Raising a child in church, and to be a Christian can be difficult. But this becomes especially difficult when you have to deal with a non-believer in your child’s life. Whether it be a friend or a family member, having a non-believer question what you are raising your child to believe can be frustrating.
So, How do you deal with a non-believer in your child’s life? There are several things that you can do.
1. Be consistent. Being consistent will help your child to know that you are going to stand firm on your beliefs. Wavering will cause them to be unsure and question what you have taught them.
2. Refrain from anger. Yes, having someone question what you are teaching your child, or questioning your faith can be frustrating, but it should not bring you to anger. Displaying Christian love and kindness and follow the Golden Rule when dealing with them will be show evidence of your Christian walk and speak volumes to the non-believer.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7 :22
3. Rest in the assurance of Proverbs 22:6, which says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” The Bible speaks of “childlike faith”. Fortunately, children understand faith in Christ and do not complicate it or easily allow others to sway them. This helps them to stand firm in their faith.
4. Be there to listen and answer questions. Many times, the unbeliever’s thoughts and questions will help a child to begin to explore their own feelings about their faith and about God, opening a door of opportunity for you to listen to your child and answer any questions that they might have regarding God and their faith.
5. Pray for the unbeliever and your child. Prayer is a powerful tool that can be used in any situation. So, especially pray for your child as they deal with this person as well as for the unbeliever themselves. It could even be a good experience for you to pray with your child for that person in their life who does not believe in God. What a powerful way to exercise your faith in front of your child.
As you can see there is much you can do to help your child when dealing with an unbeliever in their life, allowing them to understand their faith more and to be able to defend it if needed.
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