This past summer, I had the great opportunity to speak to close to 1000 high school students at KCU's Summer in the Son. Great week.
One of the days, in their small group time, I asked the students a simple question, "What is the most radical, dangerous, or uncomfortable thing you've done because of your faith in Christ?"
There were quite a few answers, but the most common one- the OVERWHELMINGLY most common one- was something that bothered me. It bothered me not because it was wrong or awful or sinful. It bothered me because it was, well, anything BUT radical, dangerous, and uncomfortable. At least, by Biblical standards.
The most common answer? "Prayed in front of my youth group."
HUH?
That was the most radical, most dangerous, most out-of-the-box thing that the students had done because of their faith in Christ? Not heading overseas to bring the gospel to unreached people (commanded in Scripture), visiting prisoners in jail (commanded in Scripture), feeding the homeless (commanded in Scripture), sharing faith with a non-believing friend (commanded in Scripture), withstanding persecution, or anything else that the people in the Bible did?
We've gotten to the point where Christian kids really feel challenged talking to God in front of people who believe just like them.
First, that's a sad commentary on churches. However, it's an even sadder commentary on Christian homes. Why do Christian kids feel uncomfortable praying in front of other people? Simple. They've never been challenged to do it.
This is a forgotten practice in Christian homes.
My childhood growing up was not what I would call a Christian upbringing. We rarely went to church and we certainly didn't read Scripture together or go on mission trips or anything like that. However, there was one thing we did that I will always remember.
We took turns praying before meals. In the home, of course. We didn't pray at meals in public. Just at home.
However, we went in order from youngest to oldest. From the time I could speak, I was expected to pray for the family before meals. Then it was my brother's turn. Then my mom's. Then my dad's. I prayed out loud in front of the family every fourth meal, which was at least five times per week.
Parents, are you teaching your children to pray?
Could my mom and dad prayed better than me and my brother, especially when we were little? Sure. I'm sure they were much more eloquent, much more focused, much better at praying than I was. However, with that being part of what we did, I learned how to do it. I was expected to lead the family in prayer as being a part of my family.
As a result, I never had problems praying in front of people. That's a good thing, because being a minister I'm always asked to pray for meals, banquets, rotary club meetings, funerals, weddings, you name it (people assume I have the "direct line" to God, smh).
Parents, it's time to resurrect the age-old tradition of family prayer. The discomfort our children feel in public prayer probably means that not much prayer is going on in the home. At least, families praying together. Have your children lead the family in prayer. It's okay. It won't kill them. It will teach them the spiritual discipline of prayer, and will teach them the importance of it.
I, for one, cannot believe that high school students would even list "praying in front of my youth group" as something radical and uncomfortable. However, if I grew up in a home where prayer was never emphasized and certainly where I was never expected to lead the family in prayer, I could see how it WOULD be.
Start a new family tradition. Pray together, but let your children lead. Take turns. Tell them that prayer isn't just for the adults. It is for everyone. Just tell them to talk with God. It's okay. God won't smite anyone.
He probably would really enjoy hearing from your child. And He probably would enjoy the fact that your child isn't embarrassed or uncomfortable talking with Him in front of people.
It all starts in the home.
One of the days, in their small group time, I asked the students a simple question, "What is the most radical, dangerous, or uncomfortable thing you've done because of your faith in Christ?"
There were quite a few answers, but the most common one- the OVERWHELMINGLY most common one- was something that bothered me. It bothered me not because it was wrong or awful or sinful. It bothered me because it was, well, anything BUT radical, dangerous, and uncomfortable. At least, by Biblical standards.
The most common answer? "Prayed in front of my youth group."
HUH?
That was the most radical, most dangerous, most out-of-the-box thing that the students had done because of their faith in Christ? Not heading overseas to bring the gospel to unreached people (commanded in Scripture), visiting prisoners in jail (commanded in Scripture), feeding the homeless (commanded in Scripture), sharing faith with a non-believing friend (commanded in Scripture), withstanding persecution, or anything else that the people in the Bible did?
We've gotten to the point where Christian kids really feel challenged talking to God in front of people who believe just like them.
First, that's a sad commentary on churches. However, it's an even sadder commentary on Christian homes. Why do Christian kids feel uncomfortable praying in front of other people? Simple. They've never been challenged to do it.
This is a forgotten practice in Christian homes.
My childhood growing up was not what I would call a Christian upbringing. We rarely went to church and we certainly didn't read Scripture together or go on mission trips or anything like that. However, there was one thing we did that I will always remember.
We took turns praying before meals. In the home, of course. We didn't pray at meals in public. Just at home.
However, we went in order from youngest to oldest. From the time I could speak, I was expected to pray for the family before meals. Then it was my brother's turn. Then my mom's. Then my dad's. I prayed out loud in front of the family every fourth meal, which was at least five times per week.
Parents, are you teaching your children to pray?
Could my mom and dad prayed better than me and my brother, especially when we were little? Sure. I'm sure they were much more eloquent, much more focused, much better at praying than I was. However, with that being part of what we did, I learned how to do it. I was expected to lead the family in prayer as being a part of my family.
As a result, I never had problems praying in front of people. That's a good thing, because being a minister I'm always asked to pray for meals, banquets, rotary club meetings, funerals, weddings, you name it (people assume I have the "direct line" to God, smh).
Parents, it's time to resurrect the age-old tradition of family prayer. The discomfort our children feel in public prayer probably means that not much prayer is going on in the home. At least, families praying together. Have your children lead the family in prayer. It's okay. It won't kill them. It will teach them the spiritual discipline of prayer, and will teach them the importance of it.
I, for one, cannot believe that high school students would even list "praying in front of my youth group" as something radical and uncomfortable. However, if I grew up in a home where prayer was never emphasized and certainly where I was never expected to lead the family in prayer, I could see how it WOULD be.
Start a new family tradition. Pray together, but let your children lead. Take turns. Tell them that prayer isn't just for the adults. It is for everyone. Just tell them to talk with God. It's okay. God won't smite anyone.
He probably would really enjoy hearing from your child. And He probably would enjoy the fact that your child isn't embarrassed or uncomfortable talking with Him in front of people.
It all starts in the home.
