I’ve previously shared how parents can pass along a lasting faith to their kids. In a nutshell, there are two things parents should do:
- Live out an authentic, vibrant faith themselves
- Help their children develop spiritual habits, like regular prayer and Scripture reading
But as times change and technology brings us increased convenience, I’ve wondered if an unintended consequence is that, in some areas, our digital life could potentially undermine our efforts to model the faith?
Let me explain.
Have you ever given your tithe online? Have you ever done your daily Bible reading on your tablet or smartphone?
Many of us do, and there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, I like to walk and listen to the Bible on my phone.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of digital conveniences. But what if by doing so, we’re unintentionally shortchanging our kids of opportunities to see us live out our faith?
Does not seeing mom or dad write out a check every other week and dropping it into the offering plate make it more difficult to pass on the practice of tithing?
Does watching us take out our phones instead of our actual Bibles Sunday mornings at church mean something gets lost in translation in the minds of our young sons or daughters?
I can’t help but wonder if sometimes these modern habits mean parents are missing opportunities to model the faith by example. Are we making it more difficult for our kids to “catch” the faith?
I’m not suggesting we should stop giving online or stop reading or listening to our Bible on our phones. I’m just wondering if parents should adjust how they communicate and model spiritual disciplines in these areas.
I’m curious to hear from you. Do you think we need to be more intentional to teach faith concepts to our kids in a virtual age? How do you make sure your children “catch” the spiritual disciplines of giving and Bible reading?
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