What do you think?
Rate this book
Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World
Christian parents struggle to raise their children in a culture hostile to Christian values. A disturbing trend reveals young people leaving home and leaving the church. How can Christian parents prepare their children to stand firm on biblical principles? Discover how to create an incredible faith legacy in your family! Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World presents empowering insight Ken Ham is joined by his brother, Steve Ham, in presenting this powerful look at how the principles and truth of Genesis are vital to the strong and lasting foundation of a family. This is an intensely personal and practical guide for Christian parents as Ken and Steve share their own stories of growing up in a "Genesis" family and this Christian legacy at work in their families. "As you take God's Word and apply its eternal principles to the everyday issues you face with your family, you will begin to create a godly heritage - a legacy that will impact that generations to come in ways you never dreamed possible." -Ken Ham
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2004
45 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Ken Ham
235 books358 followersDr. Ken Ham is the president of Answers in Genesis USA and is a well-known speaker and author on the subject of Young-Earth Creationism. He received a bachelor degree in applied science (emphasis on environmental biology) from the Queensland Institute of Technology, and a Diploma of Education from the University of Queensland. He has also received two honorary doctorates: a Doctor of Divinity from Temple Baptist College, and a Doctor of Literature from Baptist Liberty University.
He was a director of Creation Science Foundation (CSF) in Australia, an organization which he jointly founded with John Mackay. In 1987 he moved to the United States, still maintaining his links with CSF.
From 1987 to 1993, Ham worked for the Institute for Creation Research, and in 1994 set up what in 1995 became Answers in Genesis (AiG), a creation ministry dedicated to "upholding the authority of the Bible from the very first verse."
In 2008 Ham was described by well known atheist and evolutionary biologist PZ Myers as a "Wackaloon" for carrying out a prayer session with members of the Pentagon. Ham responded regarding the validity of that prayer breakfastand that PZ Myers and other critics were intolerant of his position.
He was a director of Creation Science Foundation (CSF) in Australia, an organization which he jointly founded with John Mackay. In 1987 he moved to the United States, still maintaining his links with CSF.
From 1987 to 1993, Ham worked for the Institute for Creation Research, and in 1994 set up what in 1995 became Answers in Genesis (AiG), a creation ministry dedicated to "upholding the authority of the Bible from the very first verse."
In 2008 Ham was described by well known atheist and evolutionary biologist PZ Myers as a "Wackaloon" for carrying out a prayer session with members of the Pentagon. Ham responded regarding the validity of that prayer breakfastand that PZ Myers and other critics were intolerant of his position.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 5, 2012
I received this book from my mom, who enjoys reading material from Ken Ham.
3/2/12:
I've nearly finished the book and I'll write more when I'm done, but I want to get down some thoughts that are fresh in my mind now.
Here's where I'm coming from--my life, right now: I have an almost two-year-old I deal with all day, every day. I think I have a pretty solid foundation of principles to work from in raising my child, most of which are an extension of principles I need to live by myself in order to live pleasing to God. Right now I desperately need to see some glimpse of what these principles look like worked out on an everyday level for a child my son's age.
This is what I'm taking away from this book:
STRENGTHS:
-A strong reiteration of biblical principles necessary to raising a godly child
-The sufficiency of Scripture for all my needs--including guidelines for raising my child
-The necessity of leaving a deliberate legacy (because I will leave one, whether or not I've thought it all out)
-I must have the Word of God as my starting point for every idea, philosophy, argument, etc. in my life and my child's life
-Teaching my child godliness begins with godliness in my own life (my priorities, my submission to God, my fruit of the Spirit, my feeding on the Word of God)
-An environment of sanctification needs a soaking of Scripture from infancy (presented as literal, absolute, authoritative truth)--this to be done visually, orally
WEAKNESSES:
-I don't know if this could be considered a true weakness (because I agree with the truth and necessity of it), but the authors spend a great deal of time focusing on Genesis truths in the book (of course, this is their specialty). They call this the "big picture"--man's origins and what it means for his nature and relations with God. While I fully agree with these truths, I found there was a lack of emphasis on what I think is an even bigger truth to be drawn from the whole of Scripture: that the end of man is to glorify God. We were created to glorify God and Christ saves us from our sinful nature to return us to a state where we can glorify Him again. Of course this book covers the gospel and salvation, but the authors did not use the glory of God as any of their "major" arguments. To me, living for the glory of God is pretty important in living "godly" versus "ungodly."
-There is a lot of "culture warfare" going on in this book. Again, I can't disagree with what the authors are saying about the godless, lawless, humanistic nature of society today. And I agree that this culture will leave an impression on my child. I was just left with the sense that one of the main reasons to be godly was to fight today's culture. I suppose in the grand scheme of things, this is all true and necessary--it's just not what I'm looking for in a guide to parenting (this is not to say this may not be helpful or instructive to others).
-From my perspective and background, the authors don't spend enough time on the practical, everyday workings-out of the principles and theology presented here. While there were many good philosophical or theological reminders here, I need something more specific to help me through these "little" years. Perhaps in a few years--maybe even another year--I may find this book more helpful.
-As regards discipline, I need more help than just two pages on corporal punishment. (And again, perhaps this is not the aim of the book, just a weakness in regards to my needs.) Surely there is more to biblical discipline than spanking? (think two-year-old)
In sum, I do think the authors have accomplished what they set out to do: show the necessity of absolute Scriptural foundations in a relativistic world, point out the dangers of our humanistic culture, and remind us to parent deliberately and with purpose to leave a godly legacy. At this time, the book does not answer to what I'm looking for, but would be worth revisiting in the future.
3/2/12:
I've nearly finished the book and I'll write more when I'm done, but I want to get down some thoughts that are fresh in my mind now.
Here's where I'm coming from--my life, right now: I have an almost two-year-old I deal with all day, every day. I think I have a pretty solid foundation of principles to work from in raising my child, most of which are an extension of principles I need to live by myself in order to live pleasing to God. Right now I desperately need to see some glimpse of what these principles look like worked out on an everyday level for a child my son's age.
This is what I'm taking away from this book:
STRENGTHS:
-A strong reiteration of biblical principles necessary to raising a godly child
-The sufficiency of Scripture for all my needs--including guidelines for raising my child
-The necessity of leaving a deliberate legacy (because I will leave one, whether or not I've thought it all out)
-I must have the Word of God as my starting point for every idea, philosophy, argument, etc. in my life and my child's life
-Teaching my child godliness begins with godliness in my own life (my priorities, my submission to God, my fruit of the Spirit, my feeding on the Word of God)
-An environment of sanctification needs a soaking of Scripture from infancy (presented as literal, absolute, authoritative truth)--this to be done visually, orally
WEAKNESSES:
-I don't know if this could be considered a true weakness (because I agree with the truth and necessity of it), but the authors spend a great deal of time focusing on Genesis truths in the book (of course, this is their specialty). They call this the "big picture"--man's origins and what it means for his nature and relations with God. While I fully agree with these truths, I found there was a lack of emphasis on what I think is an even bigger truth to be drawn from the whole of Scripture: that the end of man is to glorify God. We were created to glorify God and Christ saves us from our sinful nature to return us to a state where we can glorify Him again. Of course this book covers the gospel and salvation, but the authors did not use the glory of God as any of their "major" arguments. To me, living for the glory of God is pretty important in living "godly" versus "ungodly."
-There is a lot of "culture warfare" going on in this book. Again, I can't disagree with what the authors are saying about the godless, lawless, humanistic nature of society today. And I agree that this culture will leave an impression on my child. I was just left with the sense that one of the main reasons to be godly was to fight today's culture. I suppose in the grand scheme of things, this is all true and necessary--it's just not what I'm looking for in a guide to parenting (this is not to say this may not be helpful or instructive to others).
-From my perspective and background, the authors don't spend enough time on the practical, everyday workings-out of the principles and theology presented here. While there were many good philosophical or theological reminders here, I need something more specific to help me through these "little" years. Perhaps in a few years--maybe even another year--I may find this book more helpful.
-As regards discipline, I need more help than just two pages on corporal punishment. (And again, perhaps this is not the aim of the book, just a weakness in regards to my needs.) Surely there is more to biblical discipline than spanking? (think two-year-old)
In sum, I do think the authors have accomplished what they set out to do: show the necessity of absolute Scriptural foundations in a relativistic world, point out the dangers of our humanistic culture, and remind us to parent deliberately and with purpose to leave a godly legacy. At this time, the book does not answer to what I'm looking for, but would be worth revisiting in the future.
February 22, 2011
Returning to the Word of God as our foundation, not only for living, but also for parenting, is the main focus of the book Raising Godly Children In An Ungodly World: Leaving a Lasting Legacy — written by Ken and Steve Ham. The authors continually stress the need to teach our children the Word of God, and that without the Word, people perish (Hosea 4:6). We have a whole generation that is advancing without Biblical knowledge. Deuteronomy 6 commands us to teach our children in order that all may go well with them. There is also discussion about both the role of husband and of wife, and their equal partnership and responsibility when raising our children.
There is great transparency within the words of this book, and each author clearly explains their take on this matter of child-rearing. There is not only emphasis on the need for teaching our children scripture and holding them accountable, but it also emphasizes our need as parents to be in the Word daily; and how our personal relationship with our Creator will greatly impact our ability to impact our children's life for eternity.
Although the authors rend to be quite wordy, the content was excellent! It really challenged me to look beyond the "stories" in the Bible, and to teach my child that each story, if we must call them that, was really an encounter with a Holy God. If we portray these God-encounters as just fantasy stories, then our children will fail to see the reality of Who we serve and what God requires of each of us.
I really appreciate the emphasis on teaching our children the Word of God and using it as we discipline daily. The authors really encourage us as parents to cultivate an environment in which our children can grow spiritually—even at an early age. The teaching of evolution is rampant amongst our school curriculum; therefore, homeschooling is definitely suggested as the better option for education, if possible. This book is not just for moms to read, but also includes information that is vital for fathers to be aware of. There is a whole chapter called "Diligent Dads"; which is excellent. The book took longer for me to read than I planned, but overall I highly recommend it.
There is great transparency within the words of this book, and each author clearly explains their take on this matter of child-rearing. There is not only emphasis on the need for teaching our children scripture and holding them accountable, but it also emphasizes our need as parents to be in the Word daily; and how our personal relationship with our Creator will greatly impact our ability to impact our children's life for eternity.
Although the authors rend to be quite wordy, the content was excellent! It really challenged me to look beyond the "stories" in the Bible, and to teach my child that each story, if we must call them that, was really an encounter with a Holy God. If we portray these God-encounters as just fantasy stories, then our children will fail to see the reality of Who we serve and what God requires of each of us.
I really appreciate the emphasis on teaching our children the Word of God and using it as we discipline daily. The authors really encourage us as parents to cultivate an environment in which our children can grow spiritually—even at an early age. The teaching of evolution is rampant amongst our school curriculum; therefore, homeschooling is definitely suggested as the better option for education, if possible. This book is not just for moms to read, but also includes information that is vital for fathers to be aware of. There is a whole chapter called "Diligent Dads"; which is excellent. The book took longer for me to read than I planned, but overall I highly recommend it.
May 29, 2013
I agreed with almost everything in this book, and deeply appreciate the ministry of AiG. But I rated this book low for the following reasons:
1. The book probably should have been about 75 pages. It was very repetitive.
2. I wish the book had been more practical. It (repeatedly) emphasized the biblical foundations of theology and a biblical worldview. They kept telling us, "It is important to raise godly children in an ungodly world" (repeatedly) but did not tell us HOW.
3. The book needed more editing. Sentences were long and confusing with commas sprinkled freely throughout.
If I were rating the book on how well I agreed with the content, I would give it 4.5 stars. But the truth is that it was a little tedious to read.
1. The book probably should have been about 75 pages. It was very repetitive.
2. I wish the book had been more practical. It (repeatedly) emphasized the biblical foundations of theology and a biblical worldview. They kept telling us, "It is important to raise godly children in an ungodly world" (repeatedly) but did not tell us HOW.
3. The book needed more editing. Sentences were long and confusing with commas sprinkled freely throughout.
If I were rating the book on how well I agreed with the content, I would give it 4.5 stars. But the truth is that it was a little tedious to read.
October 5, 2009
Must read for all parents that desire to raise their children in a Godly way. This book is well written and easily read as a nightly devotional
December 20, 2025
This book was mostly the author(s) and life growing up as Christians. What started as a mostly-memoir pretending to be a study guide ended up being a bit of a disturbing piece of work.
The book has a strong hierarchal sense of parenthood, deeming mothers unfit to be spiritual leaders for their children. Ken Ham says that it goes against God, along with understanding evolution and whatever he thinks ‘post-humanism’ is. “Domineering” is the word he uses here to describe these women, though he fails to provide examples of exactly why women being the lead is bad.
It also constantly boasts about the author’s organization (answers in genesis), and the book treats every word in genesis as literal truth. Along with this, there’s misinformation of aboriginal people (claiming native people have no sense of god or religion), about how language works (claiming the tower of Babble is the source of language difference), and how evolution functions. I also disliked the author trying to use the bible as proof that aboriginal folks are human instead of using the objective fact that humans are one shared group despite visual differences.
Finally, there’s an upsetting amount of encouragement to hit children. This of course is described as ‘swatting/smacking/corporal punishment’, but the reality is a child is being hit. There’s even a ‘funny’ story of the author’s principle father picking out which branch to hit schoolchildren with for the upcoming year. Yeah…hilarious…
It seems that the author wants the rest of humanity to be exactly like his family, just these vignettes of hierarchy, mindless faith, and child hitting. No thanks, Ken.
The book has a strong hierarchal sense of parenthood, deeming mothers unfit to be spiritual leaders for their children. Ken Ham says that it goes against God, along with understanding evolution and whatever he thinks ‘post-humanism’ is. “Domineering” is the word he uses here to describe these women, though he fails to provide examples of exactly why women being the lead is bad.
It also constantly boasts about the author’s organization (answers in genesis), and the book treats every word in genesis as literal truth. Along with this, there’s misinformation of aboriginal people (claiming native people have no sense of god or religion), about how language works (claiming the tower of Babble is the source of language difference), and how evolution functions. I also disliked the author trying to use the bible as proof that aboriginal folks are human instead of using the objective fact that humans are one shared group despite visual differences.
Finally, there’s an upsetting amount of encouragement to hit children. This of course is described as ‘swatting/smacking/corporal punishment’, but the reality is a child is being hit. There’s even a ‘funny’ story of the author’s principle father picking out which branch to hit schoolchildren with for the upcoming year. Yeah…hilarious…
It seems that the author wants the rest of humanity to be exactly like his family, just these vignettes of hierarchy, mindless faith, and child hitting. No thanks, Ken.
September 21, 2021
The Ham brothers take an interesting approach with this book as they often shy away from writing about the practical "do's and don'ts" of everyday parenting, choosing to focus instead on the inherently biblical principles that are at the foundation of godly parenting.
I didn't find much to disagree with regarding the content, and I appreciated the way that they consistently emphasized the value of parents leaving a legacy and how this must be done intentionally rather than lackadaisically. They paint parenting in an appropriate manner, in my opinion: Challenging, rigorous, and intense, while at the same time completely doable with the Bible as our "axiom." I also appreciated that these two authors didn't hold back with their support and encouragement of home education for children. They described the need for parents to be more proactive in the education of their children in a well-articulated and loving manner.
My only complaint with this book is that it was a bit redundant at times, with the authors seemingly restating the same principles repeatedly. The other slight gripe I have with it is that the authors spend (in my opinion) too much time praising their two parents for the job they did as parents. This part of the book was important, don't get me wrong, and I understand the value and pride these two have for their father. I think some of it was overkill, though, and could have been scaled back a bit.
Other than those two things, excellent book that I would recommend to Christian parents.
I didn't find much to disagree with regarding the content, and I appreciated the way that they consistently emphasized the value of parents leaving a legacy and how this must be done intentionally rather than lackadaisically. They paint parenting in an appropriate manner, in my opinion: Challenging, rigorous, and intense, while at the same time completely doable with the Bible as our "axiom." I also appreciated that these two authors didn't hold back with their support and encouragement of home education for children. They described the need for parents to be more proactive in the education of their children in a well-articulated and loving manner.
My only complaint with this book is that it was a bit redundant at times, with the authors seemingly restating the same principles repeatedly. The other slight gripe I have with it is that the authors spend (in my opinion) too much time praising their two parents for the job they did as parents. This part of the book was important, don't get me wrong, and I understand the value and pride these two have for their father. I think some of it was overkill, though, and could have been scaled back a bit.
Other than those two things, excellent book that I would recommend to Christian parents.
March 5, 2021
Like a Revival in 236 pages!
This book pulls no punches in talking about how we should be as parents. Very good read! I highly recommend it and the epilogue was touching.
Read this book if you are a parent. Read it if you are not to develop a burden for the patents around you.
This book pulls no punches in talking about how we should be as parents. Very good read! I highly recommend it and the epilogue was touching.
Read this book if you are a parent. Read it if you are not to develop a burden for the patents around you.
October 18, 2019
Parents its our responsibility to raise our children in the faith. It requires more than taking them to church once a week
January 16, 2021
Ken Has has some great material, this book is important for our future generations.
January 27, 2021
This was a Christmas gift from all my friends with kids.
July 23, 2022
This book was such a blessing to read. It challenged me to keep fighting the good fight of faith and to keep trying to capture my children's hearts for the Lord!
Want to read
December 13, 2022AIG 2022: Bought Dec. 12
January 4, 2023
Conversational, autobiographical tone. There are a lot of wisdom and practical ideas for bringing up children biblically.
December 30, 2020
Excellently written. This book definitely inspired me and challenged me in my walk with the Lord.
September 30, 2014
Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World is another success for publisher Master Books (a division of the New Leaf Publishing Group, Inc.). Brothers Ken and Steve Ham team up to encourage believers to be confident that God has given them all they need to be successful parents. True to form, the Ham brothers point readers straight to the unshakable Word of God. They use their personal experiences growing up in the Ham family to share practical advice on how to leave a legacy for your children.
It’s no surprise that Ham Senior held fast to the Word of God as man’s final authority, including its record of origins and creation. Ken Ham grew up during a time in which very little scientific evidence was mainstream to support the creation account. When his dad was unable to answer Ken's questions, Ham Senior encouraged Ken that his lack of answers didn't mean there were no answers. Ken’s father clearly understood “that if Adam wasn't created from dust, and that if he didn't fall into sin as Genesis states, then the gospel message of the New Testament can’t be true either” (p.19). This assurance led Ken on the journey that has become the internationally reaching Answers in Genesis ministry.
Through their personal stories and practical suggestions, the Hams empower parents to go against the flow of the world and be accountable for what their children are learning about life and truth. They expound upon the idea of having the Bible as an axiom, the central point around which your beliefs and ideas revolve. This is essential to gain the confidence in God’s grace you need to raise your children in truth. The Hams point out it “is totally inconsistent to insist on a biblical foundation, but at the same time accept man’s fallible views about the universe and life or somehow try to mix them together.”
This book will challenge you, encourage you, and bless you. It will grow your confidence in God’s ability to use you to parent your children and help you rely more fully on His grace. The only eternal substances you can take with you after death are the souls of people. Although you cannot take your car, boat, house, or bank account, you can take your children with you. So are your priorities and actions reflecting this fact? Are you investing your time and efforts in your children’s training in truth or in other momentary possessions? Two questions that challenged me were, “You might know what psychologists, pastors, or your parents say; but do you know what God says in His Word?” and, “Could you write down clear biblical guidelines for raising your children?” (p.82, 83).
In addition to supplying excellent information, the book provides useful tools at the end of each chapter to help the readers retain and apply what they have learned. There is a recap of key thoughts as well questions to provoke parents into assuming an active role in the legacy they will leave to their children. Also included are resources to equip parents to accomplish the mandates set forth in the chapter.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book for any Christian who is or may someday be a parent.
It’s no surprise that Ham Senior held fast to the Word of God as man’s final authority, including its record of origins and creation. Ken Ham grew up during a time in which very little scientific evidence was mainstream to support the creation account. When his dad was unable to answer Ken's questions, Ham Senior encouraged Ken that his lack of answers didn't mean there were no answers. Ken’s father clearly understood “that if Adam wasn't created from dust, and that if he didn't fall into sin as Genesis states, then the gospel message of the New Testament can’t be true either” (p.19). This assurance led Ken on the journey that has become the internationally reaching Answers in Genesis ministry.
Through their personal stories and practical suggestions, the Hams empower parents to go against the flow of the world and be accountable for what their children are learning about life and truth. They expound upon the idea of having the Bible as an axiom, the central point around which your beliefs and ideas revolve. This is essential to gain the confidence in God’s grace you need to raise your children in truth. The Hams point out it “is totally inconsistent to insist on a biblical foundation, but at the same time accept man’s fallible views about the universe and life or somehow try to mix them together.”
This book will challenge you, encourage you, and bless you. It will grow your confidence in God’s ability to use you to parent your children and help you rely more fully on His grace. The only eternal substances you can take with you after death are the souls of people. Although you cannot take your car, boat, house, or bank account, you can take your children with you. So are your priorities and actions reflecting this fact? Are you investing your time and efforts in your children’s training in truth or in other momentary possessions? Two questions that challenged me were, “You might know what psychologists, pastors, or your parents say; but do you know what God says in His Word?” and, “Could you write down clear biblical guidelines for raising your children?” (p.82, 83).
In addition to supplying excellent information, the book provides useful tools at the end of each chapter to help the readers retain and apply what they have learned. There is a recap of key thoughts as well questions to provoke parents into assuming an active role in the legacy they will leave to their children. Also included are resources to equip parents to accomplish the mandates set forth in the chapter.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book for any Christian who is or may someday be a parent.
June 13, 2012
In Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World, Ken Ham, well-loved founder of Answers in Genesis and Australian “missionary to the godless country of America,” divulges the secrets of Christian parental success. Using endearing anecdotes from his childhood and hefty Scriptural backup, he gives very practical tips to those who wish to build a foundation for a lasting family legacy. Ham warns parents to guard from the modern pagan religion of tolerance and secular humanism taught in schools and exhorts parents to uphold their responsibility to be the primary trainer of the content and authority of the Bible to their children, reminding them to always communicate it in an atmosphere of love. He urges parents to make educational choices that will benefit their childrens' sanctification, “even at great personal sacrifice,” and always monitor the content of the teaching, whether it be public, Christian, private or even homeschool. He also warns parents to not expect their children to be salt and light before they are salt and light. “It is too easy to lose saltiness in an unsalty environment.” He makes it very clear that in order to create an environment for children’s sanctification, we must live out compelling conviction, have a personal relationship with Christ, and clearly understand our roles and responsibilities. Very well done, indeed.
June 11, 2013
Ham was quite repetitive but broad up some great points and had good stats to back up his beliefs. I felt he raised some great points, outlined good initiatives that we can implement in our home and make the steps that are necessary to raise Godly children.
December 14, 2013
Good, solid, but pretty basic.
Also funny how Ken Ham's focus on Genesis 1-11 comes through very strong. I understand that's his passion, but it seemed like he was hopping up on his soapbox ever other chapter whether or not it fit perfectly.
Also funny how Ken Ham's focus on Genesis 1-11 comes through very strong. I understand that's his passion, but it seemed like he was hopping up on his soapbox ever other chapter whether or not it fit perfectly.
June 5, 2012
All Christian parents should read this! A wonderful reminder to stand firm on the Word of God as our everything resource, especially for parenting!
July 3, 2012
"If you are going to leave a legacy like Bunyan or Luther, you are going to have to decide to go against the flow, because the flow of the world today is leading to decay, death, and even hell."
Read
June 19, 2018Man, the pride. 🙄 I can't.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews