When Jesus Doesn’t Transfer to the Next Generation
- Larry Kutzler
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
It is a known fact that having a Christian heritage does not always provide success for children believing in Jesus. Every generation must know Him for themselves, and not rely on an inherited tradition. Often, when parents come to Christ, they nurture their children in Christ, and all is believed to be well. However, when an adult child goes rogue from the faith, the parents are left with no answers as to why, when they did all that they could to foster faith in their child.
So many Christian parents suffer because their children have not picked up the torch of following Jesus. My wife thinks we are not making Jesus contagious enough at home and at Church. Being contagious is an attitude that is both kind and firm … it listens with understanding; it forgives in mercy yet instructs with wisdom. Perhaps we assume that a decision for Christ is all that is needed, like fire insurance, it protects against a total loss. Barna research says, only 28% of Christians are fully engaged in discipleship, and Pew research discovered that each generation becomes less religious as it aged. Yet, for me, when I surrendered to God, I encountered the Holy Spirit, and He made Christianity real. Find out who the Holy Spirit is, and you will understand contagious Christianity. ~Larry Kutzler, Facebook Post
This of course is the issue. Children get schooled in what is right and faithful, but they never surrender to it. The more common dilemma is when children partially accept Christian teaching but combine it with the seasoning of world, they will begin to lose the conviction of the Gospel. This is what research has discovered … it is the weakening of that conviction of faith that changes the direction of that generation. Even though 80% of children raised in a Christian home, will say they share the values of their parents’ faith, yet 31% of them will unaffiliate with faith in their early 20’s. Today, we are seeing a trend of young men coming back to Church, but in general, younger people are not interested in organized Christianity. The second generation of believers that grew up in a faith-based home, may have a faith but will have less conviction on what faith teaches. In time, this continues to erode each generation from a faith culture to a secular one. This is what happened to European families … Churches today in Europe are museums of what was, and is no longer today. America is finding themselves on the same path.
Is Christ Contagious in Our Churches and Homes?
I believe that observation is the greatest asset in each generation. What do they see and hear? Just hearing sermons, or participating in Church activities are all great, but conviction comes from what young people observe. Do they see the same Jesus in their home as what is preached in their Church? If Jesus is to be contagious, do our convictions about Him need to change? How Jesus changes us is a key factor in transferring a contagious spirit to the next generation. A contagious spirit must be caught, and conviction cannot be lost in the face of compromise. If a Church compromises, conviction is lost and being contagious will not exist.
Final Thought.
What does your life say about your conviction in living out a contagious life for Christ?
It is much easier to write about it than it is to practice it, believe me, but there must be a shift in how we represent Jesus to a new generation.
Conviction is contagious and is the one factor we must have to influence the next generation.
Challenging the Culture with Truth … Larry Kutzler