Much of what is called youth ministry is about as far from a biblical definition of ministry as one can get. Young people do not need more entertainment with a pinch of religion thrown in for accent, they need to be challenged to step up, take up the cross and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.-Calvary Baptist Church(This also bring the question to Sunday schools (interesting articles here and here) , youth groups (interesting article here,) and schooling in general. If you think that I'm off my block to even question these things, think again. The Bible actually encourages us to be like the Bereans who, "Acts 17:11, they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." and also 1 John 4:1)
Grant Fawcett wrote a post that can be applied to this topic as well,
There are those of you who may read this, who came to Christ as a result of an altar call. That may very well be your testimony, and Praise the Lord that you have a relationship with the Savior. My intention here is not to disparage the testimony of those who have walked the aisle, but to draw attention to the multitudes who have walked the aisle and gone on into lives of sin, with no relationship in Christ, yet believing in their minds that they are Christians. The question is, just because something is pro-active and achieves large numbers of apparent converts, does this qualify it as Biblical or sufficient?
Let's apply the same principle to Bible Camps (as well we should to all situations). Just because some get saved or get serious in their Christian walk while at camp, does that mean that camp is a good thing?
Here is another post by Sean Crowe along the same lines that I found very good.
Basically, I argued that just because something works, that doesn't mean that we should necessarily do it. Before we decide whether we should do something in ministry (e.g. produce a video for the purpose of teaching doctrine), we should ask ourselves whether it is right or not. In other words, the issue of whether something is right or wrong is more important than whether it works or does not work. But I will also argue that there is something else more important than whether it works or not, namely, is it good or is it the best? ...
...GOOD IS THE ENEMY OF THE BEST. Why is good the enemy of the best? Because when we settle for good we sacrifice the best, and God demands the best, not just good. God has not called His people to lives of mediocrity, but rather to holiness (Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:1-2; Leviticus 20:7; Leviticus 20:26; Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 1:14-16). Now clearly we will not attain perfection until Christ returns or calls us home, yet we must always strive for perfection.
It definitely is right to teach kids of God (Deuteronomy 6:7, Matthew 19:14).
To whom is it given to do this? The Deut. 6:9 passage indicates that we are to train up OUR children. Is it right to separate kids from under the headship of their families in order to instill in the knowledge of God? If we, as parents, are not training our own kids in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, are others instructed to do this job? If we are doing it, can other come along side and assist?
Titus 2 instructs older women to instruct younger women and older men to instruct younger men...but wait, it says to teach them to love their husbands and children. This doesn't sound like it is addressed to children. Hmm...
Verses on the instruction of children:
-Genesis 18:19-Abraham will command his children
-Exodus 12:25-27-when your children shall say unto you
-Deuteronomy 4:10 -that they may teach their children
-Deuteronomy 6:7-thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children
- Deuteronomy 11:19-ye shall teach them your children
-Deuteronomy 31:12-9 God's word being read in the hearing of everyone, even children (no separation of ages, etc.)
-Joshua 4:6-when your children ask their fathers
-Joshua 4:22-Then ye shall let your children know
-2 Kings 2:23-(the only example of children, grouped together, without parents that I could find)
-2 Kings 10:1-to them that brought up Ahab's children (remember, Ahab was not a Godly king)
-1 Chronicles 6:33-these are they that waited (or served) with their children
-1 Chronicles 28:8-inheritance for your children
-2 Chronicles 20:13-stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children
-Ezra 10:1-a very great congregation of men and women and children
-Nehemiah 12:43-the wives also and the children rejoiced (yet another example of everyone being together to worship God/hear His word)
-Psalm 34:11-Come, ye children, hearken unto me
-Psalm 78:4-We will not hide them from their children
-Psalm 78:5-he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children
-Psalm 78:6-who should arise and declare them to their children
-Proverbs 4:1-Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father
-Proverbs 17:6-and the glory of children are their fathers
-Isaiah 54:13-thy children shall be taught of the LORD
-Joel 1:3-Tell ye your children of it
-Joel 2:16-Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts
-Malachi 4:6-he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers
-Matthew 14:21-five thousand men, beside women and children (families together-again-under the teaching of scriptures)
-Matthew 15:38-ibid
-Matthew 19:14-Suffer (allow) little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me
-Mark 9:37-receive one of such children in my name
-Acts 2:39-and to your children
-Acts 21:5-with wives and children (everyone together in ministry)
-2 Corinthians 12:14-but the parents for the children
-Colossians 3:20-Children, obey your parents in all things
-1 Thessalonians 2:11- a father doth his children
-1 Timothy 3:4-having his children in subjection
-1 Timothy 3:12-ruling their children and their own houses well
-1 Timothy 5:10-if she have brought up children (mother teaching her kids)
-Titus 2:4-to love their children (mother again)
-Hebrews 2:13-Behold I and the children which God hath given me
What about sending kids away to do get instruction? Nowhere in scripture have I found the instruction of children to be the responsibility of anyone else save the parents (and God, of course). Parents and children are together everywhere in the Bible, except in instances of being taken and sold in slavery buy an invading country, the case of Ahab (see above), and of course, orphans (which we are instructed to take care of-Deuteronomy 24:19).
Perhaps we should instead instruct the fathers and let them instruct their children. Yet adults do tend to be set in their ways and hardened, much more than children.
What about the whole companionship with other lost children? (Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 13:20)
Interesting, I just googled "Are Bible Camps biblical?" and it seems that no one has ever asked that question...at least on line. [someone did ask, "Would the world be a better place if atheists were required to go to bible camps?"-a little ridiculous but the answers offered some insight into how many of the atheists/agnostics that did respond actually went to camp. Of course not all kids at camp will get saved.]
My conclusions (thus far) are as follows: we as Christian parents are responsible for the training of our children in all things. They may learn from others, with us (ie:church service, fellowship of iron sharpening iron, etc.) and we will help them understand. Children should not be sent away to learn without their parents: sending them away to school (especially public school where you are sending them to learn from the world-Psalm 1:1), sending them away to Sunday School or Children's Church, youth groups, or Bible Camps.
We are to reach the lost. Ideally, to reach lost families, but individuals as well. I'm not totally comfortable with sending kids out alone to do this, but at least it should be responsible, mature adults, not inexperienced kids/teens teaching them.
I may tweak my opinion in light of new scripture (as in ones that I have not thought of in light of this subject, not new revelation), but for now, that's where I stand.
