Excellent article from Resurgence! Every Christian Parent needs to read this and be honest if you see yourself in any way. We are all in need of a little wake up call every now and then, and with 8 out of 10 of our kids walking away from God after High School, then these challenges are in order. I know that my children's souls belong to God and He alone can save them. My goal must be faithfulness not success. But living the gospel in front of my children should be the norm, not the exception. If I am truly a born-again believer who has been transformed by the grace of God then my children should easily see it, and who better to know if my fruit is real than my children.
1. Make sure your faith is only something you live out in public
Go to church... at least most of the time. Make sure you agree with what you hear the preacher say, and affirm on the way home what was said especially when it has to do with your kids obeying, but let it stop there. Don’t read your bible at home. The pastor will say everything you need to hear on Sundays. Don’t engage your children in questions they have concerning Jesus and God. Live like you want to live during the week so that your kids can see that duplicity is ok.
2. Pray only in front of people
The only times you need to pray are when your family is over, Holiday meals, when someone is sick, and when you want something. Besides that, don’t bother. Your kids will see you pray when other people are watching, no need to do it with them in private.
3. Focus on your morals
Make sure you insist your kids be honest with you. Let them know it is the right thing for them to do, but then feel free to lie in your own life and disregard the need to tell them and others the truth. Get very angry with your children when they say words that are “naughty” and “bad”, but post, read, watch, and say whatever you want on TV, Facebook, and Twitter. Make sure you focus on being a good person. Be ambiguous about what this means.
4. Give financially as long as it doesn’t impede your needs
Make a big deal out of giving at church. Stress the need to your children the value of tithing, while not giving sacrificially yourself. Allow them to see you spend a ton of money on what you want, while negating your command from scripture to give sacrificially.
5. Make church community a priority. As long as there is nothing else you want to do
Hey, you are a church going family, right? I mean, that’s what you tell your friends and family anyways. Make sure you attend on Sundays. As long as you didn’t stay up too late Saturday night. Or your family isn’t having a big bar-b-que. Or the big game isn’t on. Or this week you just don’t feel like it. Or... I mean, you are church going family so what’s the big deal?
I totally agree with this. My parents are Catholic and I HATED going to church when I was growing up. I didn't understand a word that was taught in the church and my parents didn't preach it at home. I thought church was boring and a waste of time.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't until I was introduced to Grace that I actually liked going to church and enjoyed every minute of it. I just wish I could go more often but I don't have an excuse to not to.
It's funny that when I am up home at my parents, I still won't go to church with them.
-Ronda