Preparing Your Kids to Face the Giants

Culture is quickly sifting all around us. This question has crossed my mind frequently, “Will my kids be able to stand for truth in their generation?” How sad it would be to have invested years of training and prayer only to see the ground of their hearts surrendered to the devices of this world and its philosophy.

​To help gain wisdom and godly counsel, I began reading a book by Genesis apologists, Ken Ham entitled, Will They Stand: Preparing Kids to Face the Giants. It is packed full of wisdom from the Word of God as well as life examples from Dr. Ham’s childhood. 

​In the opening chapters, Ken Ham puts quite a bit of emphasis on his own upbringing. He references his parent’s character, love for the Word, and willingness to swim against culture even in the church. Ham acknowledges that his parent’s life choices aimed his life on a course of fearing God and standing on truth. ​

This part of the book was a great challenge because Ham’s perspective saw parents living what they preached in the community, at church, and in the home. ​

We are not responsible for our children’s choices. However, we will answer if our life is in contrast to the things we preach and say we believe. This key element of a transparent and genuine walk with God is attributed to the lasting foundation from which Ham based his adult life and ministry.

​Next Ham devotes chapters to both of his parents individually. Here he puts a great priority on the Biblical roles that each parent figure is given in Scripture. This is growing so unpopular in our current culture, but that does not negate the truth that God’s design for the order of authority in the home still works. This chain of command is the best way to provide security and peace for every member. Some may refer to this way of running a home as being old fashion, and Ham acknowledges that it is rarer and rarer. The reality is that when everyone is living in the freedom of their given role a home is a sweet place full of precious bonds and relationships. Where the problem occurs is exactly where it began in the garden. Sin drives men to relinquish authority and women to desire ultimate control. Submission is the keyword in both of these chapters. The husband submits to God, and the woman submits to God through her submission to her husband. These chapters are great reminders.

In the remainder of the book, Ham begins to lay out the attacks on our children in our current culture. 

• Secular humanism
• Peer pressure
• Compromise
• Resistance to authority

​Each of these are on the rise in every area of our society. He discusses how these dangers are infiltrating places like education, community, and even the church. One of the weapons given for combatting these attacks is starting our children’s spiritual training and exposure to the things of the Lord at a very early age.

​Ham states that

"Sometimes parents hold back spiritual training until they think the child is old enough. That is a big mistake and goes contrary to the Biblical model.” — Ken Ham

He then references this passage in 2 Timothy:

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim 3:14-15

To wait until a child can fully understand is to surrender ground to the enemy of their souls. Knowing what this generation is facing, why would we waste a day preparing them? 

In closing, Ken Ham turns one of the last chapters of his book over to his eldest daughter. Her main directive in the chapter is to establish the need to pass down from one generation to the next a godly heritage.​

Renee Ham Hodge founded a Christian school named Twelve Stones Christian Academy. She testifies how her own parent's influence translated into the way she is raising her family and even her ideology in the foundation of the school. She mentions the consistency of the Word being held up in her parent’s lives and being taught to her from as early as she can remember. What a fitting way to end this very practical and convicting book—a testimony from a daughter who is standing and persevering in this present age. ​

I have needed this challenge in my parenting. Fear grips my heart as I watch society lose all sense of morality and absolute truth. This should be of no surprise because Christ told us that this world is never meant to feel like home. Reading good resources that get their counsel from the Word of God, and that can lead me to a deeper commitment of training my children in the nurture and admiration of the Lord is a necessary practice. I need to refresh my view and turn my mind to the eternal. Anything that can keep me focused on raising children in accordance with the Word is valuable. This book definitely accomplished these goals in my heart. I would highly recommend it.

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Our children are facing cultural "giants" that previous generations could never have imagined. Secularism, depravity, immorality, and apathy taunt Christians with a barrage of hate and intolerance. Will our children be equipped to stand strong against these giants or will they be overcome? That is the question Christian parents are asking.
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In this book, Ken Ham gives us a powerful message about the importance of raising strong believers who can stand in the face of a world that will challenge, disparage, and seek to eliminate their faith. He also helps prepare parents to equip the next generation to thrive in the face of cultural adversity and emerge as tomorrow's Christian leaders.

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How are you preparing your kids to face the giants?