3 Ways to be a Better Christian Parent

– Charles Spurgeon

Too many kids leave the church because they don’t know Jesus. If you want your kids to become and remain strong in their walk with Jesus Christ, here are three simple things you can do to be a better Christian parent.

Interact with Your Kids like You’re Relating to Jesus

If you look at your kids as a hassle, an obligation, or simply an obligation you need to deal with, you aren’t treating them like they have the image of Jesus. Try relating to them like they are Jesus. At the very least, you’ll be more respectful of them. You will probably want to listen to them better. You will also probably be at your best behavior as you carefully measure your words. Your patience will go a long way in reflecting the fruit of the spirit in you to your children.

Be a Living Bible

Kids are like sponges. You may not be aware of it but they are always modeling themselves after you. This is why it is crucial that you be as conscious as possible about the fact that you are the embodiment of the Bible to them. It’s easy to understand that, at the very least, you shouldn’t be a hypocrite-spouting Christianity in word but committing acts of an unbeliever. However, being a living Bible involves more than simply avoiding hypocrisy. It involves being proactively Christian. This means showing love and respect to others. This means overcoming suspicion and opposition with love, tenderness, gentleness, and kindness. It’s tough but if Christ lives in you, He’ll do the work, not you.

Forgive Them Like The Prodigal Son’s Father

Kids, like all human beings except Christ when He was still on earth, are prone to sin. We all screw up and we have all fallen short of the glory of God. With that said, Christian parents should be quick to forgive. After raising your kids to listen to the Holy Spirit’s convicting call and to heed the call to repentance, don’t destroy all these beautiful early lessons by refusing to accept and love them after they repent. Show the same amount of loving kindness and acceptance as the Father in the parable of the Prodigal Son. Always remember that love transforms and heals. Condemnation, vindictiveness, and bitterness only divide and deepen wounds.

Closing Thoughts

Becoming a parent often means getting another chance to fix whatever was lacking in your own childhood. If you feel that you didn’t get enough love and attention when you were a kid, you can remedy that by showing love and attention to your own children. Keep the discussions above in mind so you can help your kids on the road to a deep and meaningful lifetime walk with Christ. You are the first image of Christ in your kids’ lives. Be aware of this tremendous opportunity and act accordingly. God commands us to spread the Good Word to all the world. Our first stop is our own families.