As a non-parent, I feel a certain inadequacy in making a comment, but the one observation I feel I can make from over a decade of ministry with youth and young adults is that many people wander away from the faith bit by bit, small step by small step. A decision to stay home from church and study here, a term’s ‘break’ from youth group there ... It seems wise to not let these decisions go unnoticed but to talk it over with your kids, and to take a note from the ministry patterns of the Puritans: assume the need for intentional and ongoing personal discipleship. This sounds intense, but can be as simple as asking basic questions of your kids like “Tell me how you feel about your walk with God?”, and “What do you like/dislike about our church at the moment?”. By paying some attention early on we may just nip some future crisis in the bud.

<i>For every child of that era who rebelled against a harsh, stifling, fundamentalist upbringing and came out the other end so full of creative angst, that they made a movie about it,</i>

Not to mention that there are very few movies made about children who are brought up in a harsh, stifling fundamentalist background who then go on to become wise, faithful people who trust in the over-riding sovereignty of God.

Not because such people don’t exist, but if they do, they are not generally in the movie industry. And were they to turn up at MGM studios to pitch their ideas, they would be invited to choose from any one of 25 exits. Stability and happiness is not entertaining.

Yep, Gordo, I agree!