The Talk

Parents of pre-adolescent youngsters get sweaty palms when they think about having "The Talk" with their kids. Of course that refers to the initial conversation adults anticipate about sexual matters. Typically it's a little anti-climatic, when it does happen, because children these days are more knowledgeable than in generations past. But that's not "The Talk" I'm thinking about at the moment.

It's the conversations Christian parents have with their children over the years about faith matters. Often there is at least one initial in-depth conversation that can be thought as "The Talk" from a spiritual perspective. It's not about what the child "should" believe, but rather it's about what you, as a follower of Christ in an adult world, believe. Young people are perceptive, and they have no trouble figuring out whether what you say you believe matches the way you really live. So as a parent, you're careful not to overstate, and you make sure you don't come across hypocritically or in a judgmental way. Instead, you speak of the assurance that is yours as a person of faith in Christ, the guidance you receive from Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit, the purpose you feel your life has as a child of God. It is likely that in the disciples' home there is the regular practice of church attendance, prayer and devotions. But that really is not a substitute for this heartfelt sharing between parent and child.

Not always, thankfully, but too often we in churches watch our children grow up, move away, and become much less involved in a congregation than they were in their youth. This is a source of heartache and worry for many parents. We cannot make decisions for our grown children, clearly. But hopefully we can be there for them -- whether they are younger or older -- when life raises questions for them that only genuine faith can adequately address.