Raising Godly Children in a Secular World

Victoria Olukanni

March, 2025

Introduction

Raising godly children in a secular world feels like a struggle against the odds. The values of faith, integrity, and morality often clash with the fast-paced, pleasure-driven culture that surrounds us. Every day, children are bombarded with messages from social media, entertainment, and even their peers that promote self-indulgence, compromise, and a life without boundaries. As parents, the challenge isn’t just to shield them from negative influences but to equip them with the strength and wisdom to navigate a secular world while holding firm to godly principles.

Consider the story of David and Susan, a Christian couple raising three children. Despite attending church regularly and teaching their kids about the Bible, they noticed their teenage son, Mark, becoming distant. He started questioning the relevance of faith, influenced by his friends and online content that mocked Christianity. David and Susan had to rethink their approach, not just teaching their children about God but showing them how to apply faith in a practical, everyday way. Their story reflects the growing challenge Christian parents face today: how to make faith real and meaningful in a culture that often rejects it.

So, how can parents raise children who not only know about God but also develop a strong, personal relationship with Him, one that stands firm even when the world pulls them in the opposite direction? Below are some practical and insightful ways to nurture godly children in a secular world.

Build a Strong Spiritual Foundation Early

Raising godly children starts with laying a solid spiritual foundation while they are still young. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This verse highlights the importance of starting early when a child’s heart and mind are most open to learning and forming habits that will last a lifetime.

Children are naturally curious and impressionable, making the early years the perfect time to introduce them to the principles of faith. Just like a house needs a firm foundation to withstand storms, children need a strong spiritual base to navigate the pressures and challenges of life. When faith is woven into the fabric of daily life, it becomes more than just a set of rules, it becomes a way of living.

1. Teach Them Scripture and Prayer

Children should grow up hearing God’s Word regularly. Reading Bible stories, memorizing verses, and discussing biblical principles help them understand God’s character and His expectations for their lives. For example, parents can make Bible reading a daily habit, even if it’s just a few verses before bedtime.

Prayer should also be part of everyday life. Encourage children to pray about everything, from school challenges to friendships and even small personal concerns. When children learn that they can talk to God about anything, it helps them develop a personal relationship with Him.

A good case study is Sarah, who is a single mom, she started reading Bible stories to her sons every night before bed. When one of her sons was nervous about a big test at school, Sarah encouraged him to pray about it. After the test, he came home excited, saying, “I prayed, and I didn’t feel scared anymore!” This experience taught him that God listens and cares about even the smallest details of his life.

1. Live Out Your Faith at Home

Children learn more from what they see than what they hear. If parents want their children to trust God and follow His ways, they need to demonstrate it through their own actions. This includes being kind, forgiving, patient, and honest, even when it’s difficult.

Parents who consistently show love and grace, apologize when they make mistakes, and treat others with respect teach their children that faith isn’t just about going to church, it’s about how you live every day.

1. Encourage Faith-Based Conversations

Children will have questions about God and life, and it’s important to create an environment where they feel comfortable asking them. Instead of shutting down difficult questions, engage in honest conversations and guide them to discover answers in the Bible.

When children understand why they believe what they believe, they’re more likely to hold on to their faith even when it’s challenged. Parents should be open about their own faith journeys, including doubts and struggles, to show that faith grows through real-life experiences.

A good example of this is John and Mary’s daughter, Anna; she came home one day confused about evolution after a school lesson. Instead of dismissing her concerns, they sat down with her, explored both scientific and biblical perspectives, and helped her see how faith and science can coexist. This strengthened Anna’s confidence in her faith and equipped her to respond thoughtfully when classmates challenged her beliefs.

1. Build a Routine Around Faith

Consistency matters when building a spiritual foundation. Just like brushing teeth or doing homework, faith should be part of a child’s daily routine. Establish family devotions, pray together before meals, and make attending church a priority.

Children thrive on routines because they create a sense of security and belonging. When faith practices become a natural part of daily life, they become ingrained in a child’s identity.

• Teach by Example in Handling Life’s Challenges

Children need to see how faith works in real life. When parents face difficult times; financial stress, illness, or disappointment, they should show their children how to lean on God through prayer, Scripture, and trust. This teaches children that faith isn’t just for good times; it’s a source of strength during hardships.

A story is told of how Mr. David lost his job, he was honest with his children about the situation. He prayed with them every night, asking God for provision and guidance. When a job opportunity finally came through, David reminded his children that God had answered their prayers. This experience taught them that God is faithful, even when times are tough.

Building a strong spiritual foundation early helps create a structure for children to fall back on when they face peer pressure, doubts, and life’s challenges. Children who know God’s Word, understand how to pray, and see faith modeled at home are more likely to remain rooted in their beliefs, even when the world tries to pull them away.

Starting early doesn’t guarantee a perfect journey of faith, but it ensures that children have the tools they need to navigate life with God’s guidance. Faith, when planted early and nurtured consistently, grows into a lifelong relationship with God that can withstand the pressures of a secular world.

Teach Critical Thinking and Discernment

In a secular world where conflicting ideas and values are constantly presented to children, teaching them critical thinking and discernment is essential. It’s not enough for children to simply know what they believe, they need to understand why they believe it and be able to distinguish truth from falsehood. Without this foundation, they risk being swayed by peer pressure, popular culture, and misleading information.

The Bible encourages discernment in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, which says, “Test all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” This verse underscores the importance of evaluating everything through the lens of God’s truth. Teaching children to think critically helps them develop a faith that is not just inherited from their parents but personal and deeply rooted.

1. Encourage Questions and Open Dialogue

Children are naturally curious, and they will encounter situations that challenge their beliefs, whether it’s about the existence of God, morality, or social issues. Instead of discouraging difficult questions, parents should create a safe space for open conversations. When children feel comfortable expressing their doubts and seeking answers, they are more likely to develop a faith that withstands challenges.

For instance, when Anna, a teenager, started questioning the reliability of the Bible after hearing her teacher call it outdated, her parents didn’t dismiss her concerns. Instead, they sat down with her, discussed historical and archaeological evidence supporting Scripture, and encouraged her to research further. This approach strengthened Anna’s confidence in the Bible and taught her how to critically evaluate conflicting views rather than accepting them at face value.

2. Teach Them to Measure Ideas Against Scripture

Not every popular idea or trend aligns with biblical truth. Children need to learn how to evaluate messages from social media, entertainment, and even their peers through the filter of Scripture. Teach them to ask key questions like:

Does this align with God’s Word?

What are the long-term consequences of following this path?

Does this promote godly values or selfish desires?

By learning to measure ideas against biblical truth, children develop the ability to stand firm in their faith without being influenced by every new trend or opinion. Teaching critical thinking and discernment empowers children to develop a strong, personal faith that isn’t easily shaken. It helps them engage thoughtfully with the world while remaining anchored in God’s truth, a skill that will serve them for life.

Model Godly Living

One of the most powerful ways to raise godly children in a secular world is by modeling godly living. Children learn more from what they see than from what they are told. Parents are their children’s first examples of faith, integrity, and character. If children see their parents living out biblical values consistently, they are more likely to adopt those values themselves.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 emphasizes this principle: “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” This passage highlights that faith should not be confined to church or special occasions, it should be part of everyday life.

Children observe how their parents handle challenges, relationships, and moral decisions. If they see parents responding to conflict with patience and forgiveness, practicing honesty even when it’s difficult, and showing kindness to others, they will learn that faith is not just about belief but about action. Conversely, if they see hypocrisy, parents preaching one thing but doing another, it can create confusion and weaken their trust in biblical values.

For example, Paul and Rebecca made it a point to pray together as a family every morning and discuss how they could apply biblical principles in their daily lives. When Paul faced a tough situation at work, instead of compromising his integrity, he chose to do the right thing even though it cost him a promotion. His children witnessed this decision and learned that faith sometimes requires sacrifice, but honoring God is always more important than worldly gain.

Modeling godly living means showing children that faith is practical and relevant. When parents demonstrate love, humility, and obedience to God in everyday life, they provide a blueprint for their children to follow. Children raised in this kind of environment are more likely to internalize faith, not just as a belief system, but as a way of life.

Surround Them with a Faith-Based Community

Raising godly children in a secular world is not a task that parents should take on alone. Surrounding children with a strong faith-based community provides them with the support and positive influence they need to grow spiritually. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Being part of a community of like-minded believers helps reinforce biblical values and gives children a sense of belonging.

In a world where secular values are often at odds with Christian principles, children need to see that they are not alone in their faith. A faith-based community, whether it’s a church, youth group, or Bible study helps provide a safe space where they can build meaningful friendships, ask hard questions, and grow in their understanding of God’s Word. It also introduces them to mentors and role models who can guide and encourage them when facing challenges.

For example, Casey, a teenager, struggled with feeling like an outsider at school because of his Christian values. But when he joined his church’s youth group, he met other teens who shared his beliefs. This gave him the confidence to stand by his convictions, knowing that he had a support system that understood and encouraged his faith journey.

A faith-based community also gives children the opportunity to see faith in action. When they participate in service projects, mission trips, or prayer meetings, they learn that faith is not just about attending church; it’s about living out God’s love in the world. This creates a deeper connection to their faith and helps them develop a personal sense of purpose.

By surrounding children with a strong, supportive faith community, parents give them the tools to stay grounded in their beliefs even when the world tries to pull them in a different direction. A strong community helps children see that following God is not only possible but rewarding, even in a secular world.

Teach Faith Over Religious Routines

It’s easy to fall into the trap of raising children to follow a set of religious rules rather than cultivating a genuine relationship with God. While teaching children biblical principles and moral guidelines is important, it’s even more crucial to help them understand that their faith should be rooted in a personal connection with God, not just in following rules.

Jesus highlighted this distinction in Matthew 22:37-38 when He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” Faith isn’t just about doing the right things; it’s about knowing and loving God. If children are taught only to obey rules without understanding why or building a relationship with God, their faith can become shallow and easily shaken when tested.

Encourage children to turn to God in prayer when they face challenges or uncertainties. Let them see that God is not just a distant figure enforcing rules but a loving Father who cares about every detail of their lives. Teach them that obedience flows naturally from love and trust in God, not from fear of punishment or a sense of obligation.

Children who develop a personal relationship with God are more likely to stay grounded in their faith, even when faced with challenges. Teaching them to rely on God, rather than just following a list of rules, helps them build a faith that is real, personal, and enduring.

Conclusion

Raising godly children in a secular world is challenging, but it’s not impossible. By building a strong spiritual foundation, encouraging critical thinking, modeling faith, fostering a supportive community, and teaching reliance on God, parents can equip their children to stand firm in their faith. The goal isn’t to shield them from the world but to give them the tools and confidence to navigate it with wisdom and grace.

Like David and Susan, parents who invest in their children’s faith journey early are laying the groundwork for a lifetime of spiritual strength and resilience. Children who are taught to trust God, think critically, and live out their faith in everyday life are more likely to make wise decisions and remain grounded even when faced with opposing values. Ultimately, raising godly children is not about creating perfect kids but about guiding them to develop a genuine relationship with God; one that will sustain them through life’s challenges and lead them to fulfill their God-given purpose.