TOS Crew - Your Child's Profession of Faith

 

Grace and Truth Books is a Christian publishing ministry that doesn't merely follow the trends and offer fancy packaging but is an online bookstore with the purpose of glorifying God and offering material that will encourage people in their faith and help them find joy in following Jesus. They offered 10 selections of books to review and I was able to read Your Child's Profession of Faith by Dennis Gundersen (founder and president of Grace and Truth Books and also a Pastor for 27 years).

As a parent I always struggle between the desire that my children know Christ as their Savior and the fear that I am pushing them into a faith that is not genuine. What if your child asks to be saved? Is it a sincere desire or a passing fancy. Could it be simply for a reason as I saw with one of ours because they want to take communion? And am I brushing off a true desire? I was hoping this book would be a helpful guidebook in this area.

In Your Child's Profession of Faith, the author raises the questions: Are you instructing your children about the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you urging them to seek to know the Lord? They should be hearing a clear, resounding emphasis on the gospel...on what the Son of God came to do in seeking to save those who are lost. We should not merely be seeking to lead them to Christ by putting words in their mouths but creating an atmosphere in the home where they are at ease talking with us about knowing God.

This book reminds us of just how simplistic a child's thinking is. Even the bible makes that clear in 1 Cor. 13:11..."When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man I did away with childish things." He does agree that yes, children can be converted at a young age although we may not know with certainty. And children are changeable and easily deceived which is covered in detail.

The author goes on to discuss how there is a time in a child's life where everything revolves around learning obedience to godly parents through our loving training and that this is the preparation to learn the gospel and that we need to be patient that this will direct our children to Christ.

We must not rush them into a profession of faith and then baptism. And he does cover when your child is ready for baptism and some other counsel including questions for pastoral interviews with children about baptism. Ultimately, we must be wise and be content that our children are at a stage of learning the truths of God's Word and pray that He will burn these truths into their hearts. But also..urge them in every way to focus all their attention on coming to Him, Who is the Way.

I love the author's final blessing for us as parents. Here is a portion of that.

...May you be parents who see to it that, from childhood, your children know "the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 3:15). And may they, like Moses, in their mature years forsake the passing world and follow Him!

I feel like most of the books I read have something to do with raising children which is applicable for this season in my life. I probably should be more balanced in my reading. I did find this book very helpful and filled with scripture and insight and much encouragement.  This is not a book to glance over or one to read simply for enjoyment as there are nuggets of truth you do not want to miss and really need to process through. I think it would be a good book for discussion groups to bounce thoughts off of one another. Also a good read for Pastors especially on the subject of when a child is ready to be baptized.

Grace and Truth books has the book Your Child's Profession of Faith available on their website for $7.50 and in ebook form for $5.50.

**Disclaimer -- In exchange for my honest opinion I was given a complimentary copy of Your Child's Profession of Faith.