Burns: Pass It On is a roadmap to help parents develop faith conversations in the home. It’s easy to follow, and the experiences are powerful memories and milestones.
Q: The foundation of Pass It On is the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. What truths does this book have to offer families today, more than 3,400 years after the time it was written?
Lee: It’s not just Deuteronomy 6 we are referring to, since Jesus also quoted the Shema (a prayer that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services from Deuteronomy 6:4-9) in the book of Mark. It’s, in my opinion, the thesis of the Old and New Testament. This is a powerful truth parents are to teach their children: “Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.” It says to “impress”—or tattoo—this upon their hearts. But what I love about the Shema is that it doesn’t stop there. It gets very practical by telling parents “how” to do it. Talk about it at home while you are lying down and walking around. Post it on your door frames. The idea here is an “as you go through life” mentality toward passing down faith.
Burns: For centuries Orthodox Jews welcomed the opportunity to bring faith actively in the home. If we Christians want faith to stick with our kids, then we also must actively participate in the same manner. The Shema helps us understand three major points.
- We are to be faithful and practice fidelity to the God of the Bible (Deut. 6:4-5).
- We are to live out our faith in an authentic way and impress it naturally with our children (Duet. 6:6).
- The way we transmit faith comes naturally by practicing the presence of God as we wake up, go to bed, walk or drive along the road. In other words, as we go about life, welcome God’s presence (Deut. 6:7-9).
Q: How do simple habits, such as talking about faith around the dinner table at night, impact your child’s faith journey?
Burns: Whether it be at the dinner table or driving in the car, healthy faith conversations make our relationship with God more real and authentic. It creates healthy dialogue.
Lee: If it’s true that parents are the greatest spiritual influence in the life of a child, then what we do and what we talk about in front of our kids are the best indicators of what they will become.
Q: What are the three M’s in life? What influence can a parent have on the three M’s in his or her child’s life?
Burns: Our job description as a parent isn’t simply to raise obedient kids, but a much greater goal is to raise “responsible adults who love God.” I like to focus on the three M’s of life. Part of our goal is to help our children find a Mission, Mate and Master. Are we helping our children find a purpose or mission in life? This is obviously a process that moves on into adulthood. We can’t pick our kids’ spouses (as much as sometimes I’d like to), but we can surely help them learn about God-honoring principles of relationships that go beyond teaching them the purity code. And also, the Master: Most people who make a commitment to Jesus Christ make that commitment before age 18. Part of passing on our legacy of faith is giving our children the opportunity to be in relationship with our Master. Participating in Pass It On experiences obviously enhances all three of the M’s.
For more information about Jim Burns, visit homeword.com or follow him on Facebook (Homeword) and Twitter (@drjimburns). To keep up with Jeremy Lee, visit jeremylee.me or follow him on Facebook (yojeremylee) and Twitter (@yojeremylee).
