Navigating the Challenges of Parenting in a Changing World
As parents, we face a daunting task: raising our children in a world where Christian values are often seen as outdated or even immoral. This can be especially true when it comes to issues like gender and sexuality. How do we navigate these challenges and help our kids develop a strong faith that will see them through the ups and downs of life?
Learning Together with Our Kids
One key approach is to learn alongside our children. This means being willing to ask questions and seek answers together, rather than pretending to have all the answers ourselves. When my 10-year-old daughter came to me in tears after a conversation with a friend about transgender identity, I didn’t have all the answers. But together, we explored the Bible and sought to understand God’s design for humanity.
Bathing Our Kids in the Bible
Another crucial aspect of parenting in today’s world is bathing our kids in the Bible from a young age. This means reading Scripture together regularly and using it to inform our conversations about the world around us. By doing so, we can help our children develop a strong foundation of faith that will serve them well as they navigate the challenges of growing up.
Counting the Cost of Following Jesus
As parents, it’s tempting to want to protect our children from the costs of following Jesus. But the truth is, being a disciple of Christ comes with a price. Our kids need to learn that following Jesus means being out of step with the world around them, and that this can lead to rejection and persecution. By teaching them to count the cost, we can help them develop a strong and resilient faith that will see them through even the toughest times.
Walking with Our Kids in Their Discipleship
Ultimately, our role as parents is not to prepare our kids for some future day when they’ll be “real” disciples of Christ. Rather, it’s to walk with them in their discipleship today, learning alongside them and guiding them as they navigate the ups and downs of life. By doing so, we can help them develop a strong and vibrant faith that will serve them well for years to come.
Practical Tips for Parents
- Learn alongside your kids, asking questions and seeking answers together.
- Bathe your kids in the Bible from a young age, using Scripture to inform your conversations about the world.
- Teach your kids to count the cost of following Jesus, preparing them for the challenges that come with being a disciple of Christ.
- Walk with your kids in their discipleship, guiding and supporting them as they navigate the ups and downs of life.
By following these tips and being intentional about our parenting, we can help our kids develop a strong and resilient faith that will serve them well for years to come.
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