I think it goes back to, in some way, him being more liberal in his Christianity. SInce he probably doesn't hold to a more Reformed system f beliefs, he is not relying on the sovereignty of God and instead is just hoping his children make the right choice. I can't judge though. Maybe he does hold to a Calvinistic theology and is a hyper-Calvinist and is over-relying on the sovereignty of God to save his children.