Chapter Two - Spiritual Health of Children

Book: Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions

Chapter Two - The Spiritual Health of Our Children

Barna states that every dimension of a person’s experience hinges on his or her moral and spiritual condition. I have found this to be true. Although man external factors can contribute (i.e. health, wealth, etc.) ones spiritual condition allows for a proper perspective in each stage of life. Without seeing life from a proper biblical perspective one cannot find purpose or true lasting joy in any strata or stage in life. How people view God and His role in their lives determines how the handle the cards dealt to them.

Barna then states, “We can strive to give our youngsters all the advantages the world has to offer, and motivate them to make the most of available opportunities and resources; but unless their spiritual life is prioritized and nurtured, the will miss out on much of the meaning, purpose and joy of life.” pg 29

Barna goes on to defend that all decisions are spiritually based. “Every choice we make is ultimately a spiritual decision. No matter what issue or challenge we face, our decision comes down to what we believe is right or wrong, which is based squarely on our sense of truth and purpose. Our perspective on such matters comes from our spiritual beliefs, since our notions of meaning, purpose, truth, value, integrity, morality and ethics all stem from our ideas about the ultimate determinate of life.” pg 30

When I read that, I wished that the moderator of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates would ask each candidate the following question, “What criteria determines what is right and wrong in your life?” I think there may be no more telling question to a person’s behavior and character than the true answer to that question.

In the next section, Barna lists many statistics about children and their understanding of spiritual truths. One statistic seemed to sum up all of his findings. Just 4% of children would classify themselves as one who strongly affirmed the accuracy of all biblical teachings, the personal responsibility to share their faith in Christ with non-believers, the centrality of faith in a person’s life, the inability to attain eternal salvation except through the grace of God through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, the nature of God as the creator and sustainer of all that exists, the existence of Satan as a real being, not merely a symbol of evil. pg 33

I have to grin when I read that. I wondered how many adults would be classified as evangelical by answering questions on such a litany of questions.

Amazingly, Barna answers question on the next page. Specifically 4% of 13 years olds were evangelicals compared to just 6% of adults. In other words, by the age of 13, your spiritual identity is largely set in place. pg 34

WOW – look at that again. By the age of 13, ones spiritual identity is largely set in place.

Ponder that for a second. How important does that make effective children’s ministry at Bayshore? At your church? In our homes?

The rest of the chapter is anti-climatic. Barna asks the same questions as listed above and uses statistics to show that most churches are short-changing children’s ministry at their church.

Again - By the age of 13, ones spiritual identity is largely set in place.

I look forward to your comments on this section. Is this what you have found to be true in your own children?