Why Faith is Essential in Raising Kids

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Why is faith so essential for raising children? There are many reasons and here are a few.

Faith and Children

Why is faith so essential for raising children? There are many reasons and here are a few. Many parents today find themselves unsure of how to raise their kids especially in a world packed with marketing messages. Some people are even skeptical of what faith they want to teach their children. For those who do have religious beliefs, the question is often asked: “Should I let my child make up his or her own mind?”

This is a difficult question because, in reality, you cannot let your children make up their own minds until they have all of the information. Letting them decide without any input from other sources can lead to unhealthy decisions and affect their faith development if it’s not based on something solid. Faith-based values are the foundation of any belief system.

The answer, then, cannot be “yes” or “no.” It’s a matter of what type of information they need and how it can help their development both spiritually and mentally. There are many people who choose not to teach their children about faith, but there is no substitute for it in a child’s spiritual development. If you don’t want your children to be confused, they need the guidance of faith-based values and ideals to live as an adult what has been taught from when they were young.

What is Faith, and why should it be taught to Kids?

In Hebrews 11: 1, the Bible identifies that “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” According to Merriam-Webster, faith means complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

The Christian Faith should be taught to kids because it’s important for both the spiritual and mental development of a child. Without it, they will grow up not having any guidance on what to believe in or how to behave as an adult. This can lead them down a dangerous path because without faith, there are no morals guiding their thoughts and actions.  This leaves room for impulsive decision-making that can have terrible consequences. Faith also helps a person understand the world around them and gives their life meaning in every situation they encounter.

A child’s faith provides hope, stability, self-worth, and guidance, which are all necessary for healthy living as an adult. If you want your child to make wise decisions without falling into despair when they’re faced with difficult times, this is the best way to teach them. Without faith, it’s hard for a person to find meaning in life.  It’s difficult to find peace when they’re struggling with difficult emotions or what their purpose in life might be. This may lead them to make harmful or hurtful decisions which will not only harm them but can hurt others. Teaching children about faith from a young age is essential for their development and future happiness.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Prov 22:6).

The Bible, God, Jesus Christ and Prayer

Parents can teach their children about faith in many ways. One of the most common approaches is to read them a Bible story and then have an open discussion that includes questions like “What do you think?” or “Why might someone believe this?” This way, they get information from both stories and from other sources, not just the parent.  This helps give them all the facts.

Another way is by discussing what God, Jesus Christ, and what prayers mean in their own family lives so that the child can understand how these religious practices are done within a household setting. This is in the hopes that they might follow this cycle with their own families. And this allows for more personalization when it comes to developing faith-based values, as well as giving them something to look forward to when they’re ready for those types of activities. Praying over their food before meals is another way to teach children about faith. This gives them something they can do every day and that will keep them connected to their family’s faith and provide them with guidance.

Faith: A Life Changer

A child’s life will change in many different ways, depending upon whether they are still holding onto their faith.  All of the relationships they form as a young person with peers, family members, and strangers will be impacted by their faith because it’s part of who they are at that point in time. If you want your children to grow up feeling loved and supported by all the important people in their lives, then faith is a necessity because it provides them with spiritual meaning and guidance. If they don’t have faith, they may grow up feeling like an outsider, even if those around them are religious as well because they’re not following any particular religion or belief system.

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Duet 6:7).

This can lead to them isolating themselves from others or even feeling like they don’t fit in with the people around them, and of course this can have terrible consequences. If your child has faith, it will help give their life meaning and guidance as they go through difficult times and emotional turmoil. Without those things in their life, a person is left entirely to themselves when deciding how to make decisions about their future.  This can lead to them making poor choices that cause harm or pain for others as well as to themselves. This is why their faith is so important.  It give their life meaning, while providing guidance, and peace, even if they’re struggling through tough times right now. It’s also one way to teach them how to be at peace with themselves by being kind and compassionate to those around them, even if they’re not of the same faith.

Resources about Faith

Some resources that can be used for teaching your children about faith are:

The Bible: One of the most common sources for information about faith is simply reading from the Bible and discussing it together, as a family. This can be done as an individual activity or with other family members.  In this way,  you’ll get different perspectives on what they may have thought differently before reading about it in the Bible.

Books by Religious Leaders: Some books by religious leaders can be used for teaching children about faith. These often include a more personal touch and may have been written specifically to share beliefs with others, or in particular, children.  This makes them perfect tools to teach your kids how different faith works in other family’s lives.

“He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children” (Psalm 78:5).

Church: Going to church is one way to introduce religion into your children’s lives in a comfortable way because they can do so while seeing other families practice their faith.

The Internet: There are many websites and blogs that discuss different aspects of faith, whether beliefs, practices or just general topics related to spirituality. These resources allow your child to learn at their own pace, which is especially helpful if you’re busy and can’t always be there to answer their questions face-to-face.

Conclusion

There are many ways that faith impacts a child’s life—both positively and negatively, depending on the person they are or the person they become, however, it seems clear that the benefits of faith in raising kids are very important and absolutely necessary to introduce your child to a belief system that will help them grow into the type of person they really want to be or should be in the future.

Here is some related reading for you: Bible Verses About Children: 25 Inspirational Scripture Quotes

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Author Bio: Jake S. Platte is 31 years old. He has a master’s degree in marketing and currently works as a content writer. He began writing at the age of 15. Now he brings decades of experience to inspire Nerdy Writers to write their own stories.



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