{"id":14759,"date":"2024-03-19T15:23:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T09:53:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cccfornews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/19\/john-piper-offers-advice-for-parents-of-wayward-kids\/"},"modified":"2024-03-19T15:23:03","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T09:53:03","slug":"john-piper-offers-advice-for-parents-of-wayward-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cccfornews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/19\/john-piper-offers-advice-for-parents-of-wayward-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"John Piper offers advice for parents of wayward kids"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Katelyn Webb<\/a>,
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Screengrab: Sing! 2022 Conference <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pastor and author John Piper has offered advice and encouragement for parents struggling with their children\u2019s poor choices \u2014 including gender dysphoria and the rejection of Christianity \u2014 and weighed in on whether such behavior is inherited.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a recent episode<\/a> of \u201cAsk Pastor John\u201d shared on Piper\u2019s Desiring God website, Piper addressed an email from a father struggling with his children’s paths, particularly in relation to gender dysphoria.<\/p>\n

\u201cPastor John, my wife and I have four sons, ranging from 20 to 8. We recently found out our 20- and 15-year-olds both claim to suffer from so-called \u2018gender dysphoria.\u2019 The 20-year-old is walking with the Lord and knows it\u2019s wrong, fighting his temptations, and trying to dwell in God for strength, and attends a solid, Bible-believing church. But he\u2019s in college two hours away, and we are still worried for him,\u201d the letter read, in part.<\/p>\n

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\u201cOur 15-year-old is not a believer \u2026 we feel so broken and so alone and so helpless in this season. What do we do to fight against the despair we face every day as failed parents? How did we fail them?\u201d<\/p>\n

Piper began by acknowledging the pervasive fear among parents about their children inheriting or repeating their sins, a concern he believes is shared across various Christian families. He highlighted several scenarios that fuel parental anxieties, such as the impact of being born out of wedlock, growing up in dysfunctional homes or the fear of having prodigal children.<\/p>\n

The 78-year-old chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, offered a comprehensive list of 10 suggestions for parents grappling with their children’s move away from Christian principles.<\/p>\n

Piper encouraged parents to \u201cgrieve with hope,\u201d advising them to grieve deeply for their children\u2019s struggles but with the hope rooted in God’s sovereign goodness; \u201clook to the God of the impossible,\u201d reminding parents that what seems impossible for humans is possible with God; \u201cDo not assume fault,\u201d advising against assuming parental imperfection as the decisive factor in a child’s disobedience; \u201clove on God\u2019s terms,\u201d emphasizing loving children according to God’s standards of truth and righteousness.<\/p>\n

The Don’t Waste Your Life<\/em> author encouraged parents to \u201cspeak truth to your child,\u201d advocating for clear communication of beliefs and truths to children, \u201ccommunicate your love,\u201d as parents need to show their readiness to sacrifice everything for their children’s well-being, \u201cpray without ceasing,\u201d reminding parents of the power of persistent prayer and trust in God\u2019s mercy, and \u201cdiscern communication\u201d \u2014 discerning how often to address sensitive issues with the child.<\/p>\n

The pastor also stressed the importance of making \u201cthe Gospel plain,\u201d emphasizing the importance of periodically making the Gospel clear to the child, especially to those who have strayed. He also encouraged parents to \u201cpress on with indomitable joy,\u201d advising them to live a joyful life despite challenges, denying Satan the triumph of seeing them paralyzed by despair.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, your child needs to see that you are not blithely indifferent to his disobedience. But just as important, he needs to see that Jesus is your supreme treasure and that the solar system of your life does not revolve around your child. He is not the sun in your solar system. Christ is. He doesn\u2019t need you falling apart, retreating in self-pity, pouting. That\u2019s not helpful. He needs you weak and triumphant in Christ,\u201d Piper said.<\/p>\n

Piper called for a “tidal wave of grace” to help reunite estranged children with their families and faith.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, let\u2019s pray for each other, and may the Lord bring the day when there is a tidal wave of grace that sweeps thousands of precious prodigals into the arms of their parents and of the Lord Jesus,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n

In recent years,\u00a0numerous studies<\/a>\u00a0have shown that young people are leaving the church in droves and that religious \u201cnones\u201d are rising.<\/p>\n

A 2022 report from the Pew Research Center found that by 2070,<\/a> Christians could make up less than half of the population \u2014 and as little as a third. Meanwhile, the so-called nones \u2014 or the religiously unaffiliated \u2014 could make up close to half of the population. And the percentage of Americans who identify as Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and other non-Christian faiths could double.<\/p>\n

Piper\u2019s own son, Abraham Piper, became an unbeliever at the age of 19<\/a>, and today uses his social media to bash Christianity and Evangelical culture. He\u2019s also posted videos on TikTok suggesting that the Bible says having kids isn\u2019t a good idea<\/a>, offering advice for doubting Evangelical kids<\/a> who still live with their parents, and Bonkers Bible stories<\/a>. He also said in one video that memorizing the Bible was not worth it<\/a> for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, if you\u2019re deconstructing, good for you,\u201d Piper said in one video.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of serious thinkers out there that can help you navigate this stuff,\u201d he continued, \u201cbut if you just want to roll your eyes at how [expletive] weird it all was, that\u2019s what I\u2019m here for. Stick around if you want to.\u201d<\/p>\n

In an op-ed <\/a>for The Christian Post weighing in on the trend of young people leaving the faith, Michael Brown, host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire<\/a> radio program, contended that \u201cit is the spirit of the age to question God and to mock the Bible, part of a perfect societal storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

This \u201csocietal storm,\u201d he said, includes the following elements: \u201c1) a superficial, me-first Christianity preached in America for the last generation; 2) the lack of personal experience with God; 3) a dearth of solid discipleship and in-depth knowledge of the Word; 4) a steady stream of leadership scandals; 5) the rise of the new atheism, and with it, the demonizing of the God of the Bible, especially the God of the Old Testament; 6) the ubiquity of the internet, instantly popularizing the latest anti-God statement and turning it into a viral meme; 7) the continued breakdown of the American family; 8) the increasing number of out and proud LGBTQ individuals, many of whom are friends and family members of Christians, causing the latter to question the Bible\u2019s teaching on homosexuality.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHistory teaches us that every generation must have a fresh, personal encounter with God, otherwise apostasy will set in. And that\u2019s where we find ourselves today. What are we going to do about it?\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n