If your children hear about Jesus from their father, awesome. If they do not, you can still teach them as their mom. Even if dads teach their children the Bible, it does not mean mothers should not. While the Bible does give fathers the command to train up their children spiritually (Proverbs 22:6), mothers are allowed to help and do this as well. All followers of Christ are commanded to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). That often means mothers are making disciples of their children, whether or not the fathers are involved in that process or not.
But I don’t want to usurp his leadership!
Then don’t. If your husband does not want to talk about God at the table or before bed, find a time to speak with your children about God when he is not around. If he is always around, ask if you can take the children elsewhere to speak to them about God. And pray for opportunities to speak with the kids about Jesus.
Will my kids grow up thinking it’s a Girl thing to follow God if their dad doesn’t teach it?
Possibly, but that’s not a guarantee. Many Christians come from non-Christian homes and some from homes where only one parent believed. I know a woman who grew up with two parents living for different things. She observed at a very young age there were two ways to live, for the Lord, like her mother, or for the world, like her father. She chose to follow the Lord and raised her children to do so and lived a long life serving the Lord. I know of two boys who grew up without a father in the home and who’s mom always told them God was their Father. (Not like conceived by Him or anything, but…) They grew up being OK with that and now one of them is happily married and has two boys he is raising to follow the Lord.
Also look at Timothy in the Bible, who was taught about Jesus from his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5)!
What if teaching the Bible isn’t my Husband’s spiritual gift? But he still walks with Jesus.
Great question. He is still responsible to God to point the kids to Christ. However, he is allowed to say something like, “Hey kids, listen to your mom. She’s going to teach you about Jesus.” And maybe he supports the teaching, but is not the one doing it. Maybe he connects with Christ through worship. Or perhaps its serving or giving. He can include his children in worshiping and serving God that way while the wife points that out to their kids. But even if teaching is not his spiritual gift, he can still teach his children the Bible! It doesn’t have to be one’s spiritual gift to lead one’s children in it. He might just use more resources like reading a devotional or simply reading the Scriptures without much commentary outside of that.
How on EARTH do I share the Bible with my kids when I don’t understand it myself?
Great question. Study Bibles are fabulous to answer a lot of the quick questions. But never feel like you need to have all the answers to start sharing your faith or reading God’s Word to your children. The Word of God has power on its own. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Just reading the Scripture has the power to change your children’s hearts, and yours! You do not have to explain it at all. You can simply answer the questions you know answers to and tell your children something like, “I’m not sure. Maybe we’ll figure that one out next time.” Or “Let’s pray about it and see if God will reveal an answer to that question in His timing.”
I started reading the Bible on my own at age 9 and had a lot of questions about one part. It was not until almost 15 years later that God made that part of the Bible crystal clear to me. He saw my questioning heart as a child and He answered when I was able to understand. He appreciates us seeking Him, even if we do not fully understand (Matthew 7:7-8).
Another way to share the Bible with your kids is to simply read a children’s Bible. They usually have abbreviated stories from the Bible. It’s a great place to start, especially for little ones with short attention spans who love pictures!
One last way to get a little Scripture into your children is through Scripture memory. Children are great at memorization. Why not fill those little minds with good things from God’s Word? Then those memorized Scriptures will stay with them their whole lives. Seeds Worship and Psalty the singing songbook have songs that sing Scripture to help you memorize with your kids. My children love watching the videos and doing the hand motions with Seeds Worship. Remember, the Word of God has power!
But I want my husband to be the spiritual head of our home!
Of course, but you can’t force it. You can talk to him about it, but I bet you already have. You can pray about it and seek Godly council on how to go about it. But if it gets to the point that you fear for the spiritual lives of your children, do not wait. You are allowed to teach them the Bible. You can do it. And keep the door open for him to step in any time he wants. If you are reading a children’s Bible each night, maybe ask him occasionally if he would like to read it that night. He might not, but he will know he is allowed to when he feels up for it. In the meantime, go Momma go!