Children—A Gift And A ResponsibilitySýnishorn

Parents’ Role in Children’s Spiritual Journey

The Bible repeatedly speaks on the profound role parents play in their children’s spiritual growth. Spiritual growth is a lifelong journey! Children experience a significant spiritual growth even as they are engaged on that journey by their parents first!  But when children sense a lack of consistency and continuity in that journey, it becomes an obstacle in their spiritual growth. The questions that our children come up with in their spiritual journey are powerful teachable moments for parents to explain the mighty acts of God, and inculcate faith in them (Deuteronomy 6:20). Faith in God is the greatest treasure that parents can ever pass on to their children. The gift of “knowing God” is passed on most effectively when parents’ personally-adopted and lived-out faith influences their children. When faith is passed on to children from parents, out of their personal love relationship with Christ and through the very rhythm of life, it becomes what children naturally internalize as their standard for living. 

Joshua 2:10 speaks of the failure of a generation to faithfully pass on the knowledge of God to their children. When the Israelites’ failed to fulfil their responsibility towards their children, as communicated in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, the result was a weak generation that could not stand against their enemies, and was destroyed because of their choice to serve the gods and goddesses around them. On the other hand, when parents faithfully passed on the mighty works of God to the following generations, the result was rising up of champions like Gideon whom God used mightily to accomplish His plans (Judges 6:11-14). Parents’ choice to preserve and practice faith within their family powerfully impacts children’s spirituality. Reports show us that children who are shaped in Christian faith before they reach their adolescence are more likely to remain committed to it for the rest of their life time. Children have a need to both see and experience faith in action. As parents, let us always be mindful of our role in our children’s faith formation, and be diligent to influence them with pure faith that cannot be stolen or lost. 

Written by Anand Jeyakumar for Movement Day Chennai