Book Review: "Family Driven Faith" by Voddie Baucham Jr.

Family Driven Faith

I usually recommend books based on who would benefit most from reading them or who would enjoy them the most.  Since this book pulls no punches, I think I'll list who shouldn't read it:

• If you don't want to be convicted by the sad statistic that 70-88% of Christian children walk away from their faith after their first year of college, don't read this book.

• If you don't want to be the foundation for multi-generational faith in your family, don't read this book.

• If you don't believe in family-integrated worship, don't read this book.

• If you don't want to take responsibility for cultivating your child's Biblical worldview and think it should be left up to the church or some other source, don't read this book.

Get the idea?

With refreshing honesty and eye-opening facts and figures, Voddie Baucham, Jr. calls Christian parents to step up to the God-given responsibility and privilege of worshipping as a family and instilling Biblical truth and values in our children.

After reading this book, I was inspired to take a close look at my plan for instructing my own daughters in our faith.  To do that, I had to examine my own convictions and pray about the task that God has set before me.  It's an awesome thing to be entrusted with the formative years of new life in all its innocence and trust.  What greater chance do we have to fulfill the Great Commission than with our own children?  If we fail to convey the basic truths of the Gospel, how will our children understand it and defend it and embrace it for themselves when the time comes?

Dr. Baucham also addresses the idea of family-integrated worship, something that I am passionate about.  I believe in attachment parenting and this extends to family worship as well.  I don't subscribe to the idea that children should be ushered away to the basement of the church while the adults "fellowship" together.  How will children learn to worship that way?  I've heard too many people in person, on forums, and on blogs complaining about those who bring their children to church.  It grieves me that some Christians would rather exclude young families from worship than listen to an occasional crying baby or talkative toddler in church.  Do you really think the crowds that followed Jesus were quiet?  Jesus himself encouraged the Apostles to "let the little children" come to Him.  I've always imagined the sounds of laughing children when Jesus fed the multitude with loaves and fishes.  With their child-like faith, those kids just knew that Jesus was genuine and loved them.  Why can't the church today do the same?  Now, I know from personal experience that children can be disruptive at times and as a common courtesy I have left a worship service with my toddler when necessary.  (We plan ahead and sit at the back near the door just in case.)  When that happens, I would hate to think that half the congregation is cursing me for daring to bring my child into a church service!  If that happens in your church, just imagine the embarrassment of the poor parents who look forward to church on Sunday and who want to fulfill their calling to family worship before you judge them too harshly.

This book is a great motivational tool for parents to be purposeful in raising their children to have a Biblical worldview and to really understand their faith.  Absolute truth has fallen by the wayside in our society so we need to keep that goal in mind.  Dr. Baucham certainly hit the nail on the head with this book!

In the words of Dr. Peter Marshall, if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.  Don't let your children become part of this dismal statistic!

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book to review by Crossway.  No other compensation was received for my honest opinion.