Many of us in the emerging conversation don’t practice our faith in the same way that our parents practice our faith. I know this has caused tension for some of us, as our parents accuse us of everything from abandoning the faith, to reject their parenting, to joining a cult. But we are adults and aren’t bound to obey their wishes. Of course we should honor them, but we have the ability to choose to engage in faith practices that are healthy and meaningful to us.

But what about when the kids are still underage and living at home? I’ve recently heard from teens interested in the emerging movement whose parents have forbidden them from taking part in the conversation. When I worked with youth we had a few very nominally Catholic students who started attending our baptist youth group and then the church. At one point their parents forbade them from coming to our church. Sometimes they would sneak out and show up anyway. I never knew how to respond then. I wanted these kids to discover a meaningful faith, but I knew they were in direct disobedience of their parents by sitting in the Sunday service. I didn’t know if I should let them stay or kick them out. I also knew a few 4th and 5th grade kids in my children’s ministry who decided to be atheists – against their parents’ wishes.

So where does the line get drawn? Where does pursuing one’s faith conflict with honoring one’s parents? Which, if either, should be upheld as primary? If teens wish to be part of a discussion or emergent cohort or a church service against their parents’ wishes what should the response of the community be? Encourage the disobedience? Tell them to wait on their faith a few years? To give up on their passions or questions? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

What is your family currently doing as far as growing your children spiritually? Do you attend church, do church in a home or an alternative and how did you come to this decision?

We respectfully disagree on what we should do, yet, some type of a decision needs to be made. We have no idea how to come to some type of middle ground, if there is any, and both passionately believe that this is a very important part of our parenting journey.

Looking forward to a discussion about this.