the youth devout. From Vacation Bible School (VBS) in the summers to Movie Nights, the church with great zeal tries to keep young believers from Kindergarten to High School faithful. Other churches employ Catholic School, Catechism, and rigorous teaching of dogmas and doctrines to try and reinforce the faith in young ones. The result of the entertainment and adventure approach of most Evangelical churches and the intellectual and doxological approach of High Churches often helps in short term, but not in long run. The problem is young people are sent off into a world that challenges their beliefs. From college to culture, young Christians find their view of Jesus being only way (John 14:6) assaulted from professors to motion pictures. The heady theology and doxology taught at their Lutheran Church or the VBS experiences are challenged by allure of other experiences in college, and trying to get the Prodigal to come home can be difficult.
The truth is that catechism and Christian water wars at Vacation Bible School isn't going to leave impression that keeps that young child in faith when they become an adolescent. What is needed is an encounter with God the Trinity. Young people who attend services at Church, prayer meetings, and Bible Studies where God shows up, where charismatic gifts of 1 Corinthians 12, and Spirit of God is allowed to descend have a better chance than catechism classes and VBS. When a child feels Christ's presence for first time, the joy of the LORD God actually showing up during worship, prayer, and study; it leaves a impression, a stamp of God's own hand. Instead of an intellectual faith based on words, the child actually senses God, knows His Spirit, and thus can sense right from wrong easily, discernment. When the child is older, become a teenager these experiences and subsequent ones will serve as reminders to them, that their faith in Jesus is not just words, rituals, and catechisms, but is alive and act, that God actually shows up in power. Knowing its a relationship, and that God the Trinity actually shows up, can make teen stand firm when all arguments of their atheist teachers, and agonistic friends come to bear. If its just a creed, the grown child can fall away, seeing it as just one brand among many, but if they encounter the One True Triune God of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, know how real He is, and develop a relationship, then the adolescent latter can battle the naysayers not with intellect but with a relationship, they know God personally and so its an attack not just on traditions and a mind set, but their friend Jesus Christ.
This does not mean they won't become a Prodigal, and fall into the pit and mire of self destruction and experimentation with drugs, sex, alcohol, and other vices. But unlike a creed, if they've encountered God in Spirit filled settings, congregations, and quiet times, they will remember as they slosh and stumble in the mud with pigs, they will remember God and His presence, His love, and His power. There is nothing wrong with creeds, or learning catechism, and teachings based in Holy Bible, but without encounters and experiencing the Trinity in tangible way, being in His presence as King David said he delighted in, "One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple," (Psalm 27:4) and as Jesus Christ wants us to, "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me." (John 17::20-22) the young soul will find himself ill equipped to fight the fog of unbelief, disbelief, and persecution he will find at school at all levels of Academia, in the culture at large, and in Entertainment. Without encountering and enjoying The Lord Jesus' presence, young people are quick to see their faith as traditions, sub-culture, and creeds.
The ideal setting is to reinforce in the youth the faith through the following:
1. At Home read Bible with them, have them read, and make reading the Holy Bible a priority. Have Bible studies with your children.
2. Create atmosphere of the Holy Spirit at home services, prayer meetings, and worship so that the LORD Trinity arrives in all his glorious presence.
3. Teach your children the Gifts of Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) and have them practice them.
4. Make Prayer important, pray with them every night and have them pray freely as they are lead by Spirit of God.
5. Let children be inquisitive and ask questions, teach them and use what they are interested in to explain more about the LORD, if they love dinosaurs tell them about Behemoth in Bible Job 31, or dragons tell them of Leviathan that David couldn't get past scales which were like shields.
6. Attend a Bible Based and Spirit Filled Church, so that your child is around other children who are Christian and that meet other people who believe as you do,.
7. Make God the Trinity a priority, model for your children behavior of LORD and show them by example you have to make tough decision as disciples of Christ, like keeping your word and praying for enemies.
Children watch what parents do, they don't just listen to what you say. So live the faith, and pray for your children wither they are fetus or part of fraternity at College or taking care of their own family. The point is they need to see Christ in you, feel Christ's presence (Charisma), and be taught about Christ via The Holy Bible. You can't rely on programs or catechism classes to make your children interested in the LORD. You have to be interested, and you have to live it out, and make God the Trinity important. Then if they do become a Prodigal, they will remember in the mud and mire the Messiah's promises and come home again. Amen.
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