By Donna Shelton

Too many children who appear to have faith in Jesus, when they become teenagers and leave home, seem to leave their faith behind. Why does that happen? How can it be prevented? What is that one most important thing that you want them to have when they leave the comfort of your home? You want them to have learned so many things – how can we determine that one most important thing? We know that first they must come to the faith, “for without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6), and Proverbs 4:23 says: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” But how do we teach them to do that? If they don’t guard their heart their faith can fail.

In a recent message Pastor Rubi pointed out that Jesus prayed for Simon Peter that his faith would not fail. If Jesus prayed that for Peter, it must be possible for our faith to fail, too. We don’t want that to happen to our children. Romans 10:17 says:  “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” so we know that the Word is critical to our faith. With that in mind, and understanding that ultimately each child must make their own decision to follow Jesus, what can we do as parents to enable our children to leave home without leaving their faith behind? I believe that one most important thing is not just to teach them the Word of God, but to teach them how to study it for themselves.

I was raised by a pastor, so I knew quite a few things about the Bible when I got saved, but so many of my ideas about who God is were incomplete, or just plain wrong. After being in the ladies’ bible study for twenty-five years (I was a child when I started, of course) what I believe about God now is based on what He has said about Himself. What can God’s Word do for us and our kids? In Psalm 17:4 King David says: “by the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” The destroyer kept me in legalism and condemnation for years, but God’s Word has set me free.

Young people raised in church can be naïve, but Psalm 119:130 tells us: “The entrance of your words gives light: it gives understanding to the simple.” As a young believer, I was full of anxiety and fear, but Psalm119:165 says: “Great peace have they which love thy law.” After years of studying “precept upon precept, line upon line; here a little and there a little” (Isaiah 28:13), I have great peace, because now I am totally convinced that my God is Sovereign. My loving God is in complete control and He says He loves me and cares for me. I have no need to fear because He holds me in the palm of His hand. Even though I had heard that preached, it wasn’t until I studied that I got my own revelation.

Psalm 19:7-11 says: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing in the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” Consider the many benefits of making the Word your own. John 6:63 tells us that God’s commandments are spirit and they are life; Acts 26:32 says that the Word of God is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified.

But there is more. Our children need to be sure of the inerrancy of the whole Bible. They must be convinced that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (II Timothy 3:15) – that it is all God-breathed. As it tells us in II Peter 1: 1, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” However, to receive all these benefits and not give the Bible our own private interpretation, you must “study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15). If we don’t study the whole counsel of the Word of God, we may take something out of context and make mistakes, thinking a passage means one thing when it means something completely different. We or our children may hear a preacher or a song on the radio, or read some interpretation in a book that we feel sounds right, but it may lead us down the wrong path if we don’t have a sure foundation in the Word of God.

I am completely convinced that we should study the Word of God with our children, and give them the skills to do it themselves. True, God gave me the desire to study for myself, and only He can give that same desire to your children.  Studying His Word with them when they are young will help establish them in the truth. After we have done our part we trust God to do His part to draw our children unto Himself. I had a Christian teacher tell me once,” God has a part to play, your child has a part and you have a part to play in your child’s salvation. You can only do your part.” Sending our children out into this sin-sick world without the guiding map of a good foundation in the Bible is like sending them into a minefield without a guide as to where to place their next step. The Bible is that map. It tells them where the land mines are and how to avoid them. It is a “lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” guiding me every step of the way (Psalm 119:105).

The very first women’s Bible study Arlene Chase taught at The Door Church in Tucson was from the book of II Peter. The first few verses made an indelible impression on me: “Grace and peace be yours in abundance,” how? “through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” I didn’t really have a lot of peace then, but I wanted it, and I wanted it for my children. Verse 3 says: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” how? “through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” How else do you really make that knowledge yours? By studying for yourself. I had been in the church for fourteen years before I really started studying for myself. The difference it has made is unexplainable in this short little article.

Be an example to your children by letting them see you study God’s Word. That will show them you value it. But also take the time to help them learn to study it for themselves, so they will be able to stand firm in the evil days we live in: “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (read more in Ephesians 6:10-18).