The Dangers of Having Youth in Public Ministries

So I guess I will play the bad guy again, and point out more then just "Oh look at our little fireball preach, isn't he precious!" Yeah, look at the expectations we put on them before they are 7!

I have seen young people as young as 6 and 7 preach behind pulpits, and on the street corners.  Using God's word, without even understanding it.  Talking about sin, as if they know anything about it!  Arrogant prideful parents who think their children are anointed for service because of some baby dedication service!  Your kid is special to you but he is not special enough to be ministering to adults and hardened sinners, he is a kid like my kids. 

You say "he can handle it", he has been in the ministry!  You tell a young christian in the pew to abstain from such events, then you take your kids there to behold  all the rioting?  I thought we are supposed to abstain from all appearance of evil.  Oh, that only applies to the compromiser who buys bread at the corner store that sells liquor.  It somehow all of the sudden doesn’t apply to you, the street preachers and public out reach operators who mingles yearly, monthly, and weekly with the sodomites, drunkards, and revelers at their gatherings.  Because someone has to tell them right?  Your going to preach to them,... I know.  

The Sunday Scare Hour

The day I dreaded arrived today, when some Sunday School staff/children’s church worker came up to me and informed me that my 7 year old son had gotten “saved”.  He then put him on the spot to describe this life changing event to me at which point he looked at me with a “dazed and confused” look.  Now to some parents, this might have been a joyous occasion to hear of their son's salvation.  But to me, it was one of my worst nightmares.  Here is why.

The arrogance in our evangelism is alarming!  Is it God’s design for Dad and Mom to instruct, read the Bible to, and discuss biblical matters with their children?  Yes.  But all of the sudden, in children’s church or Sunday school, workers get this thing in their head that the children are there for them to push for a decision on spiritual matters and eternal salvation without even discussing matters with the parent.  

As if they know the child, or have anything to do with him aside from asking him questions and prompting him to raise his hand.  They view it as “God brought them to me.”  It’s a twisted view on the providence of God.