This is not an attack on the church's history, but rather an attempt to improve and correct some acts. I am writing from my experience as a Deeper Life child. We are not perfect, but the heavenly race is personal, and I pray that every parent that reads this understands it properly. Amen.
Growing up in a strong Christian home, I knew nothing besides school and church. I wasn't allowed to do a lot of things; things as simple as wearing dark sunglasses were considered things of the world. I wondered and thought about it a lot in my heart. My parents focused more on building my spiritual life, which isn't bad, than on my social life. I was a very reserved child growing up. I couldn't play with some children because they were considered "worldly." I really wanted to associate with other people, but as they say, the more you draw us back, the more curious we become, and we tend to want to discover more.
It is a great privilege to know about Jesus Christ and to be born into a Christian home, but there are certain things that most Christian parents, especially Deeper Life parents, fail to expose growing children and teenagers too, and it affects them so much. I have spoken to a lot of Deeper Lifers, especially youths, and I have gotten almost the same answer as to why they left the church or why they departed from practicing the doctrines of the church. Deeper Life is a church that preaches sound doctrine and the pure word of God, but most parents have failed in certain ways because we live in a world where socializing and knowing the basics of life are needed.
There are certain behaviors and mistakes that Deeper Life parents have made in the past that need to be corrected.
not giving reasons: I grew up as a deeper life child, and I am still one. Most teachings are focused on the heavenly race and making heaven, which is the most important thing, but you will agree with me that we live in a world full of humans and not angels. Parents fail to teach their children and teenagers about facing life. This is totally different from giving instructions, attending youth seminars, and attending an endless number of December and Easter retreats. What you hear more of is, "I don't want to ever see you standing with a boy," "don't disgrace me," "never bring a girl to my house," "do you want me to be disciplined?" "You are from a Christian home for Christ's sake," etc. They do not effectively pass any message to us about life and our body. This leaves our hearts void and wondering. As a child of the deeper life, I had so many questions, some of which are yet to be answered. I wondered why I couldn't do a lot of things, and it made me anticipate growing up. Most Deeper Life-born children, when exposed, misuse the opportunity due to a lack of proper communication with their parents and do not understand the reason why an action or activity is said to be bad. Parents spend hours advising and giving instructions without passing on any information.
Be straightforward with teachings that concern life. If you indulge in sexual activities, you will get pregnant. Discuss with your children, teach them practically to be bold, hear their views, and understand their mindset about life. Lots of Deeper Life parents only teach their children about the Bible, but what about life? Instead of always telling them that other people are unbelievers and they are expected to stay away from them, the Bible commands us to do so. Well, like most of them do, when they leave home and are away from their parents, they seek answers and go in search of them because parents fail to give reasons as to why certain things are said to be wrong, but instead, they just give instructions and back them up with the Bible, forgetting that we face humans and not words.
Forced attendance at church (punishment and flogging a child to Christ): The Bible says (Proverbs 22:6), Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. What is the meaning of "train"? According to the dictionary, it means "to teach (a person or animal) a particular skill or type of behavior through sustained practice and instruction." (instruct, teach, coach, tutor, give lessons to, school, educate, upskill, edify, prime, demonstrate something to, make something clear too). People often use this verse as a guarantee that if you raise your children "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord," the child will stay that way. Sometimes the reason most teenagers depart from it is because of the hard way their parents push them toward God. I can remember my dad flogging my brothers for missing church. When it comes to teaching a teenager about the Bible, it is best that you communicate effectively and not forcefully, because most Deeper Life children attended church because of the fear of being flogged, or punished, or because it was a normal tradition in their homes, so they didn't understand the Bible truly and never experienced what it means to be born again. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:4: "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
What is the meaning of "nurture"?
(Care for and protect someone or something while they are growing.) to bring up, care for, provide for, take care of, attend to, look after, rear, support, and raise.
What is the meaning of "admonition"? (a firm warning or reprimand, which is a formal expression of disapproval.)
You don't beat a child or teenager to Christ; you teach and lead them to Christ. By punishing them, they become rebellious to you as a parent and to the church leaders, and they tend to go against church rules because, after all, it all ends up in the normal punishment, and all they do is wait until they are of age to make decisions and leave the church. Deeper Life: Growing youths are always itching to leave the church; some don't even want to identify with the church when they are of age. Because of their upbringing and stress, they do not want to be associated with anything related to Deeper Life Church.I remember going to church three times a week, but I never understood why. I was under the authority of my parents, and since I was being forced to attend church, I obeyed every instruction and got used to the routine without understanding the actual essence and importance of going to church. Deeper Life Bible Church has lost a lot of youth due to this style of discipline. Most youth still believe in the teachings, but because of the lifestyle they faced growing up, they leave the church when they can.
Trusting other members easily: Even in the church, we have to be careful. After I finished my primary education, I wrote my common entrance examination and passed. My dad decided to take us to a school to write the school entrance examination. I remember my brother getting a much higher score than me and getting an express entry while I was waiting to be considered. I didn't fail, but the competition was high, so they needed to evaluate the results of people with an average score, so they asked my parents to wait alongside other parents. While waiting in the car to hear from the school, I can not remember if it was my mom or my dad who first saw this man called Chris Nwankwo, but I can clearly remember that one of them approached him to ask some questions, and as usual, they asked if he was a born-again Christian, and that was when they found out he was a member of Deeper Life. They were so happy and instantly introduced me to him, saying that he would be my guardian. My mom even spoke our native language to him, telling him that "I am his child in the Lord." I was very young and happy because I have been trained to see all members of Deeper Life as true believers in Jesus Christ. Well, I got admission, and my parents sewed long, oversized uniforms and daywear for me. I wasn't looking smart at all, but I was excited to attend boarding school. I couldn't sleep the preceding day, and so I stayed awake packing and unpacking my box. I was so happy. After we checked in at the school, my parents called Mr. Chris and gave him some money to keep for me, instructing me to always go to him each time I needed something. I did as instructed, but each time I got there, he would always welcome me with a tight hug that felt really uncomfortable, but my mind had already been set to see him as a saint since he is a Deeper Life member. Besides, don't forget that my parents barely even knew him. The hug graduated to back rubs, then lower back rubs, until one day he boldly rubbed my thighs and I ran out of his office, never to come back for anything. My dad called and said your guardian has not been seeing you, and I replied, "Dad, I don't want him to be my guardian anymore." Well, guess the reply from my dad: "He is our brother in the Lord and has been asking of you." The trust that Deeper Life members give to fellow members is unbelievable. Up until now, they never found out why I stopped going to that man's office and decided to keep my money by myself.
It is only God who sees the heart. I know most times they mean well, but such careless acts in Christendom have to stop. You commit a young girl to a man all because he attends the same church as you. Remember, even Deep Lifers have blood flowing through their veins; they are humans and can also be tempted. After all, Jesus Christ was tempted.
"And GOD saw that man's wickedness was great on the earth, and that every imagination of his heart was only evil constantly."Genesis 6:5, KJV
"Above all, the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked: who can know it?"Jeremiah 17:9, KJV.
"And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man." "For evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."Mark 7:20–23, KJV.
