Teen fell for lies online *

Q: my 17 year old son has found some church online that doesnt teach sin and repentance biblically. He decided he is going to leave for another church, but is going to speak to the pastor this week as part of his "departure". Advice?

A: He is under your roof and he has to obey and honor his parents, so no he cannot leave to the other church. Simple as that 🤷🏻‍♂️. They're under your roof, your protection, your guidance, your love, your spiritual leadership. And you are raising them rightly in a biblical faith and church. And they're under your chosen church's leadership of the pastor as the family's shepherd. 

Fix all of this now before he graduates and leaves home. 

Perspective and Advice: 

Teens usually bought into some lie thry listened to in the social cesspool media (didnt have parental guards around it but had free run of the internet 🙃) and no actual Christian guidance at home; communication, daily family devotions, teaching essentials of the faith, explaining errors going on in false Christianity [such as Andy Stanley OT nonsense, altered Repentance meaning baloney teaching, etc], discussing errors out there with your kids, etc...and likely lacks a saved father (as the spiritual leader in the home). Though mom too should talk of these things in daily life 247 as the OT encouraged parents/homes to do (comings and goings too). There is some parental failure here that needs course correcting, and can be done. 

Besides having un supervised/free run of the internet, and not staying under the teaching and shepherding of yalls church, one big issue is he had no grounding and foundations on understanding these things, so that when he heard it... a red flag went up to where he immediately would avoid that site or church. This is something you can begin doing at home now and I recommend you start with those issues. It does seem he has embraced this false view so he can sin freely. So love of sin is the core issue here. And ppssibly specific ones. 

If you can find solid sermons at gty.org that deal with this (search metanoia and andy stanley on the site) to find some, pre screen them, and begin a family time after dinner to watch sermons (a sermon) and discuss Christian topics before false teachers or atheists pull him from faith.
>>He needs to grasp the essentials before you can tackle any other secondary or tertiary issues.
>>He needs to properly grasp SIN.
>>He needs active parental involvement in spiritual areas daily (and at every opportunity).
>>He needs to study the topic in Scripture across all of Scripture on the topic of sin (and righteousness, and why people go to Hell). And on God's Holiness.*
>> He needs to be guided by 3 or 4 godly mature men in the church (from the a mens group) of reliable in the faith folk to meet weekly with him to disciple; discuss faith based things and questions. That can include the decons and pastor. So.... he is getting guidance at home and can ask questions among those shepherds in person. Since he is keen to run off to another church the meetings should be at your home so he isnt sneaking off to that false other church, and so you know he is where he is supposed to be and that he is learning truth.

Usually the reasons teens leave faith or sound churches are listening to those outside your bible focused church online, a top 10 atheistic baloney objection or twisting of Scripture subtly by false folk. If you can raise a child to know the answers to those main faq they dont stray, they stay firm within biblical orthodoxy. If you can find out what those things he heard about that caused him to want to leave church/Christianity ... first, go get prepared on answering then bring that answer to them (via you and the pastor in a meeting; even if you have said pastor come to your house). [Right now], Once he realize it was lies "from the world" he will come back. Teens will feel dumb for having been duped away but at least they course corrected cuz of your guoding loving discipleship.

Other then that, the ones who walk away from the faith usually realize they were wrong by 30 or 35 and come back. That is because theyve begun thinking for themselves after having left (and are out of the grasp of) the brainwashing folk in public schools and atheist run colleges.

Sometimes their "leaving Christianity" or desire to go to false churches is due to a wishy washy modern gospel; they leave cuz they cant connect what your flimsy church is saying when they have, experience or see suffering in the world and among believers... as if theres some wonderful life free of sins stain & problems theyre supposed to magically get as a Christian, and so disillusionment of said supposed promise leads to bitterness... but thats cuz they came to Christ for wrong reasons and a false gospel. And the church focused on fun nit factual truths from Scripture. Our wonderful life doesnt start till Heaven 😉. And parents need to explain that well at home. And be teaching biblical truths daily. 

Understanding Christianity or... the Bible takes a lifetime. Young people barely grasp any of it esp if their only knowledge of it comes from 1 Sunday a week; 52 days out of a whole year. Home spiritual education is important so it covers 365 days.

Kids and teens are naive impressionable and need guidance in truth and the faith. If they are not given that/not getting that at home and at church then they are easily led astray by Satan via those in the World who are his children. 

I hope these resources here help your family.

Essentials of Christianity
Secondary beliefs

False teachers and false preachers

World issues
Feminist issues
Raising godly men
Raising godly women
Resources for Teens
Resources for Parents of Kids
Resources for Parents of Teens
The Gospel Presentation
Books by age group
Helpful Topics & Sermons
Resources for Growing Believers

Top Answers to Typical questions or objections around Christianity

God bless