Inspite of Me or Because of Me!

One Sunday, our pastor reminded us of a common phrase that he uses when it comes to passing down our faith: "We are borrowing our parents faith until we come of age and gain an understanding of the Gospel. It is at that point we have to decide if it is our faith." I've heard him say this a few times in the time that I have known him, but it struck me differently yesterday. It made me wonder, if this is true, what faith are my children borrowing from me in my husband?

There's a little debate about what the age of accountability is, or at what point do we truly understand what is the gospel and become aware of our sin in such a way that we have to make that decision to make Jesus the Lord of our lives, or not. Some believe it is earlier on in childhood, while others believe it is not possible to fully grasp that until we are adults.

In Matthew we find one of Jesus' teachings on faith:

"Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. 'I assure you,' He said, 'unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me.'" (Matthew 18:2–5, HCSB)

In the greater context of this verse, he was discussing the idea of who would be greater in heaven and who would sit at his side on the throne. He was speaking to adults and reminding them that their faith was not about the greater or lesser, it was about a simple faith in understanding in who he was and their role in his plan. As adults, we tend to overcomplicate things that can be so simple a child can understand them. We learned a song as children in the church that declared, "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so, little ones to him belong they are weak but he is strong. Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so."

If our children understand such a simple gospel, and such a simple faith, then I go back to my original question: what faith are they borrowing from me and my husband? My immediate prayer was, "Father, draw them to you in spite of me, or because of me! But please do it in a way that only you get the glory. Amen." This doesn't make me super spiritual, rather it convicted me to my core that more often than not God may have to draw my kids to him in spite of me.

But I know I am not alone in that arena!