Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SCOTUS
  • Life
  • Religious Liberty
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Opinion

Here’s Why Parents Should Stop Trying to Raise ‘Church Kids’

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
Share Tweet
By Will Maule
Author

July 12, 2018

There is no greater responsibility as a Christian parent than raising your children in the faith. Too often, however, this becomes synonymous with the desire to “keep your kids in church” at all costs.

Christian Writer Hits Back After TV Host Calls ‘Bachelorette’ Contestant’s Virginity ‘Baggage’

Of course, involving your family in the life of the church is an integral part of living a faithful Christian life. It’s also true that the church is where most Christian children learn the crucial biblical truths that will guide them well in life and help them begin to fathom God’s incredible love for them. However, being a “church kid” is not the ultimate goal.

This sentiment is expressed and expanded on brilliantly in a post by “The Messy Christian” published at “Love What Matters.”

“I don’t want to raise church kids. That’s right. I DO NOT want to raise church kids. Matter of fact, it’s one of my biggest fears,” the writer begins. “That they would go to church every week of their lives and never experience what the whole purpose of church is really about.”

Instead, Christian parents should be seeking to raise their kids in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ and should be teaching them how to be more like Him as they grow and develop. This, even more than forcing them to sit in a pew and listen to a sermon, is of vital importance.

“I want to raise Jesus kids,” declares The Messy Christian. “That they would come to church BECAUSE they know Jesus. That they would see themselves as a part of the church, the body of Christ. That they would work together with their fellow believers to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the community they serve.”

This is the ultimate goal for parents — to raise children who know the truth, who know who they are in Jesus, and who have an innate passion to see His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. THAT is the privilege of being a parent — to model something of a grace-filled, Christ-saturated life to our kids, and to nurture them as they grow in Him.

As the Messy Christin explains, Christian parents should be cheering on their kids, desperate to see that “they would see themselves in the story that was written at the beginning of time” and “that they would look to Jesus when they make a mistake and be overcome with gratitude at the grace they are given.”

“That they would wake up in the morning thankful for the day and lay their head down every night assured of their eternal home.

That they would face the storms of life tethered to the One who came to save them.

That they would know that they never walk alone and their lives are being held in the hands of God.

That they would reach for the stars because they know the One who created them and that He has a purpose for their lives. That if they seek Him first that purpose will be fulfilled.

That they will look up when they fall down. Reach out when they need help trusting that He is always reaching back to us.

That they will be like oaks planted by His stream of living water and bare much fruit.

That they would look at their neighbors and see the image bearers of God and love them fiercely.

That they would look out at this world and see hope when every one else sees hopelessness. That they would share that hope and bring His light into every dark corner they encounter.

Yes, yes, yes!

I want to raise Jesus kids.”

Pray for your kids every single day — that they would know and love the Lord Jesus Christ for the rest of their days.

(H/T: Love What Matters)

Latest

  • Faith

    He Died and Visited Heaven? 20 Years Later, Colton Burpo Revisits Claims He Met Jesus

  • Life

    Pregnancy Center Leader Reveals ‘Violent Attacks,’ Chaos as She Fact Checks ‘Fake Clinics’ Myths

  • Faith

    As Robert Morris Case Continues, How Should Christians Interpret Such Scandals?

  • News

    Joe Rogan Stuns With Skepticism of Big Bang, Proclamation About Jesus’ Resurrection

  • culture

    Humans Give Off Light That Extinguishes at Death, New Study Reveals


Sponsored
Sponsored

Newsletter
Signup

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent Posts

  • He Died and Visited Heaven? 20 Years Later, Colton Burpo Revisits Claims He Met Jesus
  • Pregnancy Center Leader Reveals ‘Violent Attacks,’ Chaos as She Fact Checks ‘Fake Clinics’ Myths
  • As Robert Morris Case Continues, How Should Christians Interpret Such Scandals?
  • Joe Rogan Stuns With Skepticism of Big Bang, Proclamation About Jesus’ Resurrection
  • Humans Give Off Light That Extinguishes at Death, New Study Reveals

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016

Categories

  • Christian Persecution
  • Coronavirus
  • Culture
  • culture
  • Entertainment
  • Faith
  • Faith
  • Family
  • George Floyd
  • Go!
  • Israel
  • Life
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
  • Men
  • Mission Haiti
  • News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • P.O.V
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Roe
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Virtue
  • Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.