Parents living out their faith

   Yesterday I revisited a book I read a little while back called "Jonathan Edwards on True Christianity" by Owen Strachan and Douglas Sweeney.  In the chapter titled The Contemporary Problem of Nominal Christianity, and under the heading The Need for Sober Evangelical Self-Examination in Our Families, is the following excerpt...

   ...The inability of many children from Christian families to articulate even the simplest biblical truths--who God is and what saving faith is, for starters--shows that many of us have fallen short in our efforts to instill a biblical way of thinking and living in our children.  We cannot, of course, save our children by our efforts, but the Bible makes very clear that parental training greatly affects the spiritual lives of our offspring (Proverbs 22:6).

   Contrary to our event-centered, leader-oriented, excitement-driven view of childhood training, the Bible seems to suggest that children learn best about true faith in the simple mundane things of life, in watching parents honor God in the midst of the normal rhythyms of everyday life (Deuteronomy 6:7).  Though parents may feel inadequate to teach and train, they can take great comfort in knowing that an authentic witness, coupled by sound instruction, has great power.  The lives of countless believers raised by godly parents testify to this reality.  Though they may buttress our parenting, we do not need flashy children's programs or charismatic youth speakers.  We need to be godly parents whose lives back up our faith.

   

      This morning as Amera and I met for our Bible study, we came to the topic of faith lived out.  She shared with me that she is glad that she had the benefit of observing her dad and I grow as Christians through her growing up years.  She saw the dramatic changes we made as we responded to God's Word in our hearts.  She has seen our struggles and how we have clung to Christ through our trials.

   As I thought about this, I realized that my other children will not experience things quite the same as Amera has.  But that's ok, because we will always be growing.  Always.

   Isn't growing in the Lord what makes our faith vibrant and real?

   It is a sad reality that many parents do not allow their children to see that they too, just like their children, struggle with sin.  Our children should see that things do not come easy for parents, it takes genuine faith and perseverance to live godly in this world.  Children should not grow up without seeing their parents depending on the Lord for strength and grace in day to day life.  They can learn how to do this in their own lives from our example.  If we hide too much from them, they may grow up thinking that mom and dad never faced the problems that they will one day face.

   Do your children see that you love God more than anything or anyone in this world?  Do his principles and commandments guide your everyday decisions and actions?  Genuine faith in God is not something that we just tack on when it's convenient.  It permeates into every aspect of our lives, affecting our thoughts, choices and actions.  Talking about God to our children and teaching them from the Bible are both good things, but we demonstrate his power and greatness most when we put feet to our faith and live it out.