We, as parents, live in a fantastic and strange world—or should I say, a fantastically strange world. There’s no shortage of hullabaloo resources promising to make our kids safer, smarter, stronger, and more successful. And technology is lined up to “help” us: tablets, smartphones, laptops, commercial-free TV, on-demand movies, video games, apps for everything.
But here’s the strange part: while technology has made parenting easier in some ways, it’s also made parenting harder.
As a daddy of four (oldest is 7), I can testify. Technology brings new headaches that weren’t around “back in the day”: more battles to go play outside, more wrestling with downloads, more regulating streams, setting boundaries, negotiating screen time… and ironically, less actual conversation. Trying to figure out the right amount of tech in the right way? That’s no small task.
And yet, let’s be honest—it’s not just tech making parenting hard. Parenting today feels like drowning in a tidal wave of advice. Gluten-free snacks or regular? Organic or not? Breastfeeding or formula? Sports or more academics? What’s the perfect sleep training method? The best discipline philosophy? When should they move out of your bed? Are they too skinny? Too chunky? Do we vaccinate? Not vaccinate? Should we homeschool, private school, charter school, or—gasp—public school? And that’s just before they turn five. Whew.
Social media feeds overwhelm us with this stuff, promising “good parenting.” But just wait a twitter-tweeting minute! Isn’t something missing?
The Missing Piece
Nutrition, schooling, technology limits—important? Sure. But none of it points to the most important thing:
Christ-centered, gospel-driven discipleship.
Parenting is discipling.
I’m all for gadgets and gizmos. I’m a techie dad myself. I use them, update them, love them. I’m all for eating well, making wise decisions, and keeping my kids safe and healthy.
But as a Christian parent, my highest calling is not raising safe kids, smart kids, athletic kids, or even polite kids. It’s discipling my children to see, know, and savor the glory of God.
This means that most of my energy and creativity should bend toward knowing my kids so that I can shepherd their souls, pointing them to the triune God—Father, Son, Spirit—whose help they will desperately need for the rest of their lives. Neglecting this is not a small parenting mistake. It’s a dangerous abdication of our God-given charge.
The preface of the London Baptist Confession of Faith warns of this very thing:
“There is one spring and cause of the decay of [true] religion in our day… the neglect of the worship of God in our families, by those to whom the charge and conduct of them is committed.”
That was written in 1677, but it may as well have been posted yesterday. If worship is neglected in our cozy, gluten-free, keto-friendly, laughter-filled homes, our families are in danger of becoming a synagogue of Satan.
Wait! A synagogue of Satan?
Yes, you read that right. Let me explain.
Every unregenerate person, children included, is born with a hell-bent, hell-bound nature. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, listened to Satan instead of God. They traded safe, joyful communion with their Maker for rebellion and ruin. That same corruption runs through every one of us, including the giggly toddler in cute pajamas.
Without God’s saving grace, our little ones, no matter how sweet and snuggly, are lost rebels, naturally inclined toward Satan’s lies. They cannot change their nature. They cannot save themselves. And they will not see God as glorious.
Left to themselves, they will worship not in God’s temple but in Satan’s synagogue, chasing sin all the way to eternal destruction.
A Gospel Word
But here’s the good news and the hope you and I have access to: Jesus seeks and saves the lost. Read that again and again.
He calls hell-bound rebels to repent. He died and rose again to rescue sinners, young and old, from Satan’s dark domain. By His Spirit, He performs the miracle of new birth, transforming sinners into saints, tearing them out of the synagogue of Satan and placing them into the Church of Christ as beloved children of God.
This is why the whole point of parenting isn’t merely managing behavior or winning parent-of-the-year awards. It’s pointing our children to Jesus, pleading with God to do what only He can do: draw, adopt, and save.
Nursery of Heaven
Christian parent, God has called you to make your home a nursery for heaven, not a synagogue of Satan where His worship is neglected.
This means:
- Regularly opening your Bible, reading it, teaching it, trusting it, and living it.
- Songs of praise filling the air.
- Daddy loving Mommy, and Mommy honoring Daddy, displaying the gospel.
- A house of prayer and joy and laughter, where children gladly live under the name of Jesus daily.
We’re not aiming to just raise good kids with good habits. We’re crying out for godly kids, dazzled by the brilliance and mercy of a gracious Savior.
And here’s good news for tired, overwhelmed parents: God has given you everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). You are well-loved and well-equipped by Christ Himself.
Never Too Late
Maybe as you read this, you feel the sting of regret. Perhaps years of intentional, godly parenting have slipped by. You fear it’s too late, that you’ve already failed.
Listen closely: it’s never too late for grace to rewrite your story.
The gospel is for struggling parents as much as for wandering children. God delights to pour out mercy on those who humble themselves before Him. Even if you’ve sown years of neglect, Christ can restore the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25). By His Spirit, He can transform your home today into a nursery for heaven.
Start now. Start small. Pray aloud tonight. Read a single verse. Sing a simple song about Jesus. Don’t underestimate what God can do with a mustard seed of faith. Our Father loves to take weak, faltering efforts and breathe eternal life into them—for His glory and your children’s everlasting joy.
A Final Plea
Don’t let parenting fads and social media madness drown out your greatest calling.
Your soft, adorable angels are sinners, just like you. They need more than healthy snacks and screen-time limits. They need to be born again and grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus. And God has placed you as His chosen tool to lead them to the cross.
As Paul Tripp says,
“Nothing is more important in your life than being one of God’s tools to form a human soul.”
So pray often. Read Scripture aloud. Sing gospel truths. Laugh much. Forgive quickly. Speak of grace constantly. Little by little, teach your kids about sin, salvation, and the Savior.
Yes, I’ll rejoice if my 3-year-old finally swallows his food instead of hiding it in his cheeks. I’ll celebrate weeks without sickness and sleep-filled nights. But nothing… nothing… will bring me greater joy than to one day see my children walking in the truth (3 John 1:4).
Let’s not get lost in this fantastically strange parenting world. With God’s help, let’s raise our homes as nurseries for heaven, where children see Christ in us and, by His mercy, come to love Him forever.
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