“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts.” Ps. 145:4

Why do so many parents take a “hands-off” approach to matters of faith when it comes to their children? Many Christian parents demonstrate more concern about being politically correct and tolerant than assuming responsibility for teaching their children the truth about who God is, why the world is the way it is, and what God has done about it. Sadly, many grandparents are equally silent on matters of faith—deadly silent.

God is very clear about His expectation for parents and grandparents to tell the next generations the story of God’s faithfulness. True, there are more than enough tragic examples of parents and grandparents who have hypocritically forced the “truth” on their children, and in doing so turned them away from God’s grace. But the sad reality is that more of us say little or nothing at all. The prevalent attitude is “We just want our kids to figure it out on their own and choose what they think is good for them without undue pressure from us”. Excuse me…hello! Our role and responsibility is to show them and instruct them in the truth. Silence on matters regarding the eternal destiny of their souls is deadly.

That’s why Psalm 78 was written. The author vows to not hide anything from the next generations, but to tell them everything about God’s greatness and the amazing things He has done on their behalf. Why? So that they might not fall prey to the same stubborn, rebellious spirit of their forefathers, of which examples are plenteous. Instead, they would put their trust in God and follow Him because it is the way of Life—life with a capital “L”.

We can choose to remain silent, but the enemy will not. To silently abandon our responsibility is to effectively sentence our children and grandchildren to death. That will not happen on my watch. What about you?

I realize that some grandparents are up against huge challenges and obstacles when it comes to talking about their faith. But consider the alternative to doing nothing. Granted, wisdom is needed and prayer is the launch pad for both wisdom and preparing the soil for God’s intervention. Never forget what your life can “say” just by the way you live.

Silence resulting from fear or intimidation is a deadly silence because it withholds the truth from those who need to hear it.

GRANDPAUSE: Is it wise to leave massive questions about life, death, and eternity hanging in the air? – John Blanchard