Five Reasons for Spiritual Apathy In Teens: What Parents Can Do To Help

By Rob Rienow and Amy Rienow

When teens are struggling, disconnected, and apathetic, they need parental engagement more than ever. It's not the time to passively accept the behavior as normal and ignore the situation. Rob and Amy Rienow share from a place of genuine concern for teens and parents alike. They remind readers that spiritual apathy is a serious problem that needs to be given proper attention. The Rienow's share five reasons spiritual apathy exists in the lives of teens, and counter those reasons with practical steps parents can take to resolve the issue. Readers are reminded teens are in the midst of making decisions that impact the rest of their lives, and parental involvement is needed more than ever. This book offers an action plan parents can use to cultivate faith and character during the challenging teen years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Randall House
• Release date: Sep 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781614840817

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Parent’s Heart

The first common cause of spiritual apathy we will consider is this: The parent’s heart is not turned toward the teenager.

As parents, we are under constant pressure to give our best efforts to our work, friends, hobbies, and even our service in the church. It is easy for our hearts to be turned toward these things and for them to become the primary passions of our lives.

Delegation Parenting

We live in a world of delegation parenting. Do you want your children to learn to play the piano? Sign them up for piano lessons. Do you want them to learn basketball? Find a coach. Do you want them to learn math? Hire a tutor. Do you want them to learn about Jesus? Take them to a great youth group. Your job is to simply drive the mini-van and drop your children off with the various experts who will teach and train them for success.

We live in a world of delegation parenting.

Of course, there is nothing wrong in partnering with teachers, coaches, and tutors as we seek to educate and raise our children. However, when it comes to their spiritual training and the nurturing of their faith, no Christian program can ever replace you! It is so easy for us to slip into the mindset that a youth group or a Christian school is all our kids need to grow in the faith and love for God. However, He has called us as fathers and mothers to be the primary spiritual trainers of our children. Youth groups and Christian education can provide a spiritual vitamin boost for our kids, but they were never designed to be a spiritual meal.

Repentance

Sadly, in the early years of my (Rob’s) journey as a parent, my heart was not turned toward my children. Amy and I were married in 1994. During our first 10 years together, I was serving as a youth pastor and we were blessed with four children. Even though I loved my family, my heart was at work. My sense of purpose and calling centered on being a pastor. I was giving my all as a spiritual leader at church, but was spiritually passive at home. I had visions, dreams, and ideas for how I could help all the kids and teens in our church hear the Gospel and learn to follow Jesus . . . all the kids in the church except for mine. In 2004, God brought me to a deep place of repentance, and He turned my heart to the ministry of my children. He awakened a sense of passion and purpose in me. He had called me as a Christian to make disciples, and that Great Commission calling needed to begin at home with my own family. My heart, for the first time as a parent, was turned toward the mission of doing everything in my power to impress the hearts of my children with a love for