We have begun a week of discussions centered in the idea of Evangelizing Children. As a Parent, Pastor, or Children’s Leader, evangelism should be one of our top priorities. However, there are potential dangers we should take into account. On one side, there’s the danger of leading children to think they are saved when they are not. On the other side, there’s the risk of discouraging children who express a genuine desire to follow Christ. With that said, we must approach the idea of child evangelism with our “eyes wide open” and our focus on Christ!
Today, we are also Giving Away an Evangelistic Tool to Everyone who Leaves a Comment to our discussion. So let’s take a look at what I believe are some of the possible “Dangers” of Child Evangelism:
The Danger of Oversimplifying the Gospel of Christ
Because of a child’s limited comprehension, the temptation for many leaders is to oversimplify the message of the Gospel when they attempt to evangelize children. Sometimes, this comes from programmed approaches to child evangelism, which may abbreviate the Gospel, downplay the demands of the Gospel, or leave out important points of the Gospel completely.
The Danger of Coercing a Profession of Faith
Regardless of whether the Gospel is presented in an oversimplified or thorough manner, many request some type of immediate response to that message. It could be a show of hands in a group setting, a rote repetition of “the sinner’s prayer,” or almost anything that may be counted as a positive response. Children will almost always respond in whatever way adults ask—not at all guaranteeing real acts of faith in Christ.
The Danger of Assuming the Reality of Regeneration
This next danger is assuming that a child’s positive response to the Gospel is full-fledged saving faith. Children often respond positively to the Gospel for many reasons that are unrelated to any awareness of sin or real understanding of spiritual truths. Many children, for example, profess faith because of peer pressure at church or a desire to please their parents.
So, with these possible dangers in mind, tomorrow we’ll discuss what I believe are the Keys to Evangelizing Children. Check back and share your thoughts!
We would love for you to share your thoughts about this discussion by Leaving a Comment.
Today, everyone who leaves a comment is going to receive a FREE package of “Gospel FlipAbouts” to use and share. These are provided by our friends at “Let the Little Children Come”…their stated goal: “It is our hope that these tools and resources will help you in conveying the powerful Gospel message to children.”
Spread the News so your friends can receive a package of “Gospel FlipAbouts” – simply tweet this today (copy & paste):
@KeithTusing Receive a FREE package of “Gospel FlipAbouts” – Join the conversation at http://cmbuzz.com today!
