Children today are growing up in a world where answers are instantly available. Questions that once led a child to a parent, a teacher, or a church leader are now directed to a screen more often than not. And frequently, the answers they get are troubling, affirming the wrong things, and sometimes dangerous.
The issue is not simply that children are using new tools like AI. The concern is the idea of formation. When a child repeatedly turns to an external source for guidance, that source begins to shape how the child thinks, evaluates, and responds. Scripture places that formative responsibility squarely in the home and rooted in God's Word (Deut. 6:6-7; Eph. 6:4).
Our role as parents is not just being a provider, but we have the responsibility of training the mind and heart.
Tools that provide quick answers can also bypass the slower process of learning wisdom and the effort that develops mental muscle. Discernment is not formed by getting spoon-fed conclusions but by being taught how to think, weigh choices, and make decisions (Heb. 5:14). Children who grow accustomed to outsourcing all judgment will struggle to develop the moral clarity that comes through parent-guided instruction and experience.
We may not be able to go back to a simpler time and eliminate technology, but if parents disengage, something else more sinister will fill the vacuum - peers, social media, or increasingly intrusive digital systems. The question is not whether children will be influenced, but by whom (Prov. 4:23).
Christian Courier, March 2026