My heart hurts deeply for Christian parents whose children have left the church. Many have shared their heartaches with me and I can’t even begin to imagine how much that truly pains them. I’ve also had the privilege to help many parents concerned about the faith of their children. Thanks be to God, most of them have gone on to be strong disciples of the Lord. It is, indeed, a difficult challenge to raise godly children in a social environment that constantly attacks their faith. So, it is natural and good for parents to ask themselves, “How can I fortify the faith of my children?” Please allow me to make three suggestions from the Bible that will certainly guide you and them in the right direction.
1. Immerse your child in the Word of God in every way possible (Rom 10:17). This applies to every individual, but even more so to children. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,” says Proverbs 1:7. So, faith begins with and comes from God’s word. It is as simple as that. In fact, the principle behind Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge” applies to all ages and all times. Most problems concerning one’s faith always lead back to a lack of Biblical knowledge.
God has always required His people to teach others His ways and commandments (Exodus 24:12; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2). He especially desires parents to teach the faith to the next generation (Deut 6:4-7; Ephesians 6:4). Young Timothy is a great Biblical example of parents passing it on to their children in 2 Timothy 1:3-5; 3:15.
The Word of God can’t get into them until you get them into the Word of God. So, immerse your child in the faith by giving them their own Bible. Many resources are available for children’s Bibles – and we’ve all seen small children, who can’t even read, be very proud of their little Bibles! This develops the habit of having God’s Word always accessible. Pray with your child regularly. Read the Bible to them. Have family devotionals. Play Bible games. Sing spiritual songs. Make the Bible part of their everyday life. There is no better influence on children than God’s Word.
2. Create positive experiences for faith-building (Acts 2:46-47). It is common knowledge that children develop their traits, reasoning, and habits from the influences in their formative years. So, it is imperative for parents to model a strong personal faith by actively participating together with their children in worship and other church activities. If you display negative behavior concerning spiritual matters, criticize church leadership, show a lack of enthusiasm for attending services, your child is likely to imitate that behavior. On the other hand, if attending church for Bible study, worship, and fellowship is a loving, inviting, and positive experience, it will have a beneficial impact on their faith.
3. Teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Lastly, parents must never shy away from delicate subjects. While it’s natural to want to shield your child from negative influences (and you certainly should), it’s important to remember that many children will be subjected to things in secular settings that most parents would prefer they not experience. Unfortunately, they will be exposed to evolution, sexual immorality, foul language, and many other ungodly matters that will deeply challenge their faith. Therefore, it is crucial for them to hear the truth from you about what God says regarding these subjects. Proactively addressing these issues is far better than being reactive; it’s essential to have a strong defense (1 Peter 3:15) rather than being caught off guard, which can lead to a doubting faith (Genesis 3:1,4).
Ultimately, because of the fallen world in which we live, there is never a guarantee that a child will remain in the church their entire life. But it’s been proven that these Biblical principles will greatly increase the likelihood of an enduring faith. Parents, I will continue praying for you. May God strengthen you in the mission field of your children!