In today’s world, teenagers are presented with many different ideas and concepts, and not all of them are consistent with Christian teachings. Television, radio, even friends and classmates all can present enticing ideas to your teenager that can lead them astray from the path of faith.
As a parent, you have been entrusted with the task of teaching your teen how to walk in the way of the Lord. If you’re struggling, here are a few ideas that just might help.
Tip # 1: Read and Study the Bible
Believe it or not, if you want to teach your teenager how to walk with the Lord, and have relationship with him, reading the Bible is essential. The Bible can offer more than just parables or dynamic stories of the Exodus from Egypt. This is the Word of God, and it can be used to provide insight and advice into nearly every aspect of your life. By openly studying the Bible and it’s many teaching, and then applying what you have learned to your daily life, you can lead by example.
Tip # 2: Let Your Teenager Be Unique
One of the most common mistakes that parents make with raising their teenager is to think that every walk in the way of the Lord must be exactly like their own. Just as the Lord created all of us as unique individuals with special talents and inspiration, each path will be unique as well. As a parent, it is imperative that you make sure that your teenager’s heart is right with Christian values. If it is, then their outfits and methods of praise and worship will be music to God’s ears.
Tip # 3: Remember Faith is about Choice and Action
Many parents make the choice to drag their teenager children to church on a regular basis. While they do so with the best of intention, this forceful action can lead to unintended consequences. During these years, most teens are trying to find their own path, their own relationship with God. Because of this, most teenagers are highly resistant to having a faith forced upon them. Instead, guide them by offering them the choice to go with you to church on Sunday, and respect their wishes. By being consistent, and respecting their decision about how they act on their faith, you represent the Christian faith better than any preacher.
About CSAHM
Raising kids, especially teenagers, in todays culture is becoming more and more difficult. With Social sites such as Facebook and MySpace, it is so easy for our kids to be massively influenced by the World.
Having a son who recently turned 13, and a daughter who is 11 (thinks like a 16yr old) their association is also very important.
In Christ,
Ron
I completely agree with how the culture (songs, Internet — especially the “privacy” of cell phones that let teens wall off their world) makes it harder and harder to raise kids. And of course, sometimes what they learn in school is at opposites with what we teach at home. Look at the Big BangTheory for example. In school, kids get taught nothing about God, but that’s not what they learn at church and at home. David Millette has written “Ben’s Big Bang Botheration,” to help counter that. He offers students AND parents great answers to the questions kids bring home. This book is about Creation and the Big Bang theory and he has others planned. Great stuff!