In Part 1 of this series on “gospelizing” our children, we looked at how we can discipline and instruct them in God’s ways, through everyday home life and conversations.
There are another two other ways we can create a gospel-saturated home for our children:
Give Them the Gospel Through Modelling
Modelling the gospel for our children is one of the most powerful ways we can impact them. Jesus did that, too—He didn’t just teach with His words, but through practical action. When He washed the feet of the disciples, He said: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15).
One of the most powerful statements we can give our kids is: “Do you see Mummy and Daddy doing that?”
The gospel entails our sacrificial service to God and others—the giving of ourselves for others, as Christ has done in giving up His life for us. As parents, let us first humble ourselves to recognise our desperate need for God. This can be easy to teach, but hard to do and live out.
One of the most powerful statements we can give our kids is: “Do you see Mummy and Daddy doing that?” For example, if they say, “My friends all lie!”, are you able to say, “Do you see Mummy and Daddy lying?” Are you able to tell them why you don’t lie: “because we honour God”?
Doing this requires humility and introspection. Often, we are far from where we ought to be, and so we may need to apologise to our kids and confess our failure to obey God and set the right example. And, we can bow before our Almighty God, knowing that He will graciously forgive us.
Another way we can impress the gospel upon our children through our example is by how we treat our spouses. As Ephesians 5:22–33 teaches, the husband-wife relationship is meant to portray the gospel, the way “Christ loved the church and gave himself for her” (v. 25).
The way we relate to our spouses will reveal to our kids the power of the gospel. Nothing devastates a child more than a broken marriage. And, nothing encourages a child more than a happy, healthy, holy marriage.
Let us model the gospel for our children in the way we serve God and others, live rightly before God, and love our spouses. So, before we correct our children, let us correct the example we set for them.
Give Them the Gospel Through Prayer
Aside from disciplining, instructing, and modelling, one final way we can gospelize our children is by praying.
It can be easy to think that it’s our clever discipline, brilliant teaching, and exemplary living that brings salvation to our kids. Even if we can do all these things perfectly, however, salvation does not come because we get everything right—it comes from the Lord alone.
Ephesians 2:8–9 reminds us that “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Pondering over God’s great love, rich mercy, and the “incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (vv. 4, 7), should compel us to humble prayer for God to save our children.
We may raise kids who know the law, but only God can give us kids who really know and love Him. So, pray for your kids fiercely and regularly. And not only pray for them, but pray with them, so that they will know what is in your heart.
The Chief Goal of Parenting
What’s your goal as a parent? While we may not say it out loud or even consciously think of it, some of us may harbour hopes that our children will grow up scoring straight A’s, excel in sports, and have a good career and life.
The biblical view of parenting, however, is not to raise scholars for Singapore. As disciples of Christ, our goal is to raise godly heritage (see Psalm 78).
For some parents, it may be enough to hear them confess a belief in Jesus and desire to be baptised. Now, don’t get me wrong—it’s fantastic if kids say that.
But we need be cautious that we do not end there and neglect how they live after such a confession of faith. When someone is born again and becomes a true follower of Jesus, they do not just profess faith.
Real salvation involves a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ, and results in obedience from the heart.
They will have a new way of living, with a new pattern of obedience. That’s what the gospel is all about! The gospel leads us to develop true obedience to God. It’s not just a ticket to heaven.
Real salvation involves a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ, and results in obedience from the heart.
In his letter to the Roman believers, Paul mentioned how “everyone” had heard about their obedience, and how he rejoiced because of them (Romans 16:19). The believers’ obedience was not enforced from the outside, but sprung from within.
A true follower of Jesus does the will of the Father. If our children are really saved, there will be a pattern of obedience in their lives.
Not Sinless Perfection, But a Sincere Progression
As believers, we are to strive not for sinless perfection, but a sincere progression in our walk with God.
As a father, that’s what I want for my sons, Shawn and Matthias. I long to see them obey God more and more, because they love Him. That’s my goal!
It really doesn’t matter if they don’t score straight A’s, aren’t particularly athletic, or don’t get high-paying jobs in the future. Of course, this doesn’t mean I don’t encourage them to study, do sports, or develop socially, intellectually, and physically.
But above it all, God calls us to gospelize our children.
God has given us children that we may lead them to the ultimate heavenly Father.
When Jonathan Edwards was on his deathbed, he wrote a simple note for his daughter to hand over to the rest of the family. It said: “Tell my wife that the uncommon union which has so long subsisted between us is, I think, a spiritual one and therefore is one which will last forever.”
To his children, he wrote: “Tell your other brothers and sisters that it is about time they look to a Father that does not die.”
Parenting is a form of stewardship. God has given us children that we may lead them to the ultimate heavenly Father.
Genesis 18:19 says that when God spoke about Abraham, He said: “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD.” God’s will was for Abraham to teach his children and his household.
Fellow parents, let’s do our job well. Let’s lead our children not to elite schools or to high-paying careers, but to Jesus Christ.
Let’s gospelize our children.
