Children's voices in the church are a sign of hope for the future
Photo CNE
Opinion
"Do you love Jesus?" a five-year-old girl asked a prison director on his bike on her way home from Sunday school. She continued that you cannot get to heaven if you do not believe in Jesus.
The confused man contacted the girl's mother and asked her to consider taking the girl out of Sunday school so she would not lose her mind. The mother was not startled but let Sunday school continue. That little girl was me.
My mother told me this story from childhood. We lived near a prison because my father worked there. I do not remember my harassment, but I remember all the impressive moments at Sunday school. In the prison environment, the concepts of sin, guilt, judgment, and grace in Jesus' sacrifice were concrete, and as a little girl, I understood that I had the same potential for evil as the prisoners.
I thought that someday I could be in jail as well. And I remember having enormous joy when praying that Jesus would forgive my sins and keep me as his own. Jesus heard my prayer and has been faithful during these decades.
I spent my childhood at a time when all the children in the village attended Sunday school, regardless of their home background. Primary school began with morning devotions, prayers, and hymns. When my deskmate in the first grade fell ill with leukaemia, the teacher led the entire class in prayer for the child.
Generation
Christian upbringing was present in the everyday lives of children, even if their homes did not emphasise it. Today, the situation is different. Many of those born in Finland never hear the message of the Gospel at any stage of their childhood. We are raising a generation that neither knows nor recognises the core of Christianity – the way to heaven through Jesus' atonement.
Hedonism is particularly destructive to families and marriage.
In my youth, it was often said that the future of Christianity rested on the praying grandmothers. Now, even that generation is history. Sunday schools have practically disappeared, except for the small percentage of Finnish families attending Sunday church services. The number of Finns who regularly participate in worship services is around 1–2 per cent.
I have been a Member of the Finnish Parliament for 30 years. During that time, I witnessed a change in society's value system. Our societies strongly question the core biblical values and the Christian view of humanity.
The shift from a society that appreciates prayer and embraces Christianity to a more liberal and secular one has occurred in a relatively short period.
The breaking of the Christian worldview is also visible in the upbringing of children. When the apostle Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, describes the difficult times of the last days, his words also fit our time. According to 2 Tim. 3:1-4: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God."
The core message of hedonism is that you should listen to your own feelings and act according to them. Hedonism is particularly destructive to families and marriage. An expert in a parliamentary committee stated that the well-being of today's children is not so much threatened by the demands of their parents' work but rather by their parents' hedonistic choices in their free time.
We are all so deeply immersed in this culture that it is often difficult even to realise the great challenge that the culture of hedonistic pleasure and individualism poses to marriage, family, and the upbringing of children.
The birth rate in Finland has collapsed to the lowest level in 250 years. A negative attitude toward family and having children has surfaced in discussions about carbon emissions.
Conflicting values
Luther's sharp words are also relevant for our time: "What would be the use of owning and doing everything else and appearing like saints if we neglect the primary reason for our existence, namely, the care of the youth? I also believe that no other outward sin weighs as heavily before God or deserves as terrible a punishment as the neglect of children's upbringing."
Family devotions and children's Bible moments are more important than ever!
The shift in our values and attitudes towards individualism has led to the weakening of shared ideals. A society can be pluralistic, but a child or an educator cannot be. In education, it is essential to provide children with a firm ethical foundation and clearly defined values upon which they can build their lives. At its worst, conflicting values lead to a moral void or confusion in a child's upbringing.
Postmodern thinking has also influenced views on education and civilisation. An emphasis on individual choices has replaced shared norms. Individualism has changed educational terminology as well.
Many pedagogical concepts and ideals have become outdated and may sound amusing or even suspicious to our ears, such as humility, chastity, temperance, decency, or self-sacrifice. Even diligence, a key virtue in my own school days, now sounds old-fashioned. In their place, we now emphasise creativity, innovation, pluralism, tolerance, a well-rounded personality, a balanced self-image, and healthy self-esteem.
The responsibility for Christian upbringing has fallen on families and church-based children's ministries. Family devotions and children's Bible moments are more important than ever!
Timeless values
"But shouldn't children have the right to choose their own beliefs when they grow up?" Sometimes, this reasoning neglects children's spiritual education. Children are guided toward healthy eating, adequate sleep, enriching hobbies, and education, so why not toward the most important treasure for this life and eternity – the Word of God?
The Bible encourages parents to pass on timeless values and life's guidelines to their children in everyday life, in various situations: "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deut. 11:18-19).
Through prayer and financial support, we can all contribute to the spiritual work being done among children.
Situations constantly arise in daily life where parents can guide their children by their own example and advice, helping them distinguish right from wrong. The best way to pass on timeless values is through everyday life—at home or on the road, during daily activities, and in the quiet moments before bed. We need, above all, soul-resting moments where we can simply be close. Often, these moments also open up important conversations.
A child needs to be noticed and acknowledged. One impactful memory from my childhood near the village prison was when the legendary prison missionary walked past a group of us playing children. He stopped to talk with us and blessed us individually, including me. Our three grandsons, aged seven to nine, became inspired to read through the New Testament at a children's camp organised by our church community. The boys spent heartwarming reading moments on the living room couch, holding their Bibles. These moments also sparked discussions that opened up new perspectives on the Bible for me.
One day, the nine-year-old asked whether a person could get to heaven if they were baptised but did not read the Bible, pray, or attend church. Before I could answer, another boy said that attending church is worthwhile. He shared how he had noticed his faith beginning to fade when church attendance was not possible due to Covid restrictions. This made me pause and reflect on how important it is for children to be exposed to God's Word.
Christmas gift
During the lockdowns, the youngest of the boys was only six years old. Even the most minor children, who may seem restless in the church pews, absorb far more seeds of God's Word into their hearts and minds than we might imagine. Children's voices are a sign of hope and the future for the church!
There are children in everyone's life – our grandchildren, relatives, close friends, or neighbours. How could we help guide them to Jesus? Perhaps you could start a Sunday school or support a family in sending their child to a children's camp. A children's Bible makes a wonderful birthday or Christmas gift. Through prayer and financial support, we can all contribute to the spiritual work being done among children.
Christian children's and youth ministry has been a tremendous treasure and source of gratitude for my family – now for three generations. Investing in Christian children's and youth work is a worthwhile investment in both a healthy society and a living church. Everyone can participate in this challenge through invitations, prayers, and financial support. How timely is Jesus' exhortation: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
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