Who is Forming Your Child's Worldview Besides You?
w/ Dr. George Barna, Part 2
Hey there and happy Thursday to you!
Today I welcome back to the show Dr. George Barna. Dr Barna is the author of more than 60 books, including numerous award-winners and New York Times bestsellers. In fact, Dr. Barna has been referred to as the most quoted person in the church today.
If you haven’t listened to EP201, go back and listen to that first.
Today I back our conversation up a minute or two to remind us where we left off, and then Dr. Barna explains the role media takes in shaping the worldview of our children and what we can do about it. And buckle up, mamas, because Dr. Barna gives us some straight talk and some tough love–he does not mince words and I’m here for it.
For a transcript of our entire conversation, please go to the show notes and scroll to the bottom of the post.
In EP202 we discuss
The role of media in our children’s lives and practical ways parents can combat the media their kids are taking in.
How “worldview” is portrayed in popular kids' shows
How we measure spiritual growth/development in our kids
Why we are to be disciples who make disciples–especially in our kids.
The best way to describe a disciple.
Strategies parents can use to disciple their children
Hope for parents with older children
What is on Dr. Barna’s To-Don’t List
Encouragement for overwhelmed moms
This is part 2 of a 2-part conversation about his latest book, Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child’s Heart, Mind and Soul.
More about Dr. Barna:
Dr. George Barna has sold more books based on survey research related to matters of faith than any author in American history.
George Barna is a professor at Arizona Christian University and Director of Research at the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, focusing on worldview assessment and development, and cultural transformation.
He is also the Senior Research Fellow at Family Research Council’s Center for Biblical Worldview. He was the founder of The Barna Group (which he sold in 2009), the Barna Institute, the American Culture and Faith Institute, and Metaformation. Through these entities, he has conducted groundbreaking research on worldview, cultural transformation, ministry applications, spiritual development, and politics. He has provided research and strategy for several hundred parachurch ministries, thousands of Christian churches, the U.S. military and Fortune 500 companies.
Having begun his research career in the political arena, he has provided polling for numerous political campaigns and has provided polling and strategy to four presidential candidates. He has also served on multiple boards of directors and advisory boards. Raising Spiritual Champions is the 60th book that Barna has authored or co-authored. His books have addressed social and religious trends, worldview, leadership, spiritual development, church dynamics, and cultural transformation. They include New York Times and Amazon bestsellers and several award-winning books. His books have been translated into more than a dozen foreign languages. He is a frequent speaker at events throughout the world, having spoken at more than a thousand events during the course of his career, including events in 14 different countries.
Prior to joining the faculty of ACU, Barna taught at several universities and seminaries, served as the teaching pastor of a large, multi-ethnic church, pastored a house church, and helped to start several churches. He has also served as an elder in several congregations. After graduating summa cum laude from Boston College, Barna earned two master’s degrees from Rutgers University and received a doctorate from Dallas Baptist University.
Barna and his wife, Nancy, attended high school, college, and graduate school together before marrying in the Princeton University Chapel in 1978. They have three adopted daughters and three grandchildren and currently live on the central California coast and in the Phoenix area. He enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, relaxing at the beach or on a cruise, watching the NY Yankees, playing bass guitar and listening to the blues, hanging out with his blind dog, Ray Charles, visiting comedy clubs or watching comedy specials, and reading novels.
Q4U: What’s one thing you’re going to do this week as a result of what you heard today? Let’s talk in the comments.
Love,
Sandy
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This episode was difficult for me as my children are older and are pushing back on the biblical worldview we tried to raise them with. In the days following this episode my mind was torn between believing the enemy’s lies in my ear and trusting the Truth that God and The Holy Spirit whispered in my heart.
We have an enormous responsibility as parents. We must take it seriously and put in actual effort and action to teach our children the truth of God’s word. The noise of the world is loud and we must offer diligent guidance to counter the world’s messages.
But Momma if the enemy is using this podcast or other messages reminding us of our role to discourage you, to suggest that you are a failure, that it’s too hard, that you might as well give up - please take those thoughts captive and take it to God. Ask Him to encourage you. God can redeem our mistakes. Pray for your kids and ask God to redeem the areas where you may have dropped the ball. Ask him how to start fresh and move forward with renewed purpose. Ask him to take the areas of success and water those seeds in your kids hearts.
And continue to cover your kids in prayer.
The idea that our kids have a “fully formed” worldview by 13 and illustrations that that worldview is like “cement” were what the enemy used as ammunition against me for a couple of days. My kids are 14 and 17. The 14 year old is complacent and uninterested in matters of faith. The 17 year old is questioning all of it and pushing back against it. Part of me wanted to give in to fear that it was too late. That I had failed. But God reminded me of my own story. At 14 I had been raised in an unbelieving home with almost no church exposure. I met a new friend who invited me to youth group with her. Over the next 6-8 months God pursued me there and I gave my life to Christ at the end of ninth grade. That was 33 years ago and I have never looked back. If God could melt my cemented fully formed worldview in a few months, he can work with my kids who do have an understanding of those 7 pillars from the last episode. They may be indifferent or questioning now at 14-17. But they know the truth. My role is shifting as they get older. I need to be open to difficult conversations. I need to stay in my Bible and seek good teaching so I am ready for those tough questions. I need to continue to pursue God for myself not only to set a good example but to allow Him to sustain me. And most of all I need to pray pray pray for my kids. I cannot give up. And I won’t.