OPINION:
This past month my family participated in Father’s Day celebrations, and I couldn’t help but think of the current environment and challenges that dads face now that were not problems for previous generations.
There are some things that remain the same – the tremendous responsibility fathers bear: to set the example for our children on how to love and live for God, to raise our kids to love God and walk with Him daily. This mission is not just about being present; it’s about being purposeful in how we demonstrate our faith and pass it along to our children.
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But in other ways, it’s vastly different. It’s not easy being a dad in today’s culture. We face a growing uphill battle. Culture portrays fathers as ignorant, irrelevant, and unnecessary, but research and lived experience demonstrate good fathers are a huge positive in stabilizing families.
Research by the National Fatherhood Initiative shows that when a child is raised in a father-absent home, they are at a greater risk of poverty, more likely to have behavioral problems, more likely to commit crime, more likely to become pregnant as a teen, more likely to face abuse, more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, more likely to drop out of school, to name a few.
In a world where every conceivable piece of media is available at your fingertips in 10 seconds, fathers need to take an active role in what media children consume.
One of the ways fathers can make a big impact on their children is to help shield our children from toxic content — especially in the online space.
Recently even Nintendo took steps to push inappropriate sexual content on small children. What has been such a trusted brand and beloved franchise for decades is now toxic for children.
In an era where screens dominate our children’s time and attention, it is paramount that we meet them where they are with content that promotes positive values. The average American kid spends 52.5 hours per week on devices, often absorbed in video games.
As a father and tech industry entrepreneur, I see this as an incredible opportunity. We must find ways to integrate the reality of Jesus Christ into every aspect of our children’s lives, including video and mobile games.
We don’t let our young children watch R-rated movies, so why do we let them play adult-themed games?
By choosing video games that promote Christian values, we can ensure that their screen time supports their spiritual growth rather than detracts from it. When thoughtfully designed, video games can be powerful tools for spiritual education, introducing children to relatable characters and stories that entertain and instill a deep, enduring faith in Christ. Fun, faith-filled gaming experiences can reinforce the lessons we teach at home and hear in church.
Moreover, playing these games together can be a bonding experience, providing opportunities for discussions about faith and life lessons. It’s a modern way to fulfill the biblical directive in Deuteronomy 6:6-7: “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.”
Studies show that reaching children with the Gospel between the ages of 4 to 14 is critical. In that age window, 63% of kids made life’s most important decision, to trust and follow Christ.
According to Barna Group, those “who embrace Christ before the age of 13 are more likely to remain absolutely committed to Christ in their adult years than are people who accept Christ in their teenage or adult years.”
Our actions, more than our words, teach our kids what it means to live a God-centered life. Regularly attending church, praying together as a family, and reading the Bible are all foundational and necessary practices.
Yet, I’ve also seen how embracing today’s tools and technologies, that already command our children’s interest, can also help foster faith and relationships. Ultimately, our most important job as fathers is using any and all means available to guide children toward becoming God-loving, responsible adults. As fathers we are not just raising children; we are raising the next generation who will carry forward the torch of faith.
Let’s commit to being the kind of men who lead by example, who integrate faith into every aspect of life, and who use every available tool to guide our children toward a deeper relationship with God.
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Brent Dusing, founder and CEO of TruPlay Games, a world-class entertainment platform for children with high quality faith-based games and entertainment that teach God’s truth. TruPlay has been endorsed by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Promise Keepers, and many other faith-based leaders.
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