Tim & Darcy's Parents Q & A

Q:

My 7yr old little boy, was offered to pray for salvation by me (his mom) the other day, and he said, "I'm not sure if I believe or not yet mom". Granted, he likes to say opposite of what I want at times - he's going through a real stage of that right now. I have been so shook up about it, fearing, because all I ever hear about is the "success" stories of children asking Jesus into their hearts. He doesn't seem antagonistic to things relating to God, just not real interested at this point. I have been trying to step up devotions, etc... I think I tend to parent out of fear, yet I think I have a lot of grace too! I have really been disturbed! Should I be?

Thank you - a mom in Washington

A:

I wouldn't be the least bit worried about your boy's salvation. In the first place, salvation isn't a work of the parent or the result of stepped up devotions. It's the work of the Holy Spirit. Our job is not to convince our children of their need for salvation. That's God's job. Our job is to treat them the same way God treats us - with grace. As you live your Christian life around your son, and he sees you letting your light shine before men as well as the good works that accompany a heart sold out to Christ, he'll glorify your Father in heaven in due time. Many parents work hard to get their children to pray the "sinner's prayer" with the assumption that "Finally, they are a Christian." Actually, many of these children are simply kids who did what their parents asked them to do because they love their parents and want to please them. Your son needs to be convicted of his need for salvation by the Holy Spirit. It is possible to unwittingly interfere with the Holy Spirit's work in his life. These kids can grow up with a symbolic sense of salvation but not a substantive one. These are often the kids who reject their faith in their teens or early twenties. Just raise this boy in an environment of Jesus' amazing grace. He'll hear the gospel through the many ways he's exposed to it in that environment (Sunday School, camp, church, Christian friends, etc.) and when GOD is ready, He will draw your son's heart to himself.

Relax, and enjoy being a grace-based (rather than fear-based) mom!

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