How Can I Talk to My Unbelieving Parents about the Gospel?

NATHAN W. BINGHAM: This week, we’re joined by Dr. Voddie Baucham, and we’re recording live from Ligonier’s 2023 National Conference. Dr. Baucham, how do we talk to our unbelieving parents about the gospel?

DR. VODDIE BAUCHAM: Yeah, unbelieving parents, what a challenge, right? Because we’re their children and we’re called to honor them. Also, they see us in a particular light. That can be very difficult.

First of all, we have to do it, right? We love our parents, they need the gospel, so we have to do it. But when we do it, we need to be wise and respectful, and we have to balance that when we’re coming to them with the gospel. Look for opportunities, take advantage of those opportunities, be respectful when we communicate to them, and be wise when we communicate to them.

But there has to be that commitment beforehand that they need the gospel and we have to communicate it. And the reason I say that is because the tendency will be to just let it go, right? “I brought it up, it didn’t go well, I want to keep the peace,” right? “I don’t want them to be rolling their eyes every time I come around, so I’m just not going to bring it up.” We can’t go there, right? So, we’ve got to be somewhere between that and destroying the relationship because it’s all we talk about. So again, wise and respectful.