Keith recently came across this article from Albert Mohler, http://www.albertmohler.com/2012/09/11/christian-values-cannot-save-anyone/ , which has forced me to really think about the call to parenting even more. I highly recommend the article and would encourage you to seek the Lord's leading, direction and wisdom in the area of child-rearing.
You wonder why so many children are growing up in "Christian" homes and yet are forsaking that faith that they seemed to believe in when college comes around. Are we surprised though? Really? "Christian values are the problem. Hell will be filled with people who were avidly committed to Christian values. Christian values cannot save anyone and never will. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a Christian value, and a comfortability with Christian values can blind sinners to their need for the gospel. Parents who raise their children with nothing more than Christian values should not be surprised when their children abandon those values. If the child or young person does not have a firm commitment to Christ and to the truth of the Christian faith, values will have no binding authority, and we should not expect that they would. Most of our neighbors have some commitment to Christian values, but what they desperately need is salvation from their sins. This does not come by Christian values, no matter how fervently held. Salvation comes only by the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Al Mohler)"
Growing up in a God-fearing and Christian home myself, I have seen the danger that is present for children. How does a child relate good behavior, morality, and Christian values to the Gospel? So what do we do as parents. I am not claiming to know all the answers but I do have the Word of God and believe that HE alone speaks to the problem and the solution.
In 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Timothy is exhorted to REMEMBER, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
I believe that there is much that we can learn from this passage in Scripture, and others, when it comes to parenting.
PRAY: We need God's equipping in our parenting, let us seek His wisdom, guidance, and strength for each day and every child. Only He can empower us and use us as the tools to train up our children in the way they should go, and only HE can save them. It starts on our knees. Pray they remember.
TEACH: We must teach our children the Word of God from birth, and even before. We must instill a love for the Living and Active Words of the Creator in their hearts and lives. That foundation is vital. They must be taught that only here is TRUTH found, that this is where ALL answers to life lie. They must see a love in us for the Word of God, an example to follow. They must be taught to cherish this Word.
PREACH: There are so many stories we want to and should teach our children from Scripture, but ALL stories must point them back to the cross and the Gospel. We must put the cross in focus as the centrality of all of life, and make sure that they realize, from a young age, the glory of it all.
INSTRUCT: If we instruct our kids from a young age with Gospel centered discipline and correction, we will instill something foundational in their hearts...that their HEART is the problem, that they need a Savior, and that only Christ can save. When they fail to obey, we must show them why they cannot obey in and of themselves, when they harbor anger at a brother or sister, we must show them that it is impossible to love rightly unless you have experienced true love from God the Father through Christ etc.
EXAMPLE: Do they see us LIVE the Gospel? Yes, we might preach it to them, we might discipline them by using it, but have they seen it in action in our marriage, in our relationship with them, and with others? Do they see Jesus in us? Are we humble enough to repent in front of them, or even ask their forgiveness when we are wrong? They must SEE the Gospel in action.
Yes, we want homes filled with Christian values and morality, but may that never be our aim as Christian parents. May we seek to rather have homes that are filled with the Gospel, and children who are changed forever by its power!
You wonder why so many children are growing up in "Christian" homes and yet are forsaking that faith that they seemed to believe in when college comes around. Are we surprised though? Really? "Christian values are the problem. Hell will be filled with people who were avidly committed to Christian values. Christian values cannot save anyone and never will. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a Christian value, and a comfortability with Christian values can blind sinners to their need for the gospel. Parents who raise their children with nothing more than Christian values should not be surprised when their children abandon those values. If the child or young person does not have a firm commitment to Christ and to the truth of the Christian faith, values will have no binding authority, and we should not expect that they would. Most of our neighbors have some commitment to Christian values, but what they desperately need is salvation from their sins. This does not come by Christian values, no matter how fervently held. Salvation comes only by the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Al Mohler)"
Growing up in a God-fearing and Christian home myself, I have seen the danger that is present for children. How does a child relate good behavior, morality, and Christian values to the Gospel? So what do we do as parents. I am not claiming to know all the answers but I do have the Word of God and believe that HE alone speaks to the problem and the solution.
In 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Timothy is exhorted to REMEMBER, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
I believe that there is much that we can learn from this passage in Scripture, and others, when it comes to parenting.
PRAY: We need God's equipping in our parenting, let us seek His wisdom, guidance, and strength for each day and every child. Only He can empower us and use us as the tools to train up our children in the way they should go, and only HE can save them. It starts on our knees. Pray they remember.
TEACH: We must teach our children the Word of God from birth, and even before. We must instill a love for the Living and Active Words of the Creator in their hearts and lives. That foundation is vital. They must be taught that only here is TRUTH found, that this is where ALL answers to life lie. They must see a love in us for the Word of God, an example to follow. They must be taught to cherish this Word.
PREACH: There are so many stories we want to and should teach our children from Scripture, but ALL stories must point them back to the cross and the Gospel. We must put the cross in focus as the centrality of all of life, and make sure that they realize, from a young age, the glory of it all.
INSTRUCT: If we instruct our kids from a young age with Gospel centered discipline and correction, we will instill something foundational in their hearts...that their HEART is the problem, that they need a Savior, and that only Christ can save. When they fail to obey, we must show them why they cannot obey in and of themselves, when they harbor anger at a brother or sister, we must show them that it is impossible to love rightly unless you have experienced true love from God the Father through Christ etc.
EXAMPLE: Do they see us LIVE the Gospel? Yes, we might preach it to them, we might discipline them by using it, but have they seen it in action in our marriage, in our relationship with them, and with others? Do they see Jesus in us? Are we humble enough to repent in front of them, or even ask their forgiveness when we are wrong? They must SEE the Gospel in action.
Yes, we want homes filled with Christian values and morality, but may that never be our aim as Christian parents. May we seek to rather have homes that are filled with the Gospel, and children who are changed forever by its power!
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