Generation to Generation: Passing on the Faith

It’s interesting the things we pass along in our families, such as our characteristics, behaviors, interesting sayings, favorite recipes and jewelry to name a few. Sometimes, though unintentionally, we also pass along those things that are not so positive, such as debt, poor or no educational expectations, bad eating habits and poor examples of living life. Many, especially in this day and time, fail to pass along a godly heritage. We have a generation of adults who have not been to church in years and we have parents who have never taken their children to church. Grandparents are getting younger with no godly heritage, so the children don’t have a “seasoned” grandmother, a “Madea” who takes them to church or talks about God and prays in the home.

Think about your church upbringing. Many of us played church at home on Sunday night even after being in church from 9:45 in the morning, through night service at 7:30 pm. We each played a role–the deacon, pastor, usher, praise leader. We testified, sang, prayed, danced, preached and sang some more. We knew the church songs – “Jesus, I’ll Never Forget” or “What a Mighty God We Serve”. We also knew the hymns – “Higher Ground”, “At Calvary”, “Oh, I Want to See Him”. Remember learning the great people of the bible in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School? Many today, children and some adults alike do not know the story of Abraham and Sarah or Judas, or Paul, and they certainly do not know of God. No one passed on the faith! So instead of attending church, or playing church at home, our children are playing house. Instead of praying and shouting, they are juking and cussing.

Without a church affiliation, more and more funerals are being held at funeral homes and weddings are held in places other than the church. Nothing wrong with these; just making an observation.

There is a great divide, a difference between the faith of our fathers and the faith of this present generation. How do we make the God we knew growing up, the God of our present and future generations’ lives? How do we pass along our God to our children? How do we return prayer to our homes? The family that prays together stays together – This still works. How do we get adults back on track with their God commitment? How do we get children back in church? The answer is to bridge the gap. The task of bridging the gap between what was and what is a daunting one, but it is possible.

A bridge is a connector, a link. It is something that allows passage from one place to another. A bridge is always intended to be crossed. Let’s cross the bridge by passing on the faith given to us to others in our families–our children, nieces, nephews, and even our friends. Some families are building new bridges, starting a new godly heritage because they are the first and only ones saved, the only ones who worship the Lord. Others are trying to keep intact the bridge created by their parents/grandparents, etc. God’s intent is that we pass along the godly heritage, pass along the principles of His doctrine, pass along the importance of worship and prayer, and pass along His Word (Psalms 78:1-7).

How do we do it?
• Know Him and make Him known
• Know who we are – we are the chosen, the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus; God specially selected each of us
• Make God first
• Ask God for direction
• Attend church regularly
• Worship publicly, at church, at home
• Tell it to your children (Joel 1:3; Exodus 10:2), “…that ye may know that I am the LORD.”

“This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob.” (Psalm 24:6)

Pass on the Faith!