It is said (not sure by whom) that God has no grandchildren, since people are not born Christians. They must be reborn by the power of the Holy Spirit and must, by God’s grace, be given the gift of faith in order to have the power to believe. That sentence alone has so many “churchy” words that even practicing Christians my not pick up on the subtleties that define and make distinctive the foundations of their faith. There I go again!
This week was VBS (no, not visual basic scripting as the first email on the subject had me suspecting but vacation bible school) at our church. The annual event invites kids three to about twelve to spend a week hearing bible stories, playing games, making crafts, enjoying thematic snacks, and learning and dancing out high energy praise songs. Parents who send their kids get a few hours relief from mid-summer while someone else entertains their kids and (hopefully) makes them feel like they are making an incalculable investment in their child’s enteral future. Leaders and volunteers offer their time, talent, and treasure in planting seeds of faith for the next generation. I had a very small role and I won’t call out anyone for their contributions for fear of excluding someone. But know there were enthusiastic helpers from teens to saints in their eighties and beyond!
So, what do these kids know? For some, not much. For others, their enthusiasm and knowledge buoyed my hope for the future of Christ’s church. The experience was a great reminder just how much we have to pass on to the next generation and how challenging it can be to explain one’s faith and resultant life’s purpose to a five-year-old.
Our church was decorated like a pacific northwest beach including a ceiling mounted, full-sized inflatable orca (we didn’t call refer to it as a “killer whale” for some reason). One off-hand reference to spotting “Free Willy” netted blank stares from the fourth and fifth graders assembled in the room. Oh yeah, that movie came out thirty years ago (1993) when my kids were toddlers. These kids had no idea what I was referring to. Oh, how much harder it was going to be to relate concepts of a creator, sin, repentance, and salvation.
The good news is we and thousands of other believers value their gift of faith enough to want, with all their being, to share this gift with others. After days of exhaustive preparation, execution, and recovery, we can sit back and “tag in” the Holy Spirit whom we pray touches the spirits of these little ones granting them new life through Christ Jesus. God does not need us, but there is no greater privilege and joy than being allowed to participate in God’s salvation plan though the sharing of God’s Word with the next generation of believers.
Sure it’s hard, but we can have confidence that God’s church will endure as per Ephesians 3:21 where Paul writes, “To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
I marvel as I read words you’ve written, many times over my head, nevertheless always with thoughts of my sister who is so proud of her precious son as was Mary with hers!!!
From generation for over 2000 years! Thanks for the great writing.
VBS is a great way to honor…bring to Me the little children.
Thank you for the time and dedication to the Kingdom.