I have become increasingly aware that there is a great deal of spiritual apathy in the younger generation of the Church. Many of them simply don’t seem to care about their spiritual condition (whether they are unsaved or are simply not drawing closer to God). And while I’ve been very concerned with this, I have no clear remedy or sufficient experience in order to assist in a revival of spirituality.
I do, however, have some proposed fundamental reasons for this spiritual lethargy. And while I think this is problem is a likely cause, by no means would correcting it completely resolve our apathy predicament. In any case an effort in the right direction should largely contribute.
If we tell younger children that God wants them to “receive Him,” “ask Him into their hearts,” “accept Him as their personal Savior,” or some otherwise only partially acceptable (albeit easy to understand) statement, in their minds that is all that is required of them in order to please God (or, more importantly to them, “get to heaven”). Works-producing faith is an afterthought, an expectation. They’re “in” as long as they’ve “said the prayer.”
Some would respond that, even in the “simple prayer of salvation” paradigm, works is not only expected, but required of true, saving faith. I agree. But the problem is the approach, not the theology behind it. What results is a generation of youth who assume that, while they are supposed to be good because they “accepted Christ,” it isn’t necessary because they’ve already done enough to save them from damnation.
Yet the Bible is clear about how to tell if we are saved (and by this test we can guess about others). John writes in his letter, “I write all this so you can be sure you have eternal life” (1 John 5). An entire letter is devoted to helping Christians know they have eternal life! But none of what is written therein concerns a past decision or an in-the-past choice. It is our present state of spirituality that is the test for our salvation (2 Corinthians 13:5). So why, then, is our approach to salvation simply to “get them saved”?
Saved isn’t a step to reach or an achievement to make (even a free one). Saved is a condition, made possible by our faith. And faith does not only exist at one moment (conversion). It is a transforming process that begins with the Holy Spirit, results in a conversion, and continues in a life-changing direction.
I’m not entirely certain what needs to be changed in our approach, to be honest, but I do know that this reductionist approach has failed us. I think we should emphasize some things when presenting what God requires of people in order to have a restored relationship with him (Colossians 1:15-23). For one, we should emphasize that a life of faithful obedience is and will be a part of their lives from then on. Two, that final, “resting” salvation (see Hebrews 3-4) is dependant on a heart condition, not an act performed (namely, a prayer they were “sincere” about) at age [whatever]. And third, do we really need to “get them saved” at such an early age? You must be thinking, He can’t be serious! Yes, I’m serious. While conversion at a young age is possible (and indeed wonderful), many children do not fully understand the message that Jesus came to proclaim. Yet we insist on making things “simple,” all the while ignoring God’s providence and sovereignty in these matters. People commonly object by bringing up Jesus’ saying you must have the “faith of a little child,” implying that we are supposed to seek out the conversion of younger children. But I don’t think that’s an all-out endorsement for encouraging a conversion at a young age. At best it means we need to have the kind of faith that children have – a totally devoted, dependant faith in all areas of life. This allows for a legitimate conversion at a young age, but it does not necessitate such a conversion.
I understand this only assesses a potential source of spiritual apathy, but I really am concerned about the version of the “gospel” many present. Jesus calls us to make disciples, not conversions. If we are truly concerned with making disciples, we will want the conversions to be authentic and good.
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