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7 Ways Parents Push Their Kids Away from God Without Knowing It

Why are young people leaving the church? If I had a dollar for every time I heard this question, I would have a lot of dollars. And I get it. The rate at which young people are leaving the church is alarming. Everyone has experienced a young person throwing aside their faith and walking away from God, either directly or indirectly. It’s devastating.

So, how does the church need to change? While this question needs to be addressed, I don’t think it provides an answer to the problem.

Stick with me, I am going somewhere.

You see, I believe parents are the primary link between young people and God. Not the church. In his book Soul Searching, Christian Smith says this:

The most important social influence in shaping young people’s religious lives is the religious life modeled and taught to them by their parents.

In an interview with Drs. Kara Powell and Chap Clark, Smith goes even further:

When it comes to kids’ faith, parents get what they are.

Whoa. That’s real.

Here’s the deal. Parents, you are painting a portrait of God for your children every day. Every word, action, and conversation is a brushstroke. And when your children prepare to leave home, they are staring at a portrait of God. A portrait that shapes their actions and decisions about faith moving forward. Parents, we are the ones pushing our kids away from God.

Are there exceptions? Absolutely. As a youth minister, I witnessed young people turn away from God, even though the faith of their parents was rock solid. I also saw young people continue into college on fire for God, even though their parents had shaky, fickle faith. So, this isn’t a black and white, issue. Few issues are.

But will you, as a parent, play an enormous role in shaping the faith of your children? No doubt.

With that being said, I want to point out some things young people need from their parents. I present these as someone who left God for a season in college, someone who ministers to young people every day, and someone who is passionate about reaching about the next generation.

Kelsey Straeter
Kelsey Straeter
Kelsey is an editor at Outreach. She’s passionate about fear fighting, freedom writing, and the pursuit of excellence in the name of crucifying perfectionism. Glitter is her favorite color, 2nd only to pink, and 3rd only to pink glitter.

5-Year-Old Boy’s Quick Thinking Saves His Mother’s Life After a Hiking Accident in Idaho

In a remarkable display of bravery and quick thinking, a 5-year-old boy named Colton Franks recently played a crucial role in saving his mother's life after a horrifying hiking accident in Idaho.

Grieving Mother Fights for Online Safety After Losing Son to Viral “Blackout Challenge”

One mother, Joann Bogard, knows these dangers all too well and has made it her mission to protect other children from the same fate as her son, Mason, who tragically died in viral "Blackout Challenge." 

Teen Dies Before Graduation—Then Her Classmates Write This All Over Her Coffin in Sharpies

Laura Hillier died tragically just a few months before her graduation, but her classmates still had something to say...

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