One of the most difficult things in parenting is knowing how much to oversee our kids.  When do we let them go?  How much is enough rope to give them? These are the issues surrounding the issue of “helicopter parenting”.  There is a new book out that has been looking at these issues in depth. Check out this interview with the author and let me know what you think.

Read this article and comment about you think.

I read this article today and I thought that it might be really helpful for you Dads and Moms out there.  I encourage you to read it and ask yourself, “Am I pursuing Christ?”

There is a fascinating study that just came out and I recommend you taking  a read at the summary article here.  You will find that it highlights and debunks some common myths regarding the spirituality of the emerging adult generation.  I wanted to key in on one of the myths (after the jump):

Myth 2: Emerging adults reject their parents’ religious influence.

As children approach the teenage years, their parents anticipate conflict. Because many parents worry about dragging their teens to church against their will, many resign themselves to parental irrelevance. Yet Smith and Snell find that most emerging adults fall into their parents’ religious patterns one way or another. Still, parents are slow to realize they need to change how they relate to foster maturity and independence.

“So just at the time when teenagers most need engaged parents to help them work out a whole series of big questions about what they believe, think, value, feel, are committed to, and want to be and become, in many cases, their parents are withdrawing from them,” Smith and Snell lament.

Consider what this means.  Instead of walking away from your kid during their teen years to “give them space” you need to engage with them on an even deeper level.  To do so though requires that you are willing to begin the process of seeing them as peers.  At this time in their lives they don’t need you hand holding, coddling, or preaching at them. They need you to engage them as you would other adults and talk with them about where they are in their journey and come alongside them in it.  Finally, they need to see you living out your faith authentically.

There is one very disconcerting stat that has come from the survey:

In total, 68% of Mosaic Christians said they believe that the third person of the trinity is just “a symbol of God’s power or presence, but is not a living entity.” This compares to 59% of Busters, 55% of Boomers, and 56% of Elders who believe the Holy Spirit is merely symbolic.

This is deeply disturbing.  The vast majority of Christians believe the Holy Spirit is a “symbol of God’s power or presence, but is not a living entity.”  This shows a deep hole in the teaching of our churches.  We are missing out on the reality of who the Godhead really is if we negate the Holy Spirit from the equation.

Why is this a problem? When did it become a problem?

This is a hole that has taken a couple of millenia to develop.  Consider the Apostle’s Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended into hell. [See Calvin]

The third day He arose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Notice that the Holy Ghost (or Spirit) is given a brief mention as compared to the fuller exposition of God the Father and God the Son.  From this auspicious beginning we come to the present day.  In seminary the Holy Spirit was given a very brief mention in our theology classes.  He was always tacked on at the end and we always ran out of time.

Pastors are not as comfortable teaching on the Holy Spirit because they have not been as thoroughly trained as they are in other aspects of their theology.  There is also discomfort in the way many parachurch and dispensational churches teach the Holy Spirit.  He is taught in such a way that two classes of Christians are set up within the Christian community.  This is rightly rejected by the Reformed tradition.  However, we have not taught as clearly and succinctly on God the Holy Spirit as we ought.

This study is a clarion call to all of us to teach on the Holy Spirit and help our kids to understand the reasons that “it is much better” that Jesus left us sot that the “helper” could come. God living in us.  God in the flesh.  Incarnation all the time. This is the reality of the God the Holy Spirit and how incredible is it that he lives in us? In our kids? In our community?

I am becoming an ever bigger fan of Walt Mueller.  He has just published a remarkable little article about the “Day of Silence“.  So many of us respond to these kinds of things “off the cuff” without thinking about why a Day of Silence would exist.  I think we can learn much from what Walt writes here.  We as parents, pastors, and mentors need to respond with grace, mercy, and love. We are called by God to communicate truth in love. We as evangelicals tend to be really good at truth and not so great at love.  The gospel of Jesus calls us to both.

Walt Mueller the director for the Center of Youth and Parent Understanding has written an amazing piece on diving into the brokenness of the emerging generation.  Two key questions come out:

1. What is happening in this young person’s life that shouldn’t be happening? and. . .

2. What is not happening in this young person’s life that should be happening?

I hope you find the post insightful and helpful as you seek to engage with your own kids:

learning my lines. . .: Violated. . . . again. . . ..

More after the jump…

Well, George Barna, has released a study on Sunday School.  It turns out that it is worth the fight. At Grace Chapel we believe that Sunday School is mission critical.  This is the time when your kids get solid biblical instruction contextualized for them. The studies continue to show that Sunday School is one of the important markers for spiritual longevity. So, I want to encourage you to take the steps necessary to prepare yourself and your children for a day of worship and spiritual development on Sundays.  Get a good night’s sleep, work on homework Saturday, and set expectations for both parental and child involvement in Sunday School (there are great offerings for you too).

Our job as parents is tough.  We face struggles on a daily basis that cut us to the quick.  We are trying to help sinful people become followers of Christ.  It’s painful at times and often our greatest goal is peace and quiet. Our calling as parents to children of the covenant is high and it is worthy of great honor.  Thankfully, God has called us into a community where we can receive help, support, and encouragement.