4 Ways to Talk With Our Kids About Biblical Sexuality

Part 3 of the Worldview Series

In pursuit of a biblical worldview, we have to face tough topics. Few issues in recent days have received as much attention, positive or negative, as that of the LGBTQIA+ movement. Do you know what all those letters and symbols stand for? Even if you don’t, your kids probably will. They are surrounded by it in their schools, stores, workplaces, entertainment, and online spaces. They are encountering a cultural crisis of identity. You best believe they’re being discipled in this area. Who is doing the discipling?

It’s a scary time for us as we think about the challenges they will face, but it is scary for the kids too. They may have friends who wrestle with gender and sexuality issues, or they themselves may struggle. They must be equipped biblically to know how to handle questions, feelings, and circumstances as they arise. How can we as parents help them handle such a complex issue when situations they may find themselves in are innumerable and unpredictable?

You might be set on what you believe, and you might even be set on why you believe it.

Are you prepared to teach it to your kids in a way that communicates the love of God and the truth of his Word with love for neighbors and friends who disagree over this issue?

4 Ways to Talk With Our Kids About Biblical Sexuality:

1. Encourage them in their identity in Christ.

Talk about who we are in Christ. Talk about how God, our Creator, defines our identity. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

2. Model going to the Word for answers, struggling with the text, and praying for proper application.

What does it look like to “flee from sexual immorality,” as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians? Remember, sexual sin is not just a homosexual issue. “Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)

Talk about ways we can disagree and still show love to our neighbor.

Instead of only focusing on what we are against, talk about truth and how God’s idea is what’s best for us all. Live out your faith in front of them.

3. **Educate ourselves on what our kids will face.**

Part of the challenge of being in today’s generation of young people is that they have a social perspective on gender and sexuality that some of us from previous generations do not have. Regardless of cultural standards, all generations must ensure our social perspectives conform to the biblical perspective.

I challenge you to read through several of the resources listed below and compare them to the Word—with a warning: you might not love or agree 100% with all of them, though each one attempts to convey some biblical perspective.

How do they challenge or confirm your own ideas?

I’ll go first. It is hard to hear some of Christopher Yuan’s story, as told in his book Out of a Far Country. But it’s impossible to hear his whole story and not rejoice in God’s saving grace. His book Holy Sexuality and the Gospel is one of the most holistic perspectives on sexuality in general, not just homosexuality, and it’s challenging.

4. Pray. Pray. Pray some more.

Pray with them. Pray for them. Pray specifically. It should be number one on the list—our Plan A. There is nothing new under the sun, and the worldview issues our kids are facing in today’s culture are no surprise to God.

Talk with your kids about the difference(s) between confusion, temptation, and sin. Though we are instruments in our kids’ lives, God works in them and faithfully completes his work. We can rely on the Holy Spirit and do nothing apart from him.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13