I suspect another factor is that those who grow up in the church learn the baby version of Christianity, and may never get the adult version. Whereas those who come to the church get the adult version.
Very good article Mr. Jack… Both my husband and I had our sins washed away as adults. Our children have been raised “in the pew.” There are distinct differences in how we all look at things. I am very grateful that our children were raised in church, but at the same time, I wish they could see some of the “other side of things” a little better as well (without getting in the pigpen!) 😱😱😱
I think it just makes you really appreciate the Church so much more, instead of taking it all for granted… 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
I come from a family like that too. Definitely gives good perspective to see it from both sides. The new energy plus the lifelong stability are vital to the church.
Jack, I agree. I think one thing that can help with this is for generations to hand down the family conversion story while adding their own experiences to it. This can be uncomfortable to do. I'm a couple of generations removed from our family's conversion on both sides of the family. If the feeling of being lost without hope and the joy of finding the truth, the church, and salvation can be transferred and internalized that can help. That, however, is hard to do. In the OT we see the Israelites struggle to remain faithful for more than a few generations at a time. We also can be a stiff-necked people (Exodus 32:9). It's so easy to take for granted the blessings we are receiving from God and attribute them to our own skill, intelligence. or good fortune instead of their true source.
Sometimes, it is how parents raise their children. Do they rely too much on the church for teaching, or do they regularly study with their children inside the home? As someone raised in the church, I have noticed that the emphasis on studying the Bible at home is lacking in some households where the children do not value the Word of God as much. Maybe the question should be, how are we raising our kids in the church?
I suspect another factor is that those who grow up in the church learn the baby version of Christianity, and may never get the adult version. Whereas those who come to the church get the adult version.
That’s an interesting point. I think you’re onto something there.
Very good article Mr. Jack… Both my husband and I had our sins washed away as adults. Our children have been raised “in the pew.” There are distinct differences in how we all look at things. I am very grateful that our children were raised in church, but at the same time, I wish they could see some of the “other side of things” a little better as well (without getting in the pigpen!) 😱😱😱
I think it just makes you really appreciate the Church so much more, instead of taking it all for granted… 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
I come from a family like that too. Definitely gives good perspective to see it from both sides. The new energy plus the lifelong stability are vital to the church.
Jack, I agree. I think one thing that can help with this is for generations to hand down the family conversion story while adding their own experiences to it. This can be uncomfortable to do. I'm a couple of generations removed from our family's conversion on both sides of the family. If the feeling of being lost without hope and the joy of finding the truth, the church, and salvation can be transferred and internalized that can help. That, however, is hard to do. In the OT we see the Israelites struggle to remain faithful for more than a few generations at a time. We also can be a stiff-necked people (Exodus 32:9). It's so easy to take for granted the blessings we are receiving from God and attribute them to our own skill, intelligence. or good fortune instead of their true source.
Sometimes, it is how parents raise their children. Do they rely too much on the church for teaching, or do they regularly study with their children inside the home? As someone raised in the church, I have noticed that the emphasis on studying the Bible at home is lacking in some households where the children do not value the Word of God as much. Maybe the question should be, how are we raising our kids in the church?