Are We Pushing God on Our Kids?

The Lie

As a young adult, I heard sad and bitter stories surrounding the way some people were brought up in a Christian home. They would speak of how they felt like God and righteousness were pushed down their throat until, as a result, they became “turned off” to wanting to belong to Christ. I, too, had been brought up in a Christian home, but had only thankfulness and joy in my heart to associate with my upbringing. Even so, these accounts affected me and took their toll on my mind without me realizing it as I struggled with fears of raising my own children.When we had children, I know that raising them to know, love, and serve Jesus was a must. After all, how could I, knowing and loving the Lord, not share Him with my children? In my heart, I knew I wanted to saturate our home with the love of God and the training in the Bible. But when I began to think about implementing it, I became worried that as my children grew older, they may struggle with desiring God in their own lives because they felt we were putting too many boundaries up for them to remain within and not allowing them to “be themselves.” I didn’t want my children to one day tell the sad story that their parents pushed God onto them to the point that they rebelled against the Lord. What was the balance? How could I ensure that my children would love and serve the Lord? What a worrisome place for my mind to be. Fortunately, the Lord didn’t leave me to struggle.

The Truth

I thank the Lord that while driving in the car, of all places, God released me from that bondage! In a moment, His light and peace came over me, and I saw that what I was worried about was based on lies. I knew immediately that I should raise my children with devotion and love for Christ and continue setting an example of the balanced and right Christian life in our home, without listening to the lies of the enemy, who would have us raise our children without the conviction and direction of the Holy Spirit.

I now have the solid conviction that it is not only good for my husband and me to set boundaries for our children as they get older, it is our responsibility. And it is not only good for us to talk openly about the Lord and the Bible, it is necessary. Living out the truth will be rewarded by God Himself. So, bring on the Bible verses and the dancing in our living room to worship music and the praying together and the discussions about heaven and the “No, that is wrong and displeases the Lord” talks and the decisions to stand for what is right. Because when it’s all said and done, our children will be raised in a protected, Godly home where the Lord is supreme, truth is embedded in our hearts, the Holy Spirit is welcome, and love abounds! My home will not be devoid of the presence of the Lord and the indisputable Word of God. I will do all I can to live out my own love for our amazing God, and will unapologetically teach my children with wisdom, as I point the way to Christ-likeness.

Are we fearfully pushing God on our kids? No, we are are joyfully and peacefully leading our kids to God. Only our children can choose to trust the Lord for themselves, but we are the ones whom God has entrusted to show them the way.

You may already be familiar with this beautiful verse – Deuteronomy 11:18,19

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Here is another passage, that I love, as well – Psalm 78:1-8

O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old – what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from our children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which He commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born,and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds and would keep His commands. They would not be like their forefathers – a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to Him.