Christian Parenting Advice: 8 Ways to Protect Your Kids from the Woke World
As Christian parents, one of our biggest desires is to protect our kids from the evils of this woke world. This may be easy in their younger years when our children are constantly by our side, but what about when they get a little older?
How Do Christian Parents Protect Their Kids From the Woke World?
As they mature through different stages of life, how do you protect your older elementary kids, tweens, and teens from the dangerous ideologies that seem to be everywhere? If you're looking for Christian parenting advice relevant to our woke culture, here are the best tips to help you insulate and protect your kids from these negative mindsets.
#1. Be Godly Role Models
Matthew 7:15 says, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." This is never more relevant than in today's culture. People who are supposed to care for our kids aren't always who they seem to be.
#2. Guide Kids in the Truth
Later, in Matthew 18:6, Jesus warns, "If anyone causes one of these little ones— those who believe in Me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Christian parents must take this call seriously and guide kids in the truth.
#3. Teach Children to Love God
As a parent, your number one role is to teach and train your kids to leave and to love the Lord with all their hearts. By the time they reach adulthood, your goal is to help them be ready to leave the nest and honor God in all they do.
#4. Discuss Other Beliefs and Perspectives
Parenting is not easy. Especially as our kids grow in their independence and develop their own opinions, it can be scary to express a different perspective and help them talk through new ideas. Thankfully, Scripture gives us guidance on how to do this:
- Deuteronomy 6 talks about how to teach our children.
- Proverbs 22 discusses training our kids to walk in God's ways.
- Genesis 2 gives us insight to help equip them to leave the nest.
- Matthew 22 provides wisdom to help them learn to love the Lord with all their hearts.
#5. Protect Kids from Harmful Environments
The problem is that our world is not a kid-friendly environment. It reminds me of a time I took our grandkids to the zoo. My greatest fear was that they would escape my grasp and wander into one of the habitats of the wild animals. The zoo is dangerous. Those habitats aren’t designed for kids. Similarly, Christian parents can’t let their kids slip away into environments that aren't safe for them.
#6. Expose the Lies and Deceit of a Woke Worldview
Unfortunately, our current culture teaches an ideology of wokeism that goes against a Biblical worldview at every turn. If we don't help our kids develop a Christian worldview based on Scripture, they will easily fall prey to the deceptions of the enemy.
#7. Instill the Word of God in Their Hearts and Minds
Deuteronomy 6:4–9 says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
#8. Talk With Your Kids
Parents, we are the number one source of guidance and discipline for our children. The best way to guide them is through discussion. So how do you talk about tough topics with your kids?
The best way to do this is to center your conversations around the five aspects of us that make up our worldview.
What 5 Aspects Shape our Worldviews?
#1. Thoughts
Our culture says the thoughts we think become our identity. For example, your child might have a classmate who just came out as gay, or maybe their teacher is teaching a woke ideology. As you discuss the things your kids are thinking through, it's crucial to help them filter these ideas and compare them against what the Bible says.
#2. Identity
Your child's identity is at stake. Unfortunately, people put their identities in the wrong places in our world. Some put their identity in their political views, material possessions, social status, and even social media following. We must teach our kids to put their identity in Christ above all else. Talk with them about who they are and what their identity means.
#3. Emotions
The woke culture teaches that what you feel becomes fact. You need to help your kids understand that emotions change, but the truth does not. First, you should validate their feelings. You need to let them know that what they're going through is important to you. Don't shut them down. Truly listen. Next, help them separate the emotion from the truth. Don't let them camp out in that feeling forever. Finally, you can help educate them on what Scripture says about the situation they’re facing and develop action steps that align with God's Word.
#4. Actions
We are living in a culture where sin is celebrated. We can't just turn our kids over to the school system to learn what’s right and wrong. Deuteronomy 5:32–33 says, "So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."
#5. Accountability
Many parents don't want to deal with the drama of keeping up with what their kids are learning. They say, "I don't even want to know what my son is doing with his computer and I don't even want to know what's on his phone." Yes, you do. The wolf of wokeism is eating your child alive. As parents, it's our job to protect them and guide them to understand how to behave according to Scripture.
Help Kids Establish Their Own Belief Systems
If we focus on these five elements, we can help our kids think critically about the things happening around them. These discussions are crucial as they prepare for adulthood. We should do more than this, though. We also need to set an example in how we engage with the world in these two ways:
Stand Firm in Your Convictions
Your children may, at times, sway with the wind of culture. They may make decisions or have opinions you disagree with. As a parent, you can’t change your convictions based on your child's choices. Let them see a good example of how to live a Biblical life. Because of your love, they will see that God's way is also loving, and is the best for their life.
Engage the System
Because we care about what messages our kids are internalizing, we must take advantage of every opportunity to interact with our communities.
Try to understand the curriculum being taught to them in school. Parents have the right to know what teachers are teaching. Your children are some of your most precious loved ones, so you deserve to know what they are learning for eight hours of the day.
And then, you have the power to vote for local government officials and school board members whose decisions align with Biblical truth.
Ask the Lord to Help You Raise Godly Children
As you train your children to walk in God's ways, no Christian parent can do it all without God's help. So pray this prayer with me as you ask God to help you in your parenting.
A Prayer for Christian Parents
Heavenly Father, you are the perfect parent. You know what it means to love and protect your children. As I learn to parent my kids well, I pray for endurance and discernment. Please help me learn how to teach them to have a Biblical worldview. Help me protect them from the deceptive lies of the world. Bless our home with good conversation and help trust to be built as we discuss complex issues together. And above all else, help us understand your will for us according to your Word. Amen.
Next Steps
If you want to get engaged with a supportive church community and be encouraged in your efforts to raise Godly children, we welcome you to join us in person or online at Fellowship Church. Together we can protect our kids from worldly influences and raise up a new generation for Christ.