By Anthony Gammage
Last week one of my elementary-aged children came home and asked if I would help them better define the term “lesbian” because it was the topic of the day at recess. Unfortunately, this didn’t surprise me seeing that we recently had a similar conversation with our other child about a potentially transgendered classmate in their school.
The reality is that all of our kids are being shaped on this topic as I type. Unfortunately, it is often not by God’s Word. Their little minds are more likely being shaped by social media, television, or their friends at school. So how can we, as Christian parents, better prepare our children to think Biblically about this topic?
- Pray – Remember, your children are in a cosmic battle for their souls (Eph. 6:12). They desperately need our prayers asking the Lord to woo their little hearts to Him and the things He loves.
- Be proactive – It is easier to form a child’s thoughts on sex than to change them, so get there before other voices do. Showing them God’s good design for sex is a much better starting point than simply responding to their questions regarding homosexuality. And be a safe place for them. This stuff can be shocking, but if we gasp every time they bring it up, they’ll quickly find someone else to talk to about it.
- Build your own Biblical grid on this topic so you can in turn help your child wrestle through what they are hearing in a way that honors Christ. Here are a few trusted resources on the topic of homosexuality for you to reference. Read them well, internalize them, and then translate them to your kids. If you have high school or college students, read them together.
- The Bible – Our most important text!
- What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? By Kevin DeYoung
- Is God Anti-Gay? By Sam Allberry
- Compassion Without Compromise By Barr and Citlau
- The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert By Rosaria Butterfield
May the Lord give us grace and mercy as we take these steps of faith.