How Pastors Can Protect Our Children

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Pastors are the undershepherds God has appointed to guard and feed his flock (Acts 20:28). As shepherds they are those who guide, feed, and protect the sheep. A pastor that will not protect the church should not be in the pastorate. 

In our day, the defense of the church is often neglected by pastors who wish to avoid “getting political.” Out of a desire to win the lost, pastors will craft their sermons and ministry in order to appeal to those outside the church. This can often happen while the sheep under their care starve for biblical truth. 

Legal compulsion in Colorado

In progressive strongholds like Colorado and Washington, governments are aggressively undermining parental rights and free speech. Colorado recently passed HB25-1312, titled the “Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals” or “The Kelly Loving Act,” which criminalizes so-called “deadnaming” and “misgendering.” Under this law, referring to someone by their biological sex or birth name, rather than their perceived identity, could now trigger penalties under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. 

This isn’t just cultural pressure; it’s legal compulsion. The same state whose Civil Rights Commission once punished Jack Phillips for refusing to bake a cake that violated his religious beliefs is now doubling down. Though the Supreme Court overturned that decision, Colorado’s political class seems determined to make everyone who dissents from transgender orthodoxy into a new Jack Phillips. The message is clear: it’s no longer “Bake the cake.” It’s “Use the pronouns.”

Seven ways pastors can help protect our children

What can pastors do to help parents in the face of such extreme hostility towards Christians? How can pastors guard the flock and feed them God’s Word during such times?

Pastors need to speak to families and parents in the church to equip them for the challenges that face us today. 

1. Strengthen Christian marriages

One of the key battle grounds for truth in our day often plays out in marriage. Recently in Colorado, a mother divorced her husband because he did not want to go along with their child’s gender confusion. The mom and child testified in support of HB1312. The father testified before the senate against it. It was heartbreaking to witness. A strong marriage based on biblical principles protects children against these kinds of destructive ideologies.

Fathers and mothers must be aligned in their biblical convictions not just about biblical truth but the importance of raising their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Pastors should encourage parents to invest in their marriage. In the pulpit, they can exhort fathers and mothers to live together according to God’s Word. Churches can offer workshops on parenting or provide date nights for parents to get away. Strong Christian marriages operate a bulwark against radical gender ideology.

2. Explore alternative education

One way transgenderism spreads is through public schools. By and large, public schools are a key vector for cultivating sexual perversion. The curriculum is often godless and incorporates radical transgender ideology from the top down. Even when Christians band together to start a charter school to avoid this top down enforcement of gender ideology, the local school district may not permit them to operate. Pastors might encourage their flock to remove their children from public education.

While many parents cherish the public school nostalgia of their youth, the times have changed. Public schools are not always safe for Christian children. Pastors can explore alternative education models like Edefy, which seeks to partner parents with teachers. They can partner with a local Christian school or a homeschool group. Pastors should explain clearly from Scripture that parents are in charge of their child’s growth in Christ (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). This growth will be severely and often irreparably harmed by putting Christian children in public schools.

3. Prioritize church attendance

Regular church attendance is a key factor in making disciples of Jesus Christ. Families that prioritize regular church attendance are shown to be more satisfied in their marriage. Belonging to a local church is essential for followers of Christ. Pastors need not be shy about emphasizing the importance of regular church attendance. They can follow up with guests or members who have been absent for several weeks. They can preach on ecclesiology and the relevance for community. 

4. Promote Christian counselors

Counselors in states like Colorado are barred from questioning the sexual identity of their counselees or encouraging them to change sexual behaviors. While Christians counselors can offer biblical wisdom, secular counselors are almost always co-conspirators in gender confusion. Visiting a secular counselor for help with your marriage or parenting is inviting danger upon your home.

Pastors can offer biblical care and counsel from the Bible for members who need care and healing. Whatever the condition we face, we know that God’s Word provides the answers we need (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Churches will need to reassess relationships with existing outside counselors or specialists to ensure that the congregation is not referred to someone whose practice is inconsistent with biblical teaching on sex. 

5. Teach discernment with technology

Another way transgenderism spreads is technology. Open internet access to children should be restricted. Movies and television shows should be closely monitored in order for any signs of sex confusion. Social media is common among many young people and Christian parents should protect their child as long as possible from the dangers. Pastors can warn their flock about the dangers of social media by offering Bible classes on using discernment with technology and wisdom from the book of Proverbs. 

6. Prepare for persecution

With laws such as HB25-1312 in Colorado and others like in Washington, Christians must be prepared to face persecution. If Christians speak the truth and do not lie, then they will be subject to persecution. Not only is this a matter of religious liberty or free speech, it is ultimately about the state forcing citizens to lie. It is dystopian. When a Christian “misgenders” or “deadnames” someone, they should not only have a strong faith built up by personal devotion and love for the Lord, they should also know that their church has their back.

7. Educate on legal options

Pastors can also help educate congregants on their legal options by contacting the Alliance Defending Freedom. It would be prudent for pastors to protect their flock by signing up for a membership with the ADF and to let their church know about that membership. Pastors can also model telling the truth by willingly “deadnaming” or “misgendering” people stuck in gender confusion. Pastors cannot expect their congregation to be more courageous than they are. 

In some cases, Christians must also be prepared to file suit against the state. Pastors must equip parents with all the legal options available to them and not just play defense but be ready to go on offense to overturn unjust laws. In Colorado particularly, business owners can sue the state for violating their free speech and religious freedom.

A final warning

What is happening in Colorado and Washington does not stay in Colorado and Washington. This ideology spreads through public schools and social media to all corners of our nation. Christians in more conservative areas of the country may think no action is needed at this time but that is far from the truth. Recently, a public school teacher in Red Oak TX was caught living as a transgender and making children use his perceived pronouns.

Drag Queen story hours can now be seen in any major metropolitan area in our nation. Too often, conservative Christians in conservative areas think “what is the harm?” or “we just want to be left alone.” Christians can no longer afford to “live and let live.” It is time for Christians to enter back into the public square. 

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