The Faith of Children: How Do We Know Our Children are Saved?

A good question. Trying to understand a hunger in the heart of a child is different from just asking them “Do you want to pray right now?” with no indication of hunger.

So you make a very good point. I think the churches need to be more proactive in finding the children who are searching for salvation.

We’re not saved by walking the aisle, raising our hands or even praying a prayer, we’re saved by faith in Christ.

(Did you know that you’re no 7 on todays fastest growing Worpress blogs?)

I have been bouncing around your two blogs and just wanted to say thanks.

As for this post – I agree with you almost 100%. The only I disagree with is the youth ministry. I know each church is different, but the church I went to as a young person (from 8 to 14?) was real big on getting people saved. It was almost expected by the time you were 13. …and you got to go up into the Baptismal pool which was off-limits at all times (other than being baptized, of course). So, you guessed it – I turned 13, felt the pressure, walked the aisle and ‘gave my life to Christ’. For the next 20 years I totally lived my life for myself. God was ‘out there’, and I believed in HIm. I knew about Christ – but I didn’t truly know Christ. God was Sundays and sometimes Wednesday nights. He was called on in passionate moments and desperate moments, but definitely was not lived for. Now, if any one questioned my Christianity, I would upbraid them very neatly with colorful language and ‘judge not, lest you be judged’ thrown in for good measure.

At 33, my eyes, ears, and heart were opened. I then realized I truly never knew the Lord, I was not living for Him, and I was chasing hard after the world.

So – as a kid who was told by the church that I was saved – I am against ‘pushing kids into’ saying a prayer or what have you. I have known very few children who seem to truly have a heart for the Lord..but they are out there. In essence, I was an innocent sheep being led to a slaughter that I didn’t understand, didn’t acknowledge, and didn’t think could happen to me.

By the grace of God, my life was spared (which blows me away on so many levels!), until such a time He truly drew me to Himself and opened my eyes. How incredibly sweet it is!

I think you have a good idea on ‘what you would do’…but another question would be, what to do for the child that has a hunger – but whose parents are not believers? This was my case. I went to church with a friend’s family. My dad actually kicked the visiting deacons out of our house one time when they came for a visitatioin since I hadn’t been to church. They never came back, and never talked to me about it afterwards. My parents raised us kids to be moral and ethical..they believed in God (much like I believed) – but by no means did they follow His word, nor did they teach His precepts to us. Christ was only spoken of in her house as an expression of surprise or sometimes a curse.

Many blessings to you -
Camille