Devotionals by Dr. M. Craig Barnes
They are like trees planted by streams of water... --
In earlier years, teenagers were very clear about their roots. Their parents, extended family,
school, and church all worked together to root every child in the values of the community. As
young adults, they could wander from these values for a while, but they usually returned to them
when life settled down. Sometimes they would even say, "I have to get back to my roots." That's a
phrase you don't hear so much these days.
Now our communities and schools have become too multi-faceted, and our extended families too
extended, to assist parents with the incredible responsibility of giving roots to their children.
That leaves the church. This has always been central to our mission ¥ to root each generation in
the inherited tradition. They may change it as they receive it. They may even rebel from it for
a while. But after uprooting themselves and leaving the stream of living water, it isn't long
before their souls dry out. Then they can always return to their spiritual roots where their
thirst is satisfied.
So I don't worry so much about kids in rebellion. I worry about whether the church is giving our
kids something worth rebelling against. Parents cannot offer their children roots by themselves,
and the church is their last hope for assistance. This holy responsibility is fulfilled not just
by sponsoring a youth group. It's fulfilled most of all when our kids grow up confronted by our
faith, when they believe that we believe.
-- Craig Barnes