Parents, Here’s Three War Conversation Opportunities

We Need to Have a Conversation about the War

Often, I have said things to my children that I thought I’d never have to say in my life. Most of those times they were silly things like, “Don’t put that gum you just scraped off the bottom of a table in your mouth.” Unfortunately, due to the nature of the “such a time as this” we live in, I’ve found myself talking about subjects I’d never thought I’d have to communicate. Most of those deal with morality like how to deal with what to do when a fourth-grade friend has decided they are gay. Along those lines, I never thought I’d have to talk about a world-wide pandemic or an unprovoked military invasion as we’ve seen happen in Ukraine.

There’s no avoiding our children seeing or hearing about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I don’t think there is a big enough rock to hide under. For thoughtful parents it can be hard to talk about such a subject. It absolutely stinks that we must have such a conversation, but as Christian parents seeking to lay a Biblical foundation in the lives of our children and help them have a faith that lasts, this war gives us an opportunity to breach some Biblical truths that may be often neglected.

As we read in Deuteronomy 6:6-9, we must have “faith talks” with our children. It’s essential for them to have a Biblical worldview foundation. Here’s the passage for a reminder,

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. – Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NIV)

Our Children Can Handle the Conversation about the War

Our children can handle a conversation about this war. Children in history and other parts of the world today have had to deal with it as part of their life. Unfortunately, our children will likely have to deal with it far more than we have. Also, almost all of the books, shows, and movies they read, or watch have battles and wars. If they can handle Star Wars or Marvel Superheroes, they can handle a parent led discussion on the war in Ukraine and those to come.

Here are three often neglected topics that can be discussed.

Three Biblical Truths to Add into the War Conversation 

1. The world is fallen—it’s cursed.

It’s funny this is a truth we can spout easily but doesn’t always make it into our worldview. We know that when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden and the world was cursed. Therefore, the world we live in isn’t all that it could be. It’s a shadow of the wonders that will be revealed when all things will be made new. The promise in Scripture is that through Jesus’ return, the world will be made new and the curse will be gone.

The humanistic worldview that is being fed to our children in school and through entertainment has the idea that mankind will bring peace to this world and the goodness of mankind will save the planet. This is far from the truth. The World Wars did change this mindset for many of those generations, but we’ve drifted that way ourselves.

Use the unfortunate news to remind them of this Biblical truth. (Genesis 3, Revelation 22)

2. The world isn’t falling apart but is falling into place.

No offense intended, but I really dislike cheesy sayings on church marquees. I cringe internally. One I recently saw was, “The world isn’t falling apart but is falling into place.” Despite my anti-marquee phrases, I had to applaud the absolute truth in that statement.

During covid and now during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the world isn’t falling apart. God hasn’t lost control. It’s happening according to Script. Building a Biblical foundation in our children of this truth will help them have a faith that lasts. (Matthew 24:1-14)

3. The world one day will experience peace.

This point is much like the first. Mankind will not usher peace into this earth—Jesus will! It’s important our children know this truth. When Jesus returns and establishes His Kingdom—He will bring worldwide peace! Scripture says the world will then beat their swords into plows. What a difference could be made if our children knew this truth. (Isaiah 2:2-5)

Parents, if you want more help sharing about Jesus’ return to your children check out my book, Jesus and His White Horse.

Jake McCandless

Executive Director of Stand Firm and lead pastor of Epic Church NWA in Springdale, AR and multiple award-winning author, Jake has a B.A. in Bible and Pastoral Studies from Central Baptist College, and an Advanced Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Former regular contributor to the Baptist Press and WND News with popular conservative voices such as Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter, Ben Carson, Chuck Norris, Greg Laurie, Ben Schapiro, Joel Richardson, and others. He now is a weekly contributor for Israel, Islam, and the End Times and Armageddon News. He has authored books such as the, award-winning Spiritual Prepper from WND Books. Award-winning devotional books, Invincibleand For Uncertain Times, he authored the ground-breaking children’s book, Jesus and His White Horse from CrossLink Publishing. He is also a regular guest on national and international radio and streaming web shows, along with hosting his weekly live streaming program Talking Stand Firm and weekly podcast Stand Firm Parents.