Book: Raising Giants – Chapter 13: Resilient Faith – Preparing for the Post-Christian World
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- 5 days ago
- 9 min read
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." : 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
For decades, Christian parents in the West enjoyed a certain "home-field advantage." Even if your neighbors weren’t at the 9:00 AM service on Sunday, they generally shared your vocabulary. They knew who Moses was. They agreed that lying was wrong and that "loving your neighbor" was a noble pursuit. The cultural wind, while not always at our backs, wasn't exactly a hurricane blowing in our faces.
But the wind has changed.
We are no longer playing on a home field. We are playing in an away stadium where the crowd is loud, the rules have been rewritten, and the scoreboard seems to be malfunctioning. We have entered what historians and theologians call the "Post-Christian World." It is a world that doesn't just disagree with Christian truth; it has largely forgotten it, or worse, views it as a relic of a primitive and oppressive past.
If we are going to raise giants in this landscape, we cannot rely on the momentum of the culture to carry our children into maturity. Momentum is currently headed toward a cliff. Instead, we must build something that can stand against the gale: Resilient Faith.
Resilient faith isn't a faith that never has questions. It is a faith that has been tested so it can be trusted. It is a faith that knows why it believes, not just what it believes. In this chapter, we’re going to look at the "Exodus" of young people from the church and equip you with a toolkit to ensure your children aren't just survivors of this culture, but lights within it.
The Great Exodus: Understanding the Breach
The statistics are, frankly, sobering. Research from organizations like Barna and the Fuller Youth Institute suggests that a staggering number of young people raised in Christian homes: some estimates say nearly 60%: disconnect from the church after high school. This isn't a trickle; it’s a flood.
But why? Is it because they suddenly decided that 2,000-year-old manuscripts are boring? Is it because they found a more compelling argument for the origin of the universe in a TikTok comment section?
Usually, it's more subtle. They leave because their faith was "brittle." Brittle faith is a faith that is held together by habit, tradition, and the social pressure of the family unit. It looks strong on the outside, but the moment it hits the hard reality of a university philosophy class or a personal tragedy, it shatters. It doesn't bend; it breaks.
When our children encounter the "arrows" of doubt: questions about science, suffering, or the exclusivity of Jesus: they shouldn't be caught off guard. If their shield is made of paper-thin "because I said so" theology, it will be pierced. If, however, they have been trained to wield a shield of faith forged in the fire of honest inquiry, those arrows will bounce off, leaving their confidence intact.
The 6 Cracks in the Dam
To build resilience, we have to understand where the leaks are. David Kinnaman, in his landmark study You Lost Me, identified six recurring themes in why young Christians disengage. If we understand these, we can address them before the bags are packed for college.
Isolationism: They feel the church demonizes everything outside its walls (music, movies, technology).
Shallowness: They find the teaching boring or irrelevant to the "real world."
Anti-Science: They feel they have to choose between their faith and their biology textbook.
Moral Simplism: They find "just say no" unhelpful in a world of complex sexual and relational pressures.
Exclusivity: They struggle to reconcile the "one way" of Jesus with their diverse group of friends.
The "Doubt Trap": They don't feel the church is a safe place to ask hard questions.
Our job as parents isn't to build a thicker wall to keep the world out. It’s to build a deeper root system so that when the world shows up, our children aren't blown away.
Moving from "What" to "Why"
Most of our Christian education is focused on the What.
What did Noah build? (An ark.)
What is the first book of the Bible? (Genesis.)
What did Jesus do on the cross? (Died for our sins.)
Knowing the What is essential: it’s the vocabulary of faith. But in a post-Christian world, the What is easily dismissed if it isn't backed by the Why.
The "Why" is the domain of Apologetics. Now, don't let that word scare you. Apologetics doesn't mean "apologizing" for being a Christian. It comes from the Greek word apologia, which means a reasoned defense. It’s the "reason for the hope" that Peter talks about in 1 Peter 3:15.
A child who only knows what the Bible says is a child who can be talked out of their faith by anyone with a loud voice and a basic understanding of logical fallacies. A child who knows why we trust the Bible: who understands the historical reliability of the New Testament, the philosophical coherence of the Christian worldview, and the evidence of design in the cosmos: is a child who can stand their ground.
The Intellectual Toolkit: Equipping the Mind
We have to stop treating faith as an emotional "feeling" and start treating it as an intellectual "commitment to truth." If Christianity is true, it is true for the scientist, the historian, and the stay-at-home mom. It isn't just "true for me"; it’s true for everyone.
Here are three pillars of the intellectual toolkit you should begin building at the dinner table:
1. The Reliability of Scripture
Our children are told the Bible is a game of "Telephone" played across centuries. We need to show them the evidence. Talk about the thousands of manuscripts. Talk about archeological finds like the Dead Sea Scrolls. Show them that our trust in the Bible isn't "blind faith": it’s a response to a massive amount of historical evidence.
2. The Science/Faith Harmony
God is the author of two books: The Book of Scripture and The Book of Nature. They cannot contradict one another. If there is a perceived conflict, it’s because our interpretation of one (or both) is flawed. Encourage your kids to love science! Let them see that the complexity of the cell or the fine-tuning of the universe doesn't point away from a Creator; it points directly to Him.
3. The Problem of Evil and Suffering
This is the number one reason people walk away from faith. If God is good and powerful, why is there cancer? Why is there war? If you don't talk about this, the world will. We must teach our children that the Christian worldview is the only one that takes suffering seriously while also offering a definitive solution in the person of Jesus. We don't have all the answers, but we have a God who entered into our suffering to end it.
The Heart-Head Connection
Lest we get too academic, let’s remember: you can win every argument and still lose the soul. Resilience isn't just about having the right answers; it’s about having a relationship with the Right Person.
Apologetics is the "pre-evangelism" that clears the rubble of doubt so the heart can see Jesus. But once the rubble is cleared, the heart must still choose to love Him. We want our children to be "Giant Killers" like David, but remember that David wasn't just a skilled slinger; he was a "man after God's own heart."
Faith is often refined in the crucible. When our kids face a hard time: a failed test, a broken friendship, a moment of deep loneliness: that is when the "Why" becomes personal. If we have taught them that God is a celestial vending machine who gives them what they want if they pray the right words, their faith will fail in the fire. But if we have taught them that God is a loving Father who is with them in the fire, their faith will come out like refined gold.
Creating a Safe Haven for Doubt
One of the most dangerous things a Christian parent can do is react with fear or anger when a child asks a hard question.
"How do we know Jesus really rose from the dead?"
"Why does the Bible say such hard things about sexuality?"
"What about people who have never heard of Jesus?"
If your response is, "Don't ask things like that," or "Just have more faith," you have just told your child that the church is not a place for truth-seekers. You have pushed their questions "underground," where they will ferment and eventually explode into deconstruction.
Instead, when they ask a hard question, smile. Say, "That is a fantastic question. I've wondered that too. Let’s go find the answer together." By doing this, you aren't just giving them an answer; you are teaching them a process for handling doubt. You are showing them that faith is big enough to handle their questions.
The 3 Pillars of Spiritual Resilience
As we wrap up this chapter, let’s look at the blueprint for the resilient home. If you want to raise a giant who can walk into a post-Christian university and come out with their faith stronger than when they entered, you need these three pillars:
Biblical Literacy: Not just knowing "Bible stories," but knowing the "Bible Story." They need to understand the overarching narrative of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. They need to know how to read the Bible in context so they aren't tripped up by a "difficult" verse they find on an atheist blog.
Thoughtful Apologetics: Incorporate "Why" into your daily life. When you see a beautiful sunset, talk about the glory of God. When you see a news report about injustice, talk about the fall of man and our need for a Savior. Equip them with the "reason for the hope."
Vibrant Christian Community: They need to see that faith isn't just a "family hobby." They need mentors, friends, and "spiritual aunts and uncles" who love Jesus and live out their faith with joy and integrity. Resilience is caught as much as it is taught.
Preparing for the Post-Christian World: A Checklist
As you lead your family this week, ask yourself these five questions:
Am I modeling an "examined faith"? Do my children see me reading, thinking, and engaging with hard ideas?
Is our home a "Safe Zone" for questions? Would my children feel comfortable telling me they are struggling with a specific Christian teaching?
Are we building a "Biblical Worldview"? Are we teaching them to look at everything: movies, politics, social media: through the lens of Scripture?
Are we connecting the Heart and Mind? Are we making sure our study of truth leads us back to worship?
Are we relying on the Holy Spirit? At the end of the day, we can provide the best arguments in the world, but only the Holy Spirit can change a heart. Are we praying for our "giants" daily?
The world is changing, but the Truth of Jesus Christ is not. The post-Christian world isn't a threat to the Gospel; it’s an opportunity for the Gospel to shine brighter than ever. If we raise children who are resilient, thoughtful, and deeply in love with Jesus, they won't just survive the culture: they will change it.
Faith must be tested to be trusted. Don't fear the test. Prepare for it.
Reflection Questions
When your child asks a difficult question about faith, what is your internal "gut reaction"? Is it fear, or is it curiosity?
Which of the "6 Cracks in the Dam" do you think your child is most vulnerable to in their current environment?
How can you intentionally move from teaching "What" to teaching "Why" in your family devotions this week?
Who are the other adults in your life who could serve as "resilience mentors" for your children?
Prayer
Lord, we thank You that You are the Truth. We thank You that we do not have to be afraid of the world or the questions it asks. We ask that You would give us wisdom as parents to build a resilient faith in our children. Forgive us for the times we have been shallow or fearful. Help us to "set apart Christ as Lord" in our own hearts first, so that we can lead our families with gentleness and respect. We pray for our children: that they would be giants of faith, rooted in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. Protect them, guide them, and use them to bring Your light into a dark world. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Layne McDonald, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and educator dedicated to helping believers navigate the complexities of modern culture with biblical wisdom and spiritual depth. With a background in theology and leadership, Dr. McDonald specializes in creating resources that bridge the gap between academic research and practical Christian living. His work is rooted in the belief that a robust, intellectually grounded faith is essential for the next generation to thrive in a post-Christian world. Through his books and teaching, he empowers parents, leaders, and everyday believers to understand Scripture more deeply, heal emotionally, and lead with eternal purpose.
What happens when the "tested faith" meets its greatest adversary: not a philosopher or a scientist, but a moment of personal, crushing loss? Can the "Why" survive the "Woe"? We find out in Chapter 14.
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