It’s important to help teens understand that real freedom means living with the grain of reality.
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When kids are young, we work hard to train their consciences, to teach them God’s commands and how to choose between right and wrong. But as kids get older, they must learn to navigate issues that aren’t black and white. They need wisdom to discern between good choices and those that are best.
One of the best ways to train a teenager in wisdom is to talk to him about what Martin Luther called “Christian freedom.” For us, “Christian freedom” brings to mind disputable matters like whether it’s appropriate for Christians to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes—topics that are important but daunting to bring up with your child as he heads toward his adult years.
