As a Christian parent, it is your responsibility to raise your children in the faith.
However, there are some potential pitfalls that you should avoid if you want your children to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
Christian parents usually put a lot of pressure on their kids to be the perfect Christian and this can cause them to become rebellious.
Think about it, even as a parent you may have found yourself feeling like you had to live up to some impossible standard set by your own parents or other adults in your life.
Or you might realize that even though you’re older, you’ve found yourself doing things that go against what you believe, simply because you’re not perfect yourself.
Now imagine how a child feels when they are constantly being told that they have to be perfect.
This can often lead them to rebel against the faith altogether.
But there are other approaches that you can take as a Christian parent to ensure that your children don’t grow up resenting the faith.
Let’s look at some of them.
Why do Christians Parents hinder their children from coming to Jesus?
The moment a person becomes a Christian, their life is changed forever.
They are given a new purpose and a new set of values to live by.
And while this new way of life can be incredibly fulfilling, it can also be quite different from the life of non-Christians.
As a result, Christian parents may sometimes feel like they need to protect their children to stay true to their faith to avoid sinning.
Additionally, Christian parents may worry that their children will be pressured or ostracized by their non-Christian peers if they openly profess their faith.
And the child might do things just to fit in with the group.
But at the end of the day when Christians hover over everything children do it may actually be doing the child more harm than good.
How can Christian parents help their kids to have better relationships with God?
Christian parents want their children to have a close, personal relationship with God but they may not always know how to go about it.
One way they can help is by being a good role model and living your faith out loud.
Kids learn best by example and seeing their parents pray, read their Bible, and live out Christian values will go a long way in helping them develop their own faith.
Additionally, Christian parents can help their kids to have better relationships with God by talking about Him often and making Him part of everyday life.
This could include saying grace before meals, reading Bible stories together, or praying before bedtime.
Other things you can do are:
Don’t be too forceful in your teaching
It’s important to introduce your children to the basic principles of Christianity, but ultimately they need to make their own decision about whether or not to follow Christ.
Avoid being judgmental
Remember that we are all sinners and that none of us are perfect.
If you judge other people, your children will learn to do the same.
Don’t try to control everything in your children’s lives.
They need to experience life for themselves in order to make their own decisions about what is right and wrong.
If you follow some of these tips, you will give your children the best chance of coming to know Jesus as their personal savior.
What does the Bible say about parents teaching their children?
The Bible has a lot to say about parents teaching their children. In Deuteronomy 6, God tells parents to teach their children his laws and commands, so that they will know and follow them.
In Proverbs 13:1, Solomon urges parents to teach their children wisdom and knowledge, so that they can make good choices in life.
And in Ephesians 6:4, Paul tells parents to bring up their children in the nurture and reminder of the Lord.
All of these verses talk about the importance of parents taking an active role in teaching their children about God and his ways.
When parents faithfully pass on this instruction to their children, it gives them a foundation for living a godly life.
Why did Jesus use a child as an example of faith?
In Matthew 18, Jesus gives the disciples a stern warning: “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
But why did Jesus use a child as an example of faith?
After all, children are often irrational and easily distracted.
And yet, there is something about the innocence and simplicity of a child that makes them uniquely receptive to the things of God.
Unlike adults, who are often bogged down by doubts and skepticism, children have a purity of heart that allows them to wholeheartedly believe in the impossible.
In a sense, faith is like childhood itself: it is a time when we let go of our logical minds and embrace the mystery of the divine.
Jesus knew that if the disciples wanted to enter into the kingdom of heaven, they needed to recapture that childlike sense of wonder, trust, and hope.
What did Jesus mean when he said unless you become like a child?
One of the most famous sayings of Jesus is “unless you become like a child, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
But what did he mean by this? Some believe that Jesus was speaking about the need for childlike innocence and faith.
Others interpret his words as a call to humility and simplicity.
It is also possible that Jesus was using children as an example of those who are most open to new ideas and possibilities.
In any case, it is clear that Jesus valued children and saw them as an important part of his ministry.
Today, we can learn from his example and strive to create a world that is more inclusive and compassionate, just as he did.
Who are the little ones in the Bible?
The Bible is full of references to children, but it can be difficult to determine who exactly the “little ones” are.
In some passages, the term seems to refer to all children, regardless of age.
In others, it appears to be used specifically for infants or very young children.
In still other cases, it seems to be used in a more general sense, referring to anyone who is vulnerable or powerless.
Ultimately, the interpretation of this term depends on the context in which it is used.
However, one thing is clear: the Bible values children and their well-being, and urges us to protect them always as well as teach them the ways of the Lord.
How would Jesus parent?
As a parent, it can be difficult to know what the “right” thing to do is.
We want to raise our children to be happy and successful, but we also want to protect them from the pain and heartache of the world.
But how would Jesus parent?
First and foremost, Jesus would love unconditionally.
He would see the potential in each child, and he would never give up on them, no matter how difficult they might be.
He would also teach his children about forgiveness.
They would learn that it is always better to forgive than to hold onto resentment and anger.
And finally, Jesus would lead by example. He would show his children what it means to be a good person, and he would encourage them to follow his example.
Of course, no parent is perfect. But if we could all strive to parent like Jesus would probably be as a parent, our world would be a much better place.
Summary
As a Christian parent, you may feel like it’s your duty to protect your child from harm, both physical and spiritual.
As a result, you may try to shield your child from the outside world, just to get them to focus on the message of Christianity.
However, this approach can actually hinder your child’s ability to come to Jesus.
Instead of protecting them and forcing them to take their faith seriously, you need to provide opportunities for them to learn about their faith and grow in their relationship with God.
One way to do this is by attending church together and talking about the Bible at home.
You can also encourage your child to get involved in Christian youth groups or Sunday school classes, but don’t force them to do it.
At the end of the day, you should try to introduce the faith to them as gently and naturally as possible.
Don’t come off as something that they need to be scared of or have to do.
Be loving, understanding, and patient, and let them come to their own conclusions about Christianity.
Be the example you wish them to follow.