Bringing Up Children in the Christian Faith

by John H. Westerhoff III

Explores the nature of parenthood, baptism, and raising children in the Christian faith, and suggests how to make that faith a part of parents' and children's daily interaction

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Kelsey Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

An oldie, but for mainline Christian parents, this is a classic. Westerhoff writes with pastoral gentleness about the burdens and anxieties of being a parent who wants to raise a child in the faith. I found his understanding of the most important duties to be beautifully explained and inspiring. There is none of the right-wing evangelical insistent, shrill fear-mongering that brought on so many frantic book and movie bannings in the 90s and 00s (and even now). Instead, Westerhoff implores parents to trust their children and the God who loves them, while putting their energies into tending and sharing their own faith life.

[Akehia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't impressed. It would be an ok read for the average person with a worldly view of "faith." It is very academic and hardly Biblical. I was turned off early on when the author started discussing the family structure in a way that is blatantly Biblically inaccurate. Again, this might be a great read for some, but for Bible-believing Christians, I'd look elsewhere for encouragement on raising children in the Christian faith.