“As a pastor, I often frame things in biblical or theological terms. I believe in something called ‘deceitful heart syndrome’ (I get the name from Jeremiah 17:9). The idea is that our own hearts (or minds) deceive us, often because of pride.” - Kokomo Tribune
“When doubts or questions arise, parents should take advantage of these teachable moments by unpacking the hope-giving truths of the gospel. Even if the child is genuinely a believer, it certainly won’t hurt them to hear the promises of the gospel afresh.” - Rooted Thinking
“…the difficulty of discovering some truths ought not blind us to the preponderance of evidence. Anecdotally—which is the first step of empiricism, and was the only step available before the scientific revolution—marijuana produces potheads, dropouts, deadbeats. Empirically, Berenson shows that in many people marijuana does something worse.” - Mark Ward
“…if we rail against the government, communicate that we think these rules are stupid, thumb our nose at their spoken desire to protect us, and refuse to heed their orders or guidelines, then we are telling our children that we only listen to authorities whenever we agree. If we do this, we’re setting a horrible example.” - Mike Leake
“You lost it, you’re furious, and you feel like a total failure. You yelled, slammed the door, or hit the table. Then the shame and guilt set in. ‘These are my precious children. What am I thinking? What can I do?’” - Challies
“Much of what children consume may be entertaining, fun, and colorful…. Knowing and embracing unchanging truth dispels fear in these troubling times. This is just as true for children as it is for us.” - David Michael
“The context of [1 Tim. 3:4-5] is the biblical qualifications for church overseers. It’s a passage of Scripture that’s created a great deal of stress for church leaders who have a wayward son or daughter or who have a child who appears out of control.” - F&T
“Here’s that moment we should be ready for as a parent. No, not just gender identity, but also, ‘Mom, I don’t know if I believe in God,’ or, ‘Mom I’m pregnant’… the list is endless. But the question is, how do you respond in that exact moment? Here’s where I would encourage parents to consider four helpful practices.” - Jonathan McKee
“We live in a world that tells us endlessly to look within, discover who you are, and be true to yourself. For parents, it can be bewildering how this message has been absorbed by our children. Let me therefore suggest five—admittedly broad-brush—thoughts on helping your teenage kids navigate the modern maze of messages.” - TGC
