They think that if their child would get saved, all the problems of
living would be solved. Sometimes parents feel this way because, in
their own experience, getting saved was a spiritual watershed. They
want their child to have that experience too.
(^) This is a sensitive issue that must be tempered by two facts: 1)
You can never know with absolute certainty whether your child is
saved. Many passages such as the “Lord, Lord” passage at the end of
the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:21–23) indicate that false faith
can carry someone a long way. The heart can even deceive itself.
Thus, the Bible warns about the dangers of being self-deceived and
exhorts you to test yourself to see whether you are in the faith. 2) A
child’s profession of faith in Christ does not change the basic issues
of childrearing. The parent’s goals are the same. The things the child
is called to are the same. He requires the same training he required
before. He will have times of tenderness and times of spiritual
coldness. The parent’s task does not change when the child makes a
decision.
(^) There are many passages that teach the need to shepherd, to train,
to instruct, and to discipline your children. None of these passages has
getting a child to pray the “sinner’s prayer” as its focus.
Family Worship
(^) Some parents are persuaded that the family that prays together
stays together, so they determine to have daily Bible reading times.
Each family member must be present. They are conscientious about
the need for daily devotions. But, as valuable as family worship is, it
is no substitute for true spirituality.
(^) I know a family that never missed family worship. They read the
Bible and prayed each day. But in family living and family values
there was no connection between the family worship routine and life.
(^) While family worship is valuable, the family worship of the
family described above reflected a defective spirituality.