The rising tide of worldliness is swamping even the church, it seems. Frightening statistics tell a story of young adults from Christian homes entering college or the workforce then soon abandoning their parents’ values and turning their backs on their parents’ faith. What a daunting prospect to see years of self-sacrifice and faithful hard work rearing a child culminate in that precious child joining the world system and becoming an enemy of what you hold dearest. Most hope for a better outcome but that hope is under the strain of the reality of so few positive examples showing how it might go better.

You may even doubt whether you should expect a different outcome. After all, these are modern times. It seems we are in a new age of enlightenment ushered in by science and technology. Information flows freely. Questions are asked and answers are demanded. Young adults are hungry for social reform and justice. They want to see a free and open marketplace for thoughts where all ideas are equal and free of absolutes. Perhaps it is narrow minded and unrealistic to expect our children to heed our instructions or give our words any special credence just because we declare their importance. Instead, perhaps we should simply strive to show our children what we believe while we have them and then allow them to choose their own beliefs and values as adults – and let’s hope they choose wisely. Sounds noble, so enlightened.

The problem with that “noble” approach is at least twofold.

1. It assumes Christianity is just another fine choice among equals when in fact it is anything but that. In spite of what we hear, there is truth and it is knowable – that truth is Jesus Christ and that truth is inescapable and determines our eternal destinies.

2. The rejection of Christ, especially by one with increased understanding of the stakes, i.e. children from Christian homes, is a grave matter.

Consider the words of 19th century Scottish pastor Robert Murray M’Cheyne:

"The deepest place in hell will be for almost Christians. In strict justice it will be so. The more sin the greater guilt and the deeper hell. And who has so much sin as the soul that comes nearest to Christ, yet is not ravished with His beauty, and attracted to Him by his loveliness. In the nature of things, the hell of the ‘almost Christian’ will be more severe than that of others. To be almost saved, and yet to be lost; to be not far from the kingdom of God, and yet to fall into the kingdom of wrath—Oh, that will be an awful thought to all eternity!"

Ironically, you do your child no favor to raise them in the church and a Christian home if they reject that faith, become inoculated to the potency of the gospel by familiarity, or are allowed false assurance of salvation based on your faith.

What today’s parents need, first, is reassurance of their own faith. To be reminded that God is firmly in control and his loving eye is on his people – and their children. Armed with that confidence they are ready for encouragement to fearlessly and confidently stay the course in raising their children in the fear and instruction of the Lord.

Their children need to see resolute, confident parents with hope and faith demonstrated and permeating their parents’ daily lives - throughout their childhood. Firmly established in the hope that it can and should turn out well. Faithful Christian parents can produce faithful Christians who persevere and in turn, reproduce again in the form of faithful grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

That is not too much to ask or expect from a loving, faithful heavenly father. He established the pattern that fruit trees should reproduce in like kind, apple trees reproduce apples, which reproduce more apple trees. We should expect that Christian homes produce Christians, it should not be the surprising, happy accident when that occurs. Harmoniously acknowledging God’s sovereignty over salvation, we should instead be surprised and wonder “why?” when it does not.

God has a documented history of working through generations – creating legacies and heritages. The Old Testament has many accounts of blessings and curses declared over entire families and unborn generations to come. The New Testament has accounts of individuals coming to saving faith followed by their entire household. God recognizes and works through the families of believers in unique and mysterious ways.

For you, the Christian, His loving eye is uniquely on your family. He is willing and able to help you fulfill what he has commanded you regarding your family.

Tags: beliefs, confidence, faith, grown children, home life, inadequacy, reassurance, salvation, vision, worldliness, encouragement, family, guidance, motivation, parental authority, peace, worry, godliness