It is the outcome every Christian parent fears. It is the outcome every Christian parent dreads. It is the outcome every Christian parent prays against from the moment their children are born. Yet for so many, it is the outcome God calls them to bear.
Close to the heart of every Christian parent is the longing for their children to know their Savior. Nothing is more important to a parent than their relationship with the Lord, and therefore nothing is more central to their desires for their children. But parents can only raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, pray earnestly, and leave their children’s hearts in the hands of God. And sometimes, for reasons known only to him, the children refuse to follow. Instead, they walk away.
This is the subject of Paul Mallard’s book When Children Walk Away From Jesus. He says, “Having spent 40 years as a pastor, I could tell you many stories of children who were brought up in a Christian home and are now following Christ wholeheartedly. But this book is not about those kinds of children. It’s about the other type of story I’ve seen play out. This book is for parents with children who were brought up in a Christian home but have since walked away from Jesus. Sometimes their rejection of Christianity happens suddenly and dramatically. In other cases, it’s a gradual drift over many years. In either case, it’s heartbreaking.” It’s heartbreaking, and it’s worthy of a book that is compassionate, challenging, and deeply grounded in Scripture. Thankfully, Mallard’s book is just that kind.
He begins by simply asking why it hurts so much when children turn away, and then rehearses the gospel to show that a child’s greatest need is not obedience to their parents but regeneration by the Holy Spirit. From there he deals with the question many parents ask: Where did we go wrong? He reframes the question, helps parents work through feelings of guilt and shame, and reminds them that salvation is God’s work, not theirs.
As the book continues, he considers whether God ever makes a promise that he will save our children. He helps parents consider the specific prayer requests they can bring before the Lord through a helpful prayer guide. He considers questions of love, support, and affirmation, especially as it pertains to children who are living a lifestyle their parents vehemently disagree with. He also considers how an entire church community can help and support parents who are longing for their children to come to Christ. He closes with a beautiful story of a conversion that came far later than anyone would have wished, but exactly when the Lord willed. It’s a moment of hope and an affirmation that no one is ever beyond the reach of God’s grace.
Because children do walk away, we need books to guide and help us, and When Children Walk Away from Jesus strikes just the right notes. If your children have gone their own way instead of the Lord’s, or you are walking with someone for whom that is true, it’s a trustworthy guide, and I recommend it to you.
