1. An estimated two-thirds of our Christian kids are walking away from their faith.
Pew Research claims, about half of current religious “nones” who were raised in a religion (49%) indicate that a lack of belief led them to move away from religion. This includes many respondents who mention “science” as the reason they do not believe in religious teachings, including one who said “I’m a scientist now, and I don’t believe in miracles.” Others reference “common sense,” “logic” or a “lack of evidence” – or simply say they do not believe in God. (1)
It is believed that most young people who lose their faith lose it due to what is being directed at them about evolution. Evolution undermines the Bible as well as opposing many of the things that are taught in it.
2. Your kids can go to a private Christian school and still walk away.
Sending your kids to a private Christian school does not guarantee that they will have a true faith and/or keep it. The responsibility is yours as a parent.
3. Your kids can go to public school and walk away.
Two studies conducted by both the Barna Group and USA Today found that nearly 75 percent of Christian young people fall away from the faith and leave the church after high school. (2)
4. Your kids can go to public or private school and keep their faith.
It is possible, but I admit it is harder, to help your children keep their belief in the God of creation. It takes a lot of spending time with your children reading the Bible, having discussions, devotions, talking through their questions and their doubts. It requires that you as a parent have done your homework so that you can intellectually answer their concerns about what they’re learning.
5. So much of what is being taught and what is being viewed on media contradicts what the Bible says.
You hear billions of years quoted frequently on TV, on social media, movies, books and museums. How are your children reconciling with this contradiction of how long ago the universe was created? It really matters what they think. Remember, millions or billions of years challenges what the Bible says about creation.
6. You kids have questions about what they’re learning or what they’re seeing that contradicts the Bible.
Your kids may very well see inconsistencies in what they’re learning about and what they’re being taught about from the Bible. They may or may not even understand the deviations. They may be hesitant to ask about the differences. Whether they ask you or you ask them about what they believe, you need to know what the truth is yourself.
7. You may not have answers to their questions.
If you’re like me, while growing up ‘in the church’, I was never taught how to answer questions that atheists or just curious people would ask. When I became a believer, I still couldn’t answer so many important questions about my faith. Can you? Can your kids?
8. You don’t have to know all of the answers, just where to find them.
I believe, as parents, it is extremely important for us to know as much as possible about what we believe in and to be able to articulate it to others. And what I can’t answer something, I know where to look or to send others for the answers. The Bible of course, is the best place for the truth but it’s not always easy to quickly pull out the answers. That’s where utilizing resources from trusted apologetics ministries that have done the research already comes in handy.
9. Apologetics is about giving answers.
Apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia, which means a verbal defense or reasoned argument/statement. So apologetics is the defense of our faith, giving a reasoned statement for what we believe and what the Bible says. Those in apologetics ministries have studied the Bible as well as science, history, archaeology and ancient literatures. They are able to respond to questions about the Bible in those and other areas of study. What’s really exciting about apologetics is that it completely supports the Gospel and the Bible while giving a clear, reasonable defense for Christianity because God’s word is true and can be tested!
10. Your kids want the truth.
Your kids realize more than you may think and can see when things aren’t quite right. Kids usually don’t want to be patronized and can also recognize when you are making things up. They want to hear what is correct. They want to be able to speak about facts and not fable. The Bible is definitely fact and not fable. Don’t sugar-coat it and don’t be ashamed of the Bible. Confidently share what the Bible says about a situation so that they can be confident in their beliefs.
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/08/24/why-americas-nones-left-religion-behind/https://www.gotquestions.org/falling-away.html