Dark Glass Ponderings

Title: Family-Driven Faith: Doing what it takes to raise sons and daughters who walk with God
Author: Voddie Baucham
Publication Date: 2007
Publisher: Crossway Books


Rating: 4.5/5

**Special thanks to Amy Stephanson at Crossway Books for providing a review copy as part of the Homeschool Book Review Program.**

Simply stated Baucham's thesis is: "Our children are falling away because we are asking the church to do what God designed the family to accomplish" (7).  I've been reading Family-Driven Faith for a few weeks, because quite frankly this isn't a book to rush through.

After reading this book I would love to be able to hear Mr. Baucham in person.  His tone is unapologetic, honest, bold.  Although I haven't heard him speak this is a book to be preached from the pulpit.  At times that would turn me off, but in this case its very appropriate. 

Mr. Baucham boldly asks us, "Do you know where your children are spiritually?" Baucham has some opinions that are very unpopular in the culture and even at times among the church.

On dating: "Unless your child is wiser than Solomon, stronger than Samson, and more godly than David (all of whom sinned sexually), they are susceptible to sexual sin, and these premature relationships serve as open invitations." (21)

On idolatry: "We do marriage according to Dr. Phil, raise our children according to Dr. Spock, govern our sex lives according to Dr. Ruth, and only run to Dr. Jesus when things have gotten so bad we can't find another doctor to help us." (33)

On Christian homes: "Those who visit us should notice immediately that they have left the world of self-serving egocentric narcissism and have entered a safe harbor where people value and esteem others above themselves" (51).

Mr. Baucham begins the book by describing the problem.  More and more of our young people are walking away from their faith.  Why?  He argues parents are to blame.  We are the ones who should be discipling our children, not the pastors and youth leaders.  The church should merely be supporting parents in their role.  I am in resounding agreement with Mr. Baucham. 

He issues a fighting call to the church.  We cannot accept defeat, we cannot sit idly by as our children leave the church.  We must fight for our children!  We must live out an example for them.  We must teach our children worldview, so they can answer why they believe what they believe.

Mr. Baucham ends each chapter with a call to action, several suggestions for how to implement the chapter's teachings.  I leave you with a few of them to consider:

-Make a list of potential idols in your life.  Determine what you need to get out of your house and out of your schedule.

-Consider your relationship with your spouse from your child's perspective.  As they watch you and listen to you do they see a picture of biblical love?

-Try to carve out a time when your family can read the Bible together daily.  (We are currently reading the book of Matthew, with a five year old most of the time is spent answering questions...but I wish we all
had the curious minds of five-year-olds when it comes to God's word).

-Think about a weekly meal that will mark Sunday as the Lord's Day. (I had never even thought of this, but its a neat idea and I'm considering what I can do to make Sunday dinner more special in my family.)

In short, I LOVED this book!  I think it has so much to offer any family who desires to disciple their children, but may lack the know-how.  I hope I've whet your appetite for this excellent tome.

Disclosure: I received this book as part of the Crossway Homeschool Blogger Review Program.  My opinions are entirely my own.

Crossway's Blog: http://www.crossway.org/blog