Written by Dr. Kyle Barrett, Director of Spiritual Formation

What do false gods have to do with parenting? I don’t know about you but I’ve never walked in on my kid bowing down to a gold statue or sacrificing the family cat! Try explaining that to your spouse!

We may not think false gods impact our parenting. But, in fact, they are the main competitor for the hearts of our children because our kids are hard-wired for worship. Whether stuff or status our kids (and us too!) will find something to give ourselves to. Everything they do, say, or think flows from what they give themselves to.

The glory of parenting is that we are a tool in God’s hands to show our kids what they truly worship and which false gods occupy the throne of their hearts. Tripp writes, “Leading your children to confession is about having tender, patient, understanding, and insight-giving conversations with your children that are intended to get them to examine what they haven’t acknowledged and to begin to accept responsibility for the thoughts, desires, and choices that cause them to do what they do” (p160).

We can’t change what our kids worship. But, by God’s grace, we can help our kids see what they worship so that God can give our kids hearts that rest in and worship him.

I hope you’ll grab a copy of Paul Tripp’s book, Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family (HERE).