God is a God of second chances! You can still influence your children and grandchildren to live for the Lord!
George Barna of the Barna Research Group—in his book Revolutionary Parenting, stated that there are three dominant approaches to parenting in the US:
The first he labelled Parenting by default (“the path of least resistance”). Parents who follow this approach just do whatever feels natural, and do not step out of the influence of cultural norms to impose spiritual or secular values on the child. The parent is more laissez-faire and being the child’s friend is more important than giving them life-direction.
Second is Trial-and-error parenting (every parent is an amateur at raising children). There are no spiritual absolutes, and no guidelines to follow. The best parents can do is to experiment and observe outcomes. The hope is they will improve as parents based upon biblical principles, and successes will outweigh the failures.
Revolutionary Parenting is the least common approach. These parents have homes that are both biblical, nurturing, and hands-on. Parents rely on God’s Word to teach about life, family, and the church. They promote parenting by example rather than just words. Parents are accountable and responsible about applying God’s Word faithfully and consistently. Their parenting style is influenced by Philippians 4:8 (NKJV): “8Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
United States founding father, Patrick Henry “Give me liberty or give me death”), is quoted about his spiritual values in his statement: “I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them and that is faith in Jesus Christ. If they had that and I had not given them a single shilling, they would have been rich; and if they had not that, and I had given them all the world, they would be poor indeed.”
The power of a parent’s choice is clearly represented in Scripture—Joshua 24:15 (NKJV): “15And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
In this world where the culture and society work against our children, our families, and the church. There are some skills and character traits all parents should possess: Knowing, loving, and serving God must be the highest priority in life; Be an obedient and faithful servant; Faith in God should be of the highest importance; Present their children with a biblical worldview that contends: Absolute moral truth exists and Truth is defined in the Bible; God is the all-knowing and allpowerful creator of the universe; Jesus the Christ lived a sinless life on earth; Faith in Him is the only way to salvation; Satan is a real being; and All of the principles taught in the Bible are true and accurate.
We must teach our families and children that their main purpose in life is to love God with all their heart, mind, and strength, and demonstrate by our example. Barna’s research reports that less than one-in-ten young adults say that describes their parents while they were growing up.
Based on the way they saw you live your life; they will decide if there is room for a serious Christian relationship with Christ. School, society, culture and peers are now answering questions that weren’t even being asked. What are you modeling?
Always in His Service, Pastor Ron
Fellowship Church of the Nazarene