Parenting in a Post-Christian Socity

Introduction:

God has become unknown in our society. People question His existence because they have never met him or interacted with him. He has become the imaginary friend to the Christian community, a comfort to the lonely.

There are some that emphatically don’t believe in a God but most just have a question mark. He is simply unknown.

Some of this stems from Christian homes that have raised kids that have not seen God interact with their family and thus believe it is, at best, a religious activity that they are forces to participate in. They see it no different than the fun of Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy.

So how do we break the mold and teach our children to know God and have a personal relationship with Him?

I think we can take a lesson from pre-Christianity in the days of Paul.

The Unknown God

Acts 17:16–21 ESV

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

Acts 17:22–24 ESV

22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

God can be known through His creation.

Romans 1:16–20 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

God has revealed his eternal power.

Science and logic are derived from God’s creation. True Science will always point you to God.

Teach your kids the creation story in Genesis 1-2.

Experience nature with the purpose of seeing God through his creation.

God can be known through His Word

John 1:1–3 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 1:1–3 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

God has revealed his character and nature through the writings and examples of the Bible. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The same God that parted the Red Sea is the God to which we pray.

What are some ways you can make God known to your children through His Word?

God can be known personally.

John 14:6–10 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

God speaks through the Holy Spirit, The Bible, Prayer, the Church, and circumstance. Children must learn to recognize God when he speaks.

What are some ways you can teach your children to recognize the voice of the Lord when he speaks?

Conscience

Bible stories of God speaking to people

The Holy Spirit guides our hearts and minds into truth and things to come.

John 16:12–13 ESV

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

God can be know only by Faith

Hebrews 11:1–6 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Assurances of things hoped for:

Salvation

the Return of Christ

Heaven

Peace

Evidence of things not seen:

Miracles of God

Answered prayer

God’s movement of circumstance and situations

What are some ways that you can reveal God to your kids through faith?

Live in expectation that God will show up.

Pray specific prayers and watch God answer.

Let your faith be seen through your faithful works and deeds.

James 2:14–18 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.