Developing Your Child’s Character and Faith

As Christian parents, one of our most important callings is to raise our children to know, love and follow God. In today’s increasingly secular culture that often promotes values contrary to our faith, this responsibility can feel daunting at times. However, by relying on biblical wisdom and intentionally shaping a Christian worldview in our homes, we can guide our children to embrace their faith from an early age and carry it with them throughout their lives.

The foundation of Christian parenting is unconditional love. Just as God loves us despite our flaws and failures, we must shower our children with affection and acceptance, even when disciplining them. They should have no doubt that we love them just the same whether they succeed or make mistakes. This security enables them to receive our instruction and correction from a place of trust.

Alongside love, discipline and training are essential. The Bible instructs us to “Train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6), directing their path from infancy through adolescence. Discipline reinforces our teaching, with both guiding children to make wise choices. Consistency is key – our expectations, rules and consequences should be clear and equitably enforced. However, discipline should always be administered calmly and fairly, never in anger. The goal is not merely to control behavior but to reach the heart, instilling self-discipline and character.

Deuteronomy 6 provides a model for teaching our children God’s commands, encouraging us to impress them on their hearts in both formal times of instruction and everyday teachable moments. Family devotions, prayer and Bible study should be regular habits, tailored to our children’s ages and interests. Even more important is our example as parents. Our kids are always watching to see if our actions match our words. We must strive to authentically live out our faith, modeling love for God and people, humility, integrity and forgiveness. When we fall short, we should be quick to admit our mistakes and apologize.

Of course, we cannot ultimately control our children’s faith, as they must each decide whether to accept Christ for themselves. But by establishing our homes on the firm foundation of God’s Word and demonstrating its impact in our own lives, we give them the best opportunity to know Him. Grounding kids in the overarching narrative of Scripture from an early age provides an invaluable framework for understanding the world. We should welcome their questions, helping them wrestle through doubts and concerns rather than offering pat answers.

As our children mature, it’s important that we maintain open communication about cultural issues and temptations they will face. While we should absolutely protect them from harmful influences, we cannot completely shelter them from all exposure to unbiblical ideas. Avoiding these topics can backfire later. Instead, we should proactively discuss matters like sexuality, substance abuse, media discernment, and progressive ideologies, arming them to view everything through the lens of a Christian worldview. Role-playing how to respond to challenging scenarios can help them feel prepared.

We must also be diligent to affirm God’s design and purpose for the family, even as it is increasingly undermined in our society. Children should understand that God created men and women distinctly in His image to fulfill complementary roles. Marriage between one man and one woman is the building block for strong families, churches and communities. Parents are given authority to lead and guide their children. At the same time, we should always speak the truth in love, teaching our kids to treat all people with respect, even when we disagree with their choices.

Ultimately, there is no formula for raising perfect Christian children, as each child has their own unique personality, gifts and struggles. It’s inevitable that they (and we) will sometimes fail. But if we are faithful to plant seeds of truth and tend them with patient, prayerful dependence on God, He promises a harvest in due time (Galatians 6:9, James 5:7-8). The years we have to directly shape our children’s character and faith are fleeting. Let us make the most of every opportunity, never underestimating our influence in pointing them to Christ.

In summary, some key principles for raising children as conservative Christians include:

1. Lavish them with unconditional love and acceptance as a foundation for instruction and discipline.
2. Consistently teach and model biblical truth and Christian character in both formal devotions and everyday moments. Our example is the most powerful influence.
3. Maintain age-appropriate boundaries to protect from harmful influences while proactively discussing cultural issues and temptations through a biblical lens.
4. Uphold God’s design for gender, marriage and family, emphasizing the value of these roles and institutions.
5. Pray faithfully for each child’s spiritual growth, recognizing that only God can change hearts. Persevere in training them without expecting perfection.

As we rely on God’s grace and wisdom in this high calling of Christian parenting, we can trust Him to work in our children’s lives, drawing them to Himself. May He find us faithful in shaping the next generation to know, love and serve Him.