Parents: Keep God’s Truth on Speed Dial

Truth seems culturally to have become anything but “absolute” these days. Truth from Scripture, however, is always the same, always dependable. Truth keeps us sane! Truth is unassailable . . . when it is God’s truth.

All those are practical reasons for fastening God’s truth into our hearts and minds. This is especially essential for the parents of a child—adult or minor—who has chosen to turn his or her back on the Creator by adopting the falsehoods of LGBTQ+ thinking. These parents don’t know how long their journey of interceding for their beloved child will be. So, it makes sense to cement into our minds some readily-available, biblical “thought-responses.”

Let’s honestly look at some common threats or challenges that we may hear from our children. Whether or not we speak these truth-responses to our children is not the point here. We’re interested in establishing and mentally filing truths that will come easily to our minds, that will steady our hearts amidst discussions, and that will give us the confidence that only God’s bedrock Truth, his Word, can promise.

“I don’t believe in God or the Bible anymore!”

This statement comes in many forms, but it stuns and chills the hearts of parents who have faithfully raised their children and who intend to stand with Scripture. It can make us quickly conclude that “all is lost!”

Think of it this way. First, our children would not make this statement if they did not know where the real “battlefield” is located. They have just acknowledged that, as the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6:12, the issue is between good and evil. They have admitted that God, faith, and Scripture need to be rejected if their choices are to be acceptable.

Second, it means that the Holy Spirit has already instilled truth into their minds and hearts. When he does that, since Scripture is his living and active sword (Heb. 4:12), they cannot get rid of what he has implanted. So they must deny, fight, and suppress it (Rom. 1:18). But we, as parents, can count on the fact that it is in their heads, ready for the Holy Spirit to use in restoring them.

“You should love me as I am, as God does . . . unconditionally!”

It’s odd that a reference to God becomes useful for the moment, even though, in many other ways, our children have denied him. Logically, by using him as a reference point, they have also undercut their argument.

If God’s love for us is the pattern and paradigm to be used, then let’s examine it as we see it in Scripture. “Unconditional love” on God’s part means that we do not need to fulfill any conditions in order to have his love. He loves because he is love (1 John 4:8).

However, our children want to say that “unconditional love” is blank-check permission to be and do whatever they have chosen. God’s unconditional love is given to us and demonstrated in the work of Christ, with the purpose of changing us to be like his Son (Rom. 8:29). God’s unconditional love does not allow evil to continue to direct our lives (Rom. 6:14).

Our children may not want to hear the crucial corrections, and we need not constantly “preach sermons” to them. However, when we hear the deceptions they often voice, we can be quietly reminded of the biblical answer and can pray that they will come to recognize the truth.

“Our relationship is FINISHED.”

Clearly, this is a sharp threat; it suggests a scenario that parents fear deeply. It makes us wonder whether the sovereign God has lost his grip. In addition, many parents have repeatedly been told that “losing relationship” should be avoided at all costs.

Let’s remember a couple of things.

First, the relationship, according to Christ himself, is already broken. In Matt. 10:34–39 and Luke 12:49–56, he says that the message he has brought (God’s truth) will not automatically bring peace, but a sword. It will divide close family relationships (Heb. 4:12). Why? Because godly parents honor God’s Word and his right to speak authoritatively.

Those who reject Scripture as ultimate and truthful must speak from their own “truth.” This situation takes us right back to the problem in the garden of Eden where Adam and Eve questioned God’s Word. On a daily basis, godly parents choose to see things through the lens of Scripture. Otherwise they will be tempted to give in to the demands of their children.

Second, when a child makes this threat, he or she is creating an ultimatum using something that is clearly valuable: the relationship between child and parent. In addition, the child is setting up consequences that he or she will also suffer if the parent stands firm. Their relationship may be severely damaged or lost. Since the child will also have lost something that he or she values, that can be an impressive lesson to them! Sin divides and brings loss.

The overriding question is: what does my child need more . . . relationship with me, or having to deal with God’s truth? Especially in dealing with adult children, it is often a good rule of thumb to allow them to “draw lines in the sand” and to let them face the consequences they thereby create. This can be very difficult, but our standing firm is the same as standing for our child’s soul.

God’s Truth Is Jesus, and He Is with You

Dear parents, we urge you to collect other mental confidence-builders that you can recall when the battle or the discouragement is fierce. They can be Scripture verses or statements of biblical truth perhaps reflected in quotes or song lyrics. They will be reminders that the Holy Spirit can use to comfort you and guide your thoughts—and even your words, if he gives opportunity.

Please know that you are not alone at these very common crossroads moments. Almost all parents of LGBTQ+-persuaded children will face one or all of them. More importantly, the Lord Jesus himself walks with you, always. You are “sharing Christ’s sufferings” (1 Pet. 4:13).

Know that you are loving your child in the best way possible by modeling and sticking to the truth of God’s Word . . . and to Truth, the Lord Jesus himself (John 14:6). Your dear child needs to see you stand with the truth. By doing so, you will demonstrate that you love them too much to give in to what their Creator says is destructive to them.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. (Isa. 26:3, 4)