Second Generation Christians

I've recently had a few discussions with a friend who was saved later in life. We were talking about the differences between Christians who were saved later in life and second generation Christians who were saved at an early age and lived a very sheltered life. Both types of Christians have their pros and cons which can strengthen or hinder their work in various ministries. As a second generation Christian myself, I have experienced the negative aspects and am working on trying to figure out how to fix them to make them positive. My friend who was saved later in life has helped me put some things into perspective.

Heather, who is also studying second generation Christians, wrote in her blog post that she believes strongly in exposure to and interaction with the "real world". I agree with that. Some Christians try to keep themselves and their children too separated from the world. This can create some problems. It can hinder their ministry to the unsaved and new Christians because they can't identify with them or understand them. Sometimes it can cause them to look down on "worldly" people and they could end up unintentionally offending them. Christians who have been exposed to the world know where they're coming from and can tactfully present the truth without offending. I'm not saying a sheltered Christian can't do the same but it will be harder for them.

Children who live an overly sheltered life will have a big shock when they grow up and enter the "real world". If they are not prepared it could lead to problems later in life. They may end up experimenting in worldly things to see what they missed out on. Or they might become very legalistic, defining their spirituality by the "good deeds" they do and the moral lifestyle they live.

Faith is strengthened by the trials we face and many Christians saved at an early age are sheltered from the challenges that could anchor their faith. People who are saved from the world know what they are saved from. One of the problems I faced as a young Christian is that I didn't notice a big change in my life when I was saved. Yes, I was a sinner and did bad things, but how wicked can a four year old be? Those saved later in life can appreciate their salvation much more as they experience the power of the Holy Spirit turning their life around.

I'm not saying that people should put off salvation until they're older or that Christians need to experience a worldly life before they can be used by God or appreciate their salvation. I heard the story of one man who lived a sheltered life. Then he heard the testimony of another man who talked about how he was saved out of a life of drugs, immorality, and who knows what else, and praising God for saving him out of that life. After hearing that testimony, the sheltered Christian said, "Wow, I need to go out and get me a testimony like that." And he proceeded to go out and live a wicked life. The experience didn't give him a better testimony; it ruined his testimony and his life. One of the things I praise God for is that I was saved from a wicked life, not out of one.

I led a fairly sheltered life but I don't consider myself to have been completely sheltered. From a very early age I faced internal spiritual battles. I can remember at the age of 5 or 6 thinking things like, "Even though I'm a Christian, I could go out and steal something or even kill someone, and God would still love me. I would still go to heaven." I would contemplate doing some really horrible things, but then I would think, "If I did those things, it would make Jesus very sad, and I don't want to do that." So I chose not to live a wicked life. God has helped me to stay away from really bad things, but I have still been tempted by things in this world, and made bad choices. Most of my convictions today aren't ones my parents taught me or ones I learned in a Christian setting. My strongest convictions are ones I learned the hard way or studied myself to find out why I should believe or live a certain way.

When it comes to interacting with the "real world" I believe there needs to be a balance. The Bible teaches that we should be separated from the world. So we shouldn't try to look like them and act like them and think we'll reach them that way. But we also can't bury our heads in the sand, then look down on unsaved people and act shocked when they act worldly. Without partaking in worldly sins, we need to be aware of the ways of the world, understand where they're coming from so we can best help them.