Train them up or Train them out

Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6 HCSB

Let me say before we get started that I am not the perfect parent, nor do I have it all together. The other day I was driving and had a thought. Why are all the young people leaving the Church Fellowship? Do we not have enough programs, or is the music and teaching not relevant? I don’t think either one of those are at the root of this problem. Allow me to take a rabbit trail as we call it. I am not saying it is un-important to have good programs or relevant teachings and music. After all we should have no junk for Jesus. Our kids are leaving the church in groves, so what is the answer? Well I think the blame should be put on the parent’s shoulders. You see we take ourselves out of the mix because we have ball games or we really just don’t feel like going to church. We get home and talk about all the negative things that happen and we don’t guard our children from watching or hearing this junk. Again, understand that I am not saying that I have it all together. As a father of six children I understand that I do a lot of things wrong. So what makes me think that I should give advice? I am not trying to be a finger pointer, just trying to share my thoughts. You see our children do exactly what they have seen us do. When we skip out on a chance to fellowship, they figure it isn’t important so why not do it themselves. When they hear us eat the preacher for lunch or talk about so and so why would they want to be part of such a loving family? The answer is they don’t. You see the world teaches our kids how to give up or quit enough stuff everyday. We want them to grow up and serve God, but we are showing them that we really don’t believe what we are saying. It is time that we began acting like the Christians that we say we are. You see when we live up to what we say; we will find that God will honor what He has said. Does that mean that your kids won’t still leave NO? What it does mean is that you won’t be on the hook for it. So chose today whom you and your house will serve. (But be real about it) Remember Joshua 24:15b but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Train them up or Train them out you have the chance to make the greatest impact in their lives.