Friday, October 5th, 2007
Prodigal, Pharisee, or Passionate Believer?
Kurt Gebhards, pastor of Childrens Ministries at Grace Community Church, just posted a great article titled Raising Pharisees. I think this should be read by every children’s and youth worker as well as every Christian parent.
He very adequately covers one of two great dangers facing the children of believers. The one danger is being swept up by the world and becoming a modern day Prodigal. The other danger that Kurt covers so well is the danger of becoming a young Pharisee.
I have seen it so often. In the fear that their children will become prodigals, sometimes parents and youth workers focus too much on outward behavior. Christian children catch the fortress mentality of their parents and become isolated and “above” those around them. We have had a few situations where parents didn’t want kids from the community in Sunday School or youth group because such kids would pollute their kids.
Vibrant believers, young and old, will be passionate about introducing others to Christ.
