Maintaining a Relationship with a Child Who Has "Left the Faith"

There's at least one family in every church, maybe more.  One of their children has "left their faith".  Some would call them "the prodigal".  No matter what you call it, there is hope!  And that's what we are sharing today.The Session: 5 Ways to Maintain a Relationship with a Child Who Has Left the FaithFrom Michelle S. Lazurek Romans 8:38-39    (Parents, Rest Assured)For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. According to Barna research, “three out of every five young Christians (59%) disconnect either permanently or for an extended period of time from church life after age 15.” This can be devastating for both parent and child. Parents can feel like failures because their children didn’t embrace their faith and leave a legacy for the next generations. Scott’s first take away and note of encouragement.  YOU AREN’T ALONE.  THERE ARE PROBABLY OTHERS IN YOUR CHURCH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. 5 Ways to Help When Your Child Has Left the Faith The most obvious and clear thing to do….Pray for them· Prayer is perhaps the best weapon you have in bringing restoration to a broken relationship.· Although God’s will is that no one should perish, he never forces it on anyone. The pain of free will is that people are free to make their own choices.Affirm Them· While you may not like their choices, they are still your child and need to hear your encouraging words.  For Scott, this was with his cousin, who decided to be gay and enter into a “civil union” in Michigan.· Celebrate their accomplishments and successes. Help them understand your love is not predicated on what they do but that you love them simply for who they are.  Understand Them· Instead of lecturing them or dispensing advice, have a heart-to-heart with them. Take them to their favorite restaurant or coffee shop and seek to simply listen. Practice active listening by not only hearing them but understanding them.Set the Example· Don’t stop living out your beliefs because they don’t want anything to do with faith. Keep living with your faith as the main focus and center of your life.· Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3:15).  Welcome Them· In the parable of the lost son, the father doesn’t chase after his prodigal son. He lets him go off to live his life as he wants to, on his own terms. Despite knowing what was best, he let his son come to that conclusion and return to him when he wanted