by Dr. Paul Chappell

"Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee."

Proverbs 4:1-6

If we wish to pass on our faith to our children, we must be living authentic, dedicated Christian lives.

The more time we spend as parents, the more we realize the difficult responsibility God has given us to raise God-fearing children in a culture intent to corrupt our best efforts. Barbara Dafoe Whithead, research associate for the Institute for American Values, describes the parent versus culture struggle as such:

"A common complaint I heard from parents was their sense of being overwhelmed by the culture. They felt relatively more helpless than their parents. Parents see themselves in a struggle for the hearts and minds of their own children."

The evidence of generational breakdown surrounds us. Children who have godly, dedicated parents are choosing to abandon the faith and follow their own path in our world. Who is to blame for such a breakdown?

As adults and parents, we set the standard for our children. We show them our interpretation of the Christian life and from that most children will decide whether or not they will live a godly Christian life. While we cannot force our children to live godly lives, we do set the example for them to follow.

Ask yourself the following questions:

"How am I actively helping pass on the faith to future generations?"
"How would my children describe my faith?"
"Would my children want to live life the way I've lived it in regards to my faith?"
"What kind of Christianity am I showing the youth of our world?"

Proverbs 4 shows us a father's urging for his children to follow his life's path. He encourages them to listen to his advice and obey his counsel. As a parent, are you encouraging your children to follow the lessons your life is teaching? More than words, your children are watching your actions.

If we wish to pass on our faith to our children, we must be living authentic, dedicated Christian lives. Not perfect lives, but lives that show our children the blessings God gives to those who follow Him. Some children will decide to live for self despite their parents' best examples, yet as parents, God calls us to live godly lives to show our children the blessings of living for Him. We won't be perfect, but if we wish to pass on the faith to our children, we must commit to living faithful lives of obedience.

To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.

Daily Bible Reading
2 Chronicles 17-18 | John 13:1-20