Daily Christian Journey

Parenting in a Post-Christian Culture: Navigating the Challenges

As a parent, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by the changing values and norms of our society. The world our children are growing up in is vastly different from the one we knew as kids. The concept of “pronoun preference” was unheard of just a few decades ago, and now it’s a topic of discussion in schools and communities.

The good news is that despite the shifting cultural landscape, Scripture remains a steady guide for parenting. In fact, many non-Christians agree that the changes in our culture are posing significant threats to childhood well-being. As Christian parents, we can find comfort in knowing that the formula for effective parenting remains simple: intentional engagement, tender-hearted love, and godly authority.

Four Pressure Points in Modern Parenting

So, what’s changed in America’s cultural landscape that requires more intentionality on the part of Christian parents? Here are four key areas:

1. Sexuality: The moral revolution surrounding sexuality has been dramatic. Many traditional norms are now seen as outdated or even hurtful. As Christian parents, we need to actively confront the sexual confusion of our age with a biblical worldview.
2. Identity: The modern notion of identity is everywhere. While it’s natural to want to ground our sense of self-worth and purpose, we need to be careful not to build our identities on human-centered understandings of happiness and fulfillment. Instead, we should find our identity in being God’s image bearers.
3. Technology: Technology is shaping modern parenting in profound ways. While it’s a valuable resource, it’s also constantly forming us in its image. As Christian parents, we need to be intentional about having a technology policy in our homes to avoid mindless consumption.
4. Secularism: As American culture grows more secular, Christianity is no longer at the center of cultural self-understanding. This puts Christian parents in the uncomfortable position of trying to hold on to both their Christian identity and their American identity.

A Way Forward

So, how do we navigate these challenges as Christian parents? Here are a few takeaways:

• Be intentional about engaging with your children and teaching them a biblical worldview.
• Ground your identity in being God’s image bearer, rather than in human-centered understandings of happiness and fulfillment.
• Develop a technology policy in your home to promote healthy consumption habits.
• Lean into your Christian identity and disciple your children with intentionality.

By following these principles, we can raise our children to be confident, compassionate, and courageous followers of Christ in a post-Christian culture.