Parenting with Grace: Navigating Peer Pressure, Technology, and Culture: Part 3

Parenting with Grace: Navigating Peer Pressure, Technology, and Culture: Part 3

In part 3 of this series, our focus will be on navigating modern-day culture, while parenting with grace and staying true to our Christian values, which is no simple task.

Listen to the audio version on YouTube at https://youtu.be/XtrdUrzQko4  

In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, the task of raising children as Christian parents can feel more challenging than ever. We find ourselves navigating a complex cultural landscape where secularism, materialism, individualism, and ethical controversies often stand in contrast to our Christian values. It's important to approach these challenges with empathy, understanding, and guidance rather than judgment or condemnation. So let's explore how we can parent with grace, providing our children with the tools to face these issues while remaining true to their faith.

I want to start with this scripture because it sets the tone and the truth we need to accept behind this entire topic.

Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV):

"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Section 1: Secularism

Let’s start with secularism because it is quite a dominant force in today's culture, which is basically a separation of religious beliefs from everyday life. We’re most accustomed to hearing this term in relation to ‘secular music’, ‘secular entertainment’, and things like that. It’s commonly used to reference anything that is essentially ‘of the world’.

A lot of us try to teeter on a line where we think we can have the best of both worlds, but the truth is that our desire to remain ‘in the world’ will continuously keep our relationship with God from becoming as strong as it could be.

If we’re taking our kids to church, but then all singing along to inappropriate music on our way home, we’re guilty of trying to keep ourselves ‘in the world’ despite disobeying God’s guidance.

If we watch tv shows and movies about magic and witchcraft because they’re FUN, (I’ve seen Harry Potter, okay? I get it) and we mean no harm right, we’re just watching, we’re not doing. But the Bible says witchcraft is detestable to the Lord. Are we celebrating and encouraging it by enjoying and consuming these things? How about horoscope and TikTok mediums who can tell you everything about your soul mate in exchange for your email address? Are we preparing our children for these things? Are WE prepared for these things? 

If we’re going out and getting drunk with our friends or hooking up with our significant others or “friends with benefits”, we may want to ask ourselves.. What did God warn us about this?

As Christian parents, we have the opportunity to instill in our children the importance of faith, even in a secular world.

Share the truth with them. Lies and false comforts are not true protections. It’s not “because I said so”, it’s because scripture says so. Share Galatians 5:19-21 with them. Share the love and grace of God with them. Share your positive example with them.

Share with them the significance of relying on God's wisdom and guidance in decision-making. Personal anecdotes and examples of how your faith has helped you navigate secular influences can offer valuable insights to your children, so don’t be afraid of being open about your own struggles in the past and how you’ve overcome them.

Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Section 2: Materialism

 In a world where material possessions often take center stage, our Christian values remind us of the importance of spiritual wealth. We're encouraged to prioritize qualities like love, compassion, and kindness over the accumulation of material possessions. It's crucial to instill these values in our children.

Side note, I just wrote a research paper in my doctorate program about how nearly 30,000 children die every single day simply because they are too poor to survive. This can be lack of food, water, medical necessities, and so on. It’s hard to imagine this is a very real reality in the same world where we have billionaires with private jets and more than they could EVER possibly need, want, or spend..

Yet, “treat yourself” and indulgence culture is so often celebrated.

Don’t get me wrong… I believe in Kingdom wealth, and I believe that God often rewards His people. I WANT there to be more wealthy Christians in the world because then these very real issues would cease to be issues. So I am in no way vilifying wealth or even treating yourselves to nice things.

Yet, there is a limit to the amount any human needs, isn’t there? Does it make sense to hold onto billions of dollars while thousands of children die every single day? It doesn’t make sense to me, but that’s completely outside of my power. Does it make sense to put ourselves hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to have our dream home, dream car, dream everything? Proverbs 22:7-9 teaches us two very important things on this. 

1. The borrower is slave to the lender.

2. The generous will too be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. 

My point is.. Let’s make sure we’re teaching our children Kingdom principles about possessions. Money is fine, but the love of money is evil. Idolatry of money is evil. And loving our possessions is evil. Everything we own and will ever own is by the grace of God, so let’s keep that front of mind always and make sure we teach those truths to our children as well, so that they are equipped to face the test of materialism as it is so prevalent in their lives and all around them.

Sharing the gift of contentment and satisfaction from serving God and serving others is a priceless gift. Encourage them to focus on what truly matters and remember that the pursuit of spiritual growth should remain priority over material wealth always to ensure a strong connection with God.

Matthew 6:19-21: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Section 3: Individualistic World

Individualism is not inherently bad, but it’s important to note that personal autonomy, self-expression, and ‘do you’ culture is very prevalent in today’s world. There are some healthy aspects to this, but it’s still important that our values lead the way and we are not sucked into the damaging ideology that what we think, and what we want, and what we feel are more important than what God says.

Selflessness, community, and serving others pleases God. We should also care for and love ourselves and not fall into a damaging people-pleasing habit, but at the core of our choices and actions, we should not be driven by selfish desires and listening to our heart rather than listening to God.

As parents, we can lead by example. Our actions and choices can demonstrate to our children that true fulfillment comes from caring for others, as this reflects the love and selflessness of Christ.

Philippians 2:3-4: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Section 4: Ethical and Political Controversies

 There’s no shortage of cultural challenges our children will face in the category of ethical and political controversies. We have boys becoming girls, girls marrying girls, women celebrating the number of abortions they’ve had to prove a point, and kids identifying as animals in 2023, so.. I don’t think we have time to dig into each one of these individually.

More importantly, my opinions on any of those specific topics aren’t what’s relevant here. The importance of this topic is that like it or not, what we agree with or don’t, our children will be faced with these controversies. They are growing up in a time where not taking a solid stance one way or the other gets you automatically labeled as one side or the other because it’s so difficult for some to accept any form of passivity. These debates can be challenging, but they also offer an opportunity for open and respectful discussions. They offer an opportunity to share truth and love with others.

Encourage your children to form their own moral compass based on Christian principles. Teach them to respect diverse perspectives while holding fast to their own beliefs. Emphasize the importance of empathy, understanding, and love for all individuals, regardless of their individual choices. It is not our job to judge or condemn. It is our job to share the truth and love of Christ and keep our own paths in alignment.

1 Peter 3:15: "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

Matthew 7: 1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Colossians 4:5-6 “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Navigating modern cultural challenges while staying true to Christian values is no small task, but it is possible with grace and guidance. In our journey as parents, we have the responsibility of approaching these issues with understanding and empathy, focusing on faith, truth, grace, and love.

By engaging in open, ongoing conversations with our children and leading by example, we can empower them to face these cultural challenges with confidence. Let’s not avoid the topics despite their difficulty and obvious discomforts, because this prevents our children from being prepared as they face the modern world. Let us remember that, as parents, we are not here to judge or condemn but to guide, support, and love. Together, we can raise children who embrace their Christian values while navigating the complexities of our modern world.

Sincerely,

Katy B.

Founder of Covenant Collections

Certified Parent and Family Coach

P.S. I want to invite you all to join us in our free FB group The Christian Parenting Community, as we are having WEEKLY giveaways throughout November to celebrate the Month of Gratitude!

P.P.S. We are also planning something extremely exciting for the beginning of December which is a MUST-DO before 2024 to face the year in full clarity and set a strong foundation. More coming soon…but you’ll want to be a part of the group for that awesome opportunity as well 😊