I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2).
There are all kinds of little "g" gospels. These are messages we preach to ourselves citing the (false) reasons God will surely love and accept us.
- There's the gospel of association: "I'm a Christian because I was raised in a Christian home."
- There's the gospel of achievement: "God loves me because I do so much for Him."
- There's the gospel of comparison: "I am holy because I'm not as messed up as she is."
These are all false gospels. Association, achievement, and comparison will never give us victory over our sin.
There is a little "g" gospel that is particularly dangerous and tempting as we parent. It's the gospel of goodness. "God will love me if I am a very, very good boy or girl."
But there is another little "g" gospel that is particularly dangerous and tempting as we parent. It's the gospel of goodness. "God will love me if I am a very, very good boy or girl."
We preach this gospel to our children when we give them the impression that church is about sitting quietly through a sermon. We do it when we try to spackle over our own junk whenever we head into church or gather with other Christians. We do it when we reduce the Bible down to a list of don'ts. We do it when we believe the lie that parenthood is about raising well-behaved children rather than radicals for Christ.
When Paul wrote this first letter to the church in Corinth, he wanted to get one thing straight—there was only one gospel he cared to preach. It was the only gospel with any power after all. It's Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Jesus' death on the cross is the only way you and your kids can:
- have power over sin.
- be reconciled to God.
- live holy lives in a corrupt and godless generation.
- be salt and light to your lost neighbors and friends.
The good boy/good girl gospel will never get you or your kids there. Only Jesus Christ and Him crucified ever can.
The good boy/good girl gospel will never get you or your kids there. Only Jesus Christ and Him crucified ever can.
I realize there are levels and ranges of spiritual maturity with our kids and grandkids. I'm not advocating you show your two-year-old The Passion of the Christ or try to explain propitiation to your preschooler. But I think Paul's creed is a good one: I am here to preach Christ and Him crucified. No little "g" gospel will work instead. The message my children need to hear me preaching most often is that Jesus paid the price for their sin. His love and acceptance of them is not rooted in their ability to be good.
As we seek to influence children who know Christ and ultimately devote our lives to Him, let's seek to preach the gospel of grace, not goodness.
Join the Discussion