On this episode of Church on the Block, we explore the challenges of raising children in faith and shared our personal struggles. We want to provide insights and lessons for parents and guardians navigating the same path.

The Challenges of Raising Children in Faith

Pastor Phil and DJ Ruckus opened up about the difficulties they faced while raising their children in faith. Pastor Phil confessed that he didn’t realize the challenge until his kids became teenagers and started questioning their beliefs. His son even asked him how he knew they still believed in God. DJ Ruckus’ oldest daughter, who got involved in the LGBT lifestyle, had many questions about God that he didn’t know how to answer.

Pastor Phil echoed these sentiments, sharing his struggles with the distraction of phones in church. He reminisced about the times when his kids enjoyed being in church and being involved in the community, but now they find it boring. He admitted that he may have unintentionally overwhelmed them with his involvement in ministry and hip hop culture.

The Desire for Independent Faith

Both pastors expressed their desire for their children to have their own relationship with God, separate from their parents’ beliefs. They want to find a balance between setting expectations and allowing their children to explore their faith on their own. Pastor Phil reflected on the challenges Christian parents face in trying to pass on their faith to their children. He acknowledged that sometimes their efforts, although well-intentioned, may inadvertently cause harm if they are not relevant or relatable to the younger generation.

The Younger Generation’s Perspective on God

Pastor Phil had the opportunity to interview some young people about their faith and their generation’s perspective on God. One young person named Tyler expressed the need for patience and grace from the older generation in teaching them how to build a connection with God. Tyler also mentioned the importance of going to church and feeling the different energy there.

Another young person named D shared his perspective on his generation’s faith. He mentioned that faith in God is often held back due to their own standards and the fear of appearing weak. He suggested that they may have seen examples of people who believe in God being perceived as weak.

The Influence of Upbringing on Faith

The conversation then shifted to the influence of upbringing on faith. Rock Boy shared his experience of being raised in a church where he felt forced to attend without truly understanding the concept of faith. He questioned the effectiveness of this approach and suggested that young people need to learn about God on their own rather than solely relying on pastors and preachers.

The Importance of Being Open-Minded

Pastor Phil and Pastor Jay discussed the importance of being open-minded and allowing young people to find their own path in faith. Pastor Jay shared his experience with his daughter, who is in a same-sex marriage. He explained that while he may not agree with her lifestyle, he supports her and encourages her to explore her own relationship with God.

The Influence of Secular Music and Church Services Length

Pastor Phil and Pastor Jay also discussed the influence of secular music on their children and the importance of finding a balance. They admitted that they used to be strict about not allowing secular music in their house, but realized that their kids still ended up listening to it due to outside influences. They learned to back off and instead encouraged them to be conscious of the type of music they were listening to.

In addition to music, they discussed the length of church services. They mentioned that some young people feel that church services should be shorter, but they believe that as long as the word of God is relevant and there is time for fellowship and testimonies, the length of the service is not the main issue.

Conclusion

The conversation concluded with Pastor Phil expressing gratitude for the insights shared by the young people. He emphasized the importance of being an example and living a life that plants the right seeds for their children’s faith. They also discussed the need for relevance in ministry and how some churches may not be connecting with young people due to outdated practices.

They highlighted the importance of providing relevant information and creating spaces that make sense for young people to explore their faith. They also touched on the generational differences in beliefs and the need for open dialogue and understanding between generations.

Church on the Block is now on Instagram! Give us a follow and let us know your thoughts on the show. Remember to tune in Sunday mornings at 10 am est. | 9 am cst. on Holy Culture Radio, Sirius XM, Channel 154.

TIMECODES REFERENCE

Raising Kids in the Faith [00:02:45] Pastor Phil and DJ Ruckus discuss the challenges of raising kids in the faith, including their own experiences with their children’s doubts and questions about God.

Challenges of Teenagers [00:03:32] Discussion about the difficulties they faced when their kids became teenagers, including their kids’ lack of interest in church and their own struggles to answer tough questions.

Respecting Individual Journeys [00:07:42] DJ Ruckus shares his son’s perspective on allowing his sisters to develop their own relationship with God and not forcing his beliefs on them. They also discuss the uncertainty of one of their kids’ beliefs in God.

The challenges of raising kids in the faith [00:09:36] Discussion on the difficulties Christian parents face in teaching their children about their faith and building a solid foundation in Christ.

The perspective of young people on faith [00:10:34] Interview with young people about their views on faith and their generation’s connection to God, including the need for patience and guidance from older generations.

Loss of faith and negative experiences [00:16:47] Aniya shares her perspective on young people’s disconnection from faith due to negative experiences and blaming higher powers for unfulfilled desires.

Young people’s view of faith [00:19:00] Discussion on how young people in this generation perceive faith and their beliefs.

Reasons for disbelief [00:20:17] Exploration of the factors that hold young people back from believing in God, such as societal standards and fear of being perceived as weak.

The influence of upbringing on faith [00:22:34] Insight into how being raised in a religious environment may impact a young person’s understanding and commitment to their faith.

The message should be shorter [00:29:07] Pastor Phil and Pastor Jay discuss the need for shorter messages in church and how it relates to the attention span of the younger generation.

The importance of good vibes in church [00:34:26] The hosts emphasize the need for a positive and welcoming atmosphere in church to keep people engaged and interested.

Keep the faith [00:35:29] The hosts encourage both the older and younger generations to maintain their faith and belief in God.

Finding Your Own Path [00:36:34] Discussion on the importance of young people finding their own path in faith and the need for adults to be more open-minded.

Parenting a Child in the LGBT Community [00:37:20] DJ Ruckus shares his experience of accepting and supporting his daughter in her same-sex marriage, while acknowledging his own limitations in understanding her lifestyle.

The Need for Relevance in Ministry [00:40:59] The importance of churches and ministries being relevant to young people’s lives, including the use of music genres like hip hop and creating spaces that make sense to them.

The challenges of raising kids in the faith [00:45:36] Discussion about the negative influences on kids, the need for maturity, and the importance of concise sermons.

Finding a balance with secular and Christian music [00:46:24] The struggle of parents to control their children’s music choices and the importance of being conscious of what they listen to.

The power of forgiveness and God’s love [00:51:09] A story about a father’s search for his son and the message of forgiveness and love in the Bible.