Only 5 out of 100 parents polled at a Christian Educators' Conference read to their kids. A review of Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna.

A month ago at a  Christian educators’ conference,  the speaker took a poll. He wanted to know how many parents read the Bible to their children at least once over the past week. The results were alarming. Only 5 out of the 100 parents in the room responded affirmatively.

George Barna says in his book Revolutionary Parenting  that the job of parenting is never easy. Given the trajectory of our culture, it’s not likely to get any easier. But it is probably the single most important thing you will ever do in your life.[1] Barna believes that if each Christian family would take small steps forward then we will live to see a spiritual awakening unlike anything we have witnessed during our lifetime. [2]

As Christian parents it is important that we try to preserve our culture by accepting the challenge to be a revolutionary parent. Barna does mention numerous times in his book that just because you are a revolutionary parent doesn’t mean that  your children will turn into spitual champions. A decision to follow Jesus must be a child’s own decision as he/she is led  by God’s Holy Spirit. “Our job is not to succeed but to be obedient to God’s calling and principles and allow Him to produce the outcomes according to His perfect will.”[3]

 So, how does one become a revolutionary parent? Barna has researched hundreds of families who have produced spiritual champions. Parents have said “in the process of nurturing a spiritual champion, parents enhance transformation by praying daily for the spiritual development of their children by taking time to read and discuss the Bible together.”[4] Also, parents are to “live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy”[5]. When you invite God into your family,  He feels included to shape and mold as He desires. He most likely then will not have to force himself in through tragedy and grief. “As much as you love your children, God loves them more.”[6]

In your parenting, be intentional. Set goals for your family and their spiritual growth. Possibly at the beginning of each week ask yourself, “How will I teach my children to serve this week?” Then,  do a service project together. Barna refers to one parent who would take her cynical daughter down to the local homeless shelter and have her serve meals. After doing this her daughter was more teachable. Something about being around the poor really changed her attitude. It opened her up to others to see their suffering and not just her own. Another way to be intentional is to have a family Bible reading program. Every night set aside half an hour for family Bible reading aloud. And start this while the children are infants. Studies have proven that “children begin absorbing values and beliefs as soon as they can understand language.”[7]

When Barna asked “young adults what they felt were the most significant mistakes that America’s parents have made, the second highest-ranked mistake was not spending enough time with their children.”[8] This is yet another plug for spending quality time and reading the Bible with your children. Also, God commands it:  You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. ¹⁹Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.[9]

Parenting is a responsibility. Becoming a revolutionary parent is a bigger responsibility. Most adults in today’s generation don’t want to take on responsibility. Remember the 5 out of 100 who read the Bible with their families every week? Well, Barna also did a nationwide survey of Christian families and found fewer than one out of ten families read the Bible together during a typical week or even pray together (excluding mealtimes). Nevertheless,  the “families interviewed saw how crucial family faith experiences were to raising a godly child.”[10]

My conclusion  after reading Revolutionary Parenting is that certain steps must be taken to produce a spiritual champion. Responsibility rests on the parents for the nurture and spiritual development of the child. This happens through family Bible readings, family prayer times, service projects and the parent living a life worthy of the Lord.

From my own observation, I notice that  many Christian parents put more emphasis on the church and their church activities then they do taking  time to nurture and develop the spiritual life of their child. Church leadership has failed somewhat in this area, pressuring young families to attend church activities rather then encourage family time. Barna indicates that the church is a partner in the parenting process but does not have the main responsibility for nurturing the child’s spiritual life.

Another observation is that fathers have a deep yearning and sense that they need to provide a life of luxury for their child. The studies  that Barna did indicate that children from this generation were not as upset by lack of things as they are by the  lack of attention from their parent.

Barna summarizes by discussing the three ways in which parents can be pro-active in shaping their children’s spirituality:  facilitating understanding, developing character, and advancing the child’s relationship with God.  “The ultimate objective is to generate an urgency to honor God at all times, not only through personal obedience but also through expressions of worship.  As parents, we must resist the temptation to follow the cultural path, which emphasizes how the Christian faith benefits “me”.  Instead, Scripture calls us to turn our focus to God and throw ourselves into glorifying HIM.” [11]

“Can there be a greater joy in parents’ lives than knowing that they contributed in a mighty way to the decision their child has made to be a devoted follower of Christ, and to demonstrate the depth of that commitment through consistently practicing the ways of God?” [12] 

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