Legacy (cont.)

Like I said in my last post, this is something that I have been thinking about for a while. In fact, I dug out something I wrote almost exactly two years ago. This is what it said:

Ps. 71:18 – “Now that I am old and gray do not abandon me O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.” NLT

Ps. 78:4,6,7 – “We will not hide these truths from our children, we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders…so the next generation might know them-even the children not yet born-and they in turn will tell their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew in God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands.” NLT

I am convinced that our generation and past generations have failed in effectively passing on our faith to our kids. Statistics show that only 5% of today’s teenagers consider themselves Biblical Christians. (I am avoiding the term “evangelical” since that is a term that has been embraced by so many but practiced by so few.) Only 6% of the 20-30 Somethings consider themselves Biblical Christians. (Source: George Barna) Something is wrong and the trend has to be reversed.

How is this going to happen? Our generation has to start applying the admonition laid out in Ps 71 and 78. We have to tell this next generation our personal faith stories. We have to tell them about the mighty miracles that we have seen God do in our lives. We have to tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord. We have to tell our kids and those in their peer group about how God has worked in our lives..not in a general way…but in a specific way, so they can see that God is real and personal and interested in their lives.

So, what can you do? Write out your personal faith history. Talk about how you came into a relationship with Christ. Talk about the ups and downs of your walk. Recite how God has specifically answered prayer and revealed Himself to you. Go through your life and write it out…then give it to your kids. After they have read it, talk about it. Be real. Be honest. Be practical. Let this generation set its hope anew in God.