Keeping the faith at home

We are a nation of believers. Mostly. A Gallup poll last year found that 91 percent of Americans believed in God or some universal spirit. Yet a more recent poll by WIN-Gallup International and published by Religion News Service found that the number of Americans who say they are "religious" dropped from 73 percent in 2005 to 60 percent today. And in that poll, 5 percent of Americans said they are atheists, up from 1 percent in 2005.

Believing in God doesn't necessarily translate to belonging to an organized religion. And parents who do not belong to a religious institution, as well as those who don't believe in a higher power, are faced with a difficult question: How do they instill spirituality and faith in the children?

Kara E. Powell, assistant professor of youth and family ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., says parents need to make themselves available to talk about spirituality and religion at home. They should be extra diligent in making faith a topic that can be discussed so that children won't be confused or ashamed about any observations or questions they might have. Even if there is no organized religion in the home, she says, religious holidays such as Easter and Hanukkah and their rituals can be one of the entry points into the discussion.

"(Another) thing we've seen that's powerful is using current events," says Powell, whose book "Sticky Faith: Everyday Ideas to Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids" (Zondervan), offers parents ways to develop long-term faith in teenagers. "Why would God allow X amount of people to be killed in a hurricane or earthquake? Use it as a springboard to talk to kids."

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mallen11

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old (mature), he
will not depart from it.
- http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
  
  Not to nitpick, but actually, that verse is a warning, not an admonition. The vast majority of Christians do not catch this common fallacy. Notice it says "Train up a child in the way HE should go…". No, we want to train up a child in the way the Lord wants him to go. We know that our hearts and those of our children are sinful by nature, so if we let the child grow up in his own way, he will become more ungodly. That is the warning of the verse.
  - mallen11
    
    What is wrong with a warning? The verse does imply that training a child in the way of the Lord — I have never thought nor was I ever taught differently. I have never used it as an admonition so I guess you are nitpicking but thanks for the thoughts.
    - http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
      
      Nothing at all wrong with a warning. I was just pointing out that most expositors of the Bible (at least most that I have heard, and I have listened to many throughout my 22 years as a believer) interpret this verse as an admonition, and hence most Christians believe likewise.
      - mallen11
        
        Interesting, do you?
      - http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
        
        I used to, until I heard it explained properly, then the light bulb went on.
      - mallen11
        
        I've had a lot of those light bulbs come on since I left the denomination church I belonged to for 25 years. I get so much more from His Word through the Bible doctrine I learn in a nondenominational church that teaches the meat of the Word. Come to think about it that has been 40 years and still learning. We are mandated to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ as I know you do.
      - http://www.answersingenesis.org/ keyboardshark
        
        Yes, we never stop learning. We can only scratch the surface of God's infinite wisdom in this lifetime.
John Adams

Hbr 10:25

Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one
another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Evermyrtle

The best time for a child to start learning about GOD and HIS SON JESUS CHRIST is as a baby, at Mom's and Dad's knees. You can teach him or her something everyday and it will go with them throughout out life. It will affect everything they do in a wonderful way.
John Munro

has the Great comission slipped the minds of the majority of the church? In the bible believers were honored to suffer for christ. Most who truly believe would give their lives for him!
while 2% who have not lost their first love the 98% watch America crumble for lack of effort.