Family: A Redemptive Community

Encouragement for Parents of Teenagers 695x181

Family: A Redemptive Community

Redemptive CommunityIn the context of family, it is hard to hide reality. We may all “put on a good face” for work, school, even church, but who we really are and what we are going through is revealed at home. The harsh realities of sin and The Fall should make the love of God and the power of the Cross even more amazing. When we humbly admit our sin and face our need for Jesus as parents and children, the family can be a truly redemptive community.

Two Responses
When God reveals sin in our lives, there are two possible responses for the Christian.

  • ONE: Justify your wrong behavior, wrong desires, and make them acceptable to your own conscience.
  • TWO: Admit your sin, confess it to God and man, and fall under the mercy of Christ.

Parents who do this second option will develop a home that functions as a redemptive community where children are taught to rely on Christ, to confess their sin, and to believe that where sin abounds, grace abounds even more. They will grow up to be people of hope who have seen lives transformed.
Parents who make response ONE the norm will by example teach their children to hide their sin, to explain it away, to deny its existence, or to blame others.

Admit your Own Sin

The key to a redemptive community where the Gospel is the glue to holding the family together is parents who trust in Christ so completely, that they are ready and willing to confess their faults to their children. This is not the time to talk about all your past sins or even current fears about your job or finances. Confess your sins as it is relevant to the family. When you lose your temper, when you too quickly answer or react without hearing a matter, when you embarrass someone, when you fail to keep your word, when you speak to a shop keeper harshly, etc. admit your fault and ask for forgiveness. Jesus biggest problem with the religious leaders of His day was their false self-righteousness and hypocrisy. I (Pastor Mark) believe the reason so many young adults leave the church after they leave home is that they didn’t see parents living their faith out in front of them. As we first hold ourselves and then our children to God’s high standards, our teens will see their utter need for Christ and realize they just can’t do it on their own.

Seekers of God’s Grace

When the Word is held high as the standard for EVERYONE in the family, then the message of redemption in Jesus Christ is seen as the only true hope. As the Holy Spirit works through faithful Christian parents who give up their own desires for comfort and ease, our proud, selfish, self-defending, self-excusing, self-righteous teenagers will become seekers of God’s grace.

This is not easy stuff! As I’m writing this, I am reminded of too many missed opportunities where my own pride kept me from admitting my sin and asking forgiveness of my children. I’m praying for you too. Let me know how I can help or better serve you and your family.

in HIS service,

Pastor Mark

P.S. The themes and main ideas come from Paul David Tripp’s book “Age of Opportunity”. I’m summarizing what I read, adding my own thoughts and Scripture too.

You can read past posts on our church website HERE.