If you’ve been following us for a while, you know that we talk about parenting with the end result in mind. So what does that look like when it comes our kids’ faith? Author Ron Luce, in Battle Cry for a Generation, says 88 percent of kids leave the church after high school.
That means only 12 percent of kids raised in Christian homes are going to stay in church when they’re out on the their own.
Think of 10 kids that you know. Can you see their faces? Only one of them is going to stay in church after they graduate.
But why is it that every parent thinks their kid is going to be the one?
So let’s start with the goal. We don’t just want our kids attending church once a week when they’re adults. We want them to have a vibrant and authentic relationship with the Creator. We want them to be filled with the Holy Spirit--able to command illness to leave their bodies, multiply some bread and fish to feed thousands, speak to a tornado cloud and watch it go away. The goal is for our kids to develop the kind of relationship with Almighty God that translates into a powerful life.
AND--we want them to introduce Him to other people. That’s the great commission. But how can they introduce the world to a God they don’t really know?
Last year Kim Walker (of Jesus Culture) came to our church, and my daughter (Jenni speaking) got a chance to talk to her. Skyler (that’s my daughter) wants to be recording artist, so she asked Kim for some advice.
Kim Walker didn't talk about vocal training or perfecting her craft (although those things are certainly important). She didn’t talk about networking or meeting the right people. No--she told Sky to develop her relationship with God “because in worship, you can’t lead anyone to a place you’ve never been.” Brilliant!
So the question is, how can we help our kids develop a deep and authentic relationship with God? Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. What are our kids hearing? Are they hearing the messages of the world or are they hearing the words of the Creator?
Developing a strong worldview in our kids has to be one of our primary goals. Make some popcorn and gather around the TV as a family to watch "The Truth Project" or "Does God Exist?" (both from Focus on the Family). Rent the documentary of Lee Strobel’s bestseller, "The Case for Christ" or Ben Stein’s "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" (both available on Netflix).
Take your teen to Starbucks once week, find a comfy spot and read the Lee Strobel books together. Talk about it openly over a vanilla chai latte.
Invest in good summer programs or weekend retreats that will teach apologetics. Check out The Upper Room’s Chrysalis retreats, Camp Honey Rock (outdoor experiences), Summit Ministry’s Worldview Academy, Rick Green’s Patriot Academy (strong political slant), Teen Pact (for homeschoolers). There are lots more out there, but these will give you a head start.
If we begin with the goal in mind, we can take deliberate steps to make sure our kids are in the 12 percent, and if enough of us take it to heart, that 88 percent will change.
