Children are so innocent. They love to mimic their parents or those whom they adore. You see this even on the documentary that was done a while back on America's most hated family (God hatesfags). Those children had no CLUE why they were doing what they were doing, except for the rote they had been taught and mimicked. This is kind of what happens in 5 day club and vacation Bible school. We don't want to admit it because we want our PROGRAMS to be effective. Unfortunately, the truth is and we have seen it hundreds of times, that children are making premature 'decisions' for Christ without the Holy Spirit stirring their hearts and they end up with these 'decisions' being a stumbling block later on when the Holy Spirit really does start his convicting power in their lives. We aren't preparing the soil first.
THe first time I heard Paul Washer I was so impresssed that there was actually someone left in the world that was willing to boldly preach to the world about sin, etc. He is dynamic and not afraid to call a trump a trump. No, I don't like sermons tht 'scare the hell out of people'. If people make decisions based on fear, it doesn't last! It needs to be Holy Spirit conviction which can come through a dynamic sermon, or a still small voice. These days we are so deaf to the Holy Spirit, most of us need a dynamic shaking/waking up! No, I don't like sermons tht 'scare the hell out of people'. If people make decisions based on fear, it doesn't last! It needs to be Holy Spirit conviction which can come through a dynamic sermon, or a still small voice. These days we are so deaf to the Holy Spirit, most of us need a dynamic shaking/waking up!
Our family has been in several demoninations over the past 20 years. Everything from Evangelical to non-denominational to Charasmatic to EFree to Baptist, etc. The common thread through all these churches was 'praying a prayer' for salvation. My three eldest children prayed these prayers over and over since they were two and a half always wondering why it wouldn't 'stick' and why they still struggled so much with doubt & sin. When they were between 14 and 16 they finally felt huge conviction (which comes from an UNDERSTANDING OF SIN)from the Holy Spirit in their lives. They allowed the Holy Spirit to do this convicting, repented sincerely and two of those children are now walking in complete victory and are growing and loving the Lord sincerely...the other one became a Holde (don't know where she stands spiritually right now???).
As a result of this, we started seriously questioning child evangelism. We came to the conclusion that we need to teach our children about God and all, to follow him, etc., live our lives as an example of a believer, and then pray for the HOly Spirit's conviction in their lives. My children have often commented on how their early 'prayers' where actually a HINDERANCE in their lives when God was truly drawing them. Their own father tried to convince them they WERE already saved becasue they had already prayed. were pastor's kids, etc. They each said "No, I am NOT! I KNOW I am not!" THus, we supported them in the conviction that the Holy Spirit was doing, and allowed God to do His work in their lives. Now they are free!
I believe strongly that this is the problem with most of our Evangelical youth. There has never been a submitting to the Holy SPirit's convcting power, because they too have been told "but you prayed a prayer when you were 6", so they ignore the call of God and continue to struggle and live defeated Christian lives. We NEED to allow them to follow this 'pricking of the Holy Spirit', or whatever. We need to allow them to wholly commit their lives to Him when He calls like this, what's it going to hurt? They used to have what was called a 'mourner's bench'. People would fall under such conviction they would kneel before this bench and cry out to God for mercy, they would repent of their sin, and they would leave TOTALLY changed. Imagine the impact that would have on our families, churches and nation. WOW!! I think we'd have revival
!!
We also have decided not to EVER pressure our other younger children to make a "DECISION" for Christ. We will teach them all we need to to prepare the siol, but GOD will do the drawing....The Bible does say that no one seeks God, and that no one can come unto him unless the spirit draws him...etc. When we were in the Baptist church there was tremendous pressure on our then 9 yearold to 'get saved'. He had to pray a prayer in order to get the nextr award in kids club. We told his instructor that we weren't into that and we didn't want any more pressure from them! They left him alone and we pulled out shortly after for many other reasons. He is now 12 and recently was under the conviction of the HOly Spirit. We did wonder about him being only 12, yet he showed much evidence of this conviction happening in his life. He is such a blessing.
SO...what Paul Washer is doing is making people examine themselves to see if they ARE truely in the faith!! The Bible makes it very clear that we are to do so. We ahve been youth leaders and even from our friend's children's lives there is much eveidence of a lack of regeneration. SALVATION IS NOT ABOUT A "PRAYER", nor is it soley about going to heaven. It is about having a realtionship with the mighty creator God through his son Jesus Christ available through his shed blood. It's not about a fuzzy feeling , or a 'ticket to heaven'. Too many adults and children alike are wandering around confused...wondering why they don't have full assurance that they are saved, wondering why they have so little if any fruit in their lives. My husband and I have seen it over and over again, and my older children testify that the main cause seems to be that our Evangelical churches have done a disfavor with desiring numbers, etc., and getting young children to 'pray prayers' to get to heaven, before their hearts are really understanding the concept of sin, repentance and the work of regeneration that ONLY the Holy Spirit can do in a person's life. It's not about US wanting HEAVEN, even though that should be a desire of ours.
Thus, Paul Washer is not out of line. He is not perfect...no preacher is. At least he has the boldness and'nerve' to be direct and challenge us all on our spiritual walks and gets us to examine ourselves. It doesn't mean you have to be dynamic for God to use you. Jonathan Edwards was apparently very dull and mono-tone, yet his sermon "SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD" caused a huge move of God. I guess maybe, different personalities like being challenged different ways....the fact is we all need to examine occassionally(2 Corinthians 13:5). We are all able to be deceived. (Matthew 7:13-29 is pretty clear on the fact that not all that think they are right with God...are).
Sorry for being long winded in this, it's just such a burden of mine. We know hundreds upon hundreds of youth and adults that are struggling and their parents are telling them (and us)"but they prayed a prayer when they were ?? age" I, too, was one of those 'praying a prayer' every summer at Bible Camp from 6 years on. I know how confusing and damaging certain aspects of child evangelism is. Not saying we shouldn't reach out to children, we should. But to PREPARE the soil, NOT TO HARVEST; to TEACH, not to PLAY THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! again, HEAVEN is not the ultimate goal, a relationship with the almighty God through His Son Jesus Christ...the ONLY Way (John 14:6).
For His Glory,
KSuzanne