Parenting can be a blur from the moment you change your first diaper to the day your child walks across a stage to pick up their diploma. There are so many different ideas on what a good parent should do and focus on, so we don’t want to fight over the small battles. Instead let’s focus on five important things that parents of Christian children should emphasize. These ideas range from practical advice to spiritual discipleship, but they all lead to a better chance at a successful transition to adulthood. Let’s look at a few important topics.
Assuming you’re actively involved in a local church, you might already be aware that it offers many services for young families raising Christian children. From nurseries to VBS to summer camps, churches have the resources to help children develop spiritually, be entertained, and meet new people. Of course the most important of these aspects is kids’ development as spiritual beings. Without growing up in the church (or sticking with it after high school), kids and young adults are more likely to have their beliefs and morals shaped by the outside world. This may be good enough for some people, as there are many who come to faith in Christ as adults without ever having been in church. You probably want to give your kids the best chance at being well-rounded spiritual beings, though. It’s hard for a young person to nourish a relationship in Christ if he is rarely involved in worship at church.
The secular world is seeing a gradual decrease in ethics with each coming generation. Since schools are more concerned with test scores than ethics, the newest graduates entering the real world have put very little thought into what they believe. The church has long been seen as the institution best suited for imparting wisdom and guidance in this area. Christian children with a sincere faith are able to face the world knowing exactly what they believe. By prioritizing church attendance and spiritual maturity, parents are giving their kids the best chance to develop healthily.
We’ve all seen the studies where people who claim to be Christians can’t correctly name famous figures from the Bible. Christianity is more than a heritage you claim and the importance of this cannot be overstated. Parents of Christian children should emphasize the vitality of the church so as to ensure that these same children see it the same way as adults. We could go on and on discussing why the church is important to both Christians and the community but we think you get the idea.
Everywhere we look in today’s society we see people asking us to hand over our money. The government, advertisers, the gas pump, and so on. It’s vital for today’s children to know the difference between something that is a need and something that is simply a want. We live in a culture that is making fantastic headway in the world of innovation and technology. It can be quite tempting to go out and buy the newest gadget that promises to solve your problems. Chasing after material satisfaction only leads to nightmares where Dave Ramsey chases you through the mall with an oversized pair of scissors seeking to halve your credit card(s). Our children need to understand finances if they are going to thrive in this world.
The #1 burden for young adults these days is student loan debt. This particular category of debt makes up a $1.3 trillion crisis in America today. We can blame the job market or a number of other factors for a young person’s struggle to make it in the adult world, but imagine walking out of college at 22 and being handed $37,172 in debt - the average amount a college grad owed in 2016.
Even if you have been financially successful and you were able to set up college funds for your kids, there are so many mistakes that can be made when it comes to money. Make sure your Christian children know how to navigate this difficult terrain so that they can live securely and give generously in the future.
This seems like a no-brainer for many parents, but you want to emphasize the strength of the family unit with your kids. God’s love is an amazing thing that you should encourage your child to understand, but they also need to know that you love them. No matter where we go in life, we should be able to count on family. Friends, co-workers, church families, and more will fluctuate over the years, but there is a biological tie to your family that will never dissipate.
Family is a child’s first introduction to language, education, relationships, and so much more. The early years of life may seem trivial but they play an important part in the development process. Christian children learn about the church through their families as well. The relationship between parents and their kids has a lot to say about love and authority. Assuming a child comes from a Christian household, they will likely hear the stories of the Bible for the first time through their parents.
Aside from the Christian viewpoint, family structure is also beneficial to children. For one, income inequality has a strong correlation with home life. Children raised in a single-parent home stand a greater chance of enduring a number of struggles that kids who have two parents will never know. Family is also important as we age. When we get older, the Christian children we have raised will have a powerful influence on our quality of life. It’s in both of our interests that kids believe in the bond of family.
Through the course of raising children there are several achievements that fill parents with pride and joy. Among these highlights are a baby learning to walk, saying his/her first word, and using a toilet for the first time. We love when our children are able to conquer a new task.
Learning is not only an exciting time for parents, but one of wonder for the child. Can you think back to the first time you rode a bike or jumped off of a diving board? There is an unmistakable thrill that comes from trying new things. This sense of wonder and imagination is something that should be encouraged by all parents. Learning is a crucial part of the childhood development process and it’s a part of life from which we should never shy away. Even adults should continue to learn new things, whether they are career-oriented or just for fun. Pushing yourself to try new things is healthy and an admirable pursuit. When we encourage Christian children to learn and grow, they will be better suited for ministry and the job market. Through continual development children become more empathetic, more knowledgeable, and more rounded individuals.
Whether it’s a mid-life crisis, the post-grad blues, or becoming an empty nester, we all face times in life where we have to ask ourselves “What now?” It’s perfectly natural to take stock of your life and wonder if you’re missing something. Your kids are likely to have some of these same questions over the course of their lives. Life brings disappointments, victories, and unexpected challenges. How we answer these episodes is based on what we believe in and how much we are willing to trust the Lord.
Even when Christian children are not facing a crisis, they need to understand their position in the world. By examining their own roles in the story that God is telling, the next generation will grow up in humility and grace seeking to do what is best for the kingdom of God. There are few things worse than a person with an overinflated ego who thinks life is all about them. They make bad coworkers and even worse church members. Emphasize to Christian children that we are all simply playing a part in the story of God and we’ll see a generation that is eager to serve and reach the world for Christ.
Every parent is a little different in how they instruct, discipline, or encourage, but these five ideas should be agreeable across the board. Christian children should be raised up to respect God and family, be disciplined in their finances, have a thirst for learning new things, and humbly approach the world with an eagerness to serve.
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