Why Go To Church? Part 7b

To Teach and Train My Children, Continued.

In the previous post, I listed a hefty amount of scripture all dealing with the parental responsibility to train children. Because much of what could be said in this article has already been previously stated under “I Go To Church to Learn the Word of God”, this section will be short.

The church is the other God ordained institution that should teach/train children, though it should be secondary, not primary in this pursuit. The greater issue when teaching children is impressionability. The world system has this truth passionately burned into its conscience. Anti-God rhetoric is littered across all pedagogy in all public schools, programs, and literature. Churches, depending on denomination, have been deeply influenced by the world, and many nominal Christians have accepted legions of anti-God philosophy. For instance, Rob Bell is preaching a universalistic gospel, but uses various scripture – though blatantly out of context – to keep “Christians” baited. If a Christian does not have enough Bible knowledge and more so, Bible wisdom, to deal with such error, he will fall pray. Granted, many churches do not have the extreme heretical levels of Rob Bell, Joel Osteen, or Rick Warren to name a few, but many do hold Augustinian, Calvinistic, and Catholic pollutions.

If I as a parent present my children to the system for education, I then open a giant door to let anyone, even with the best intentions, to teach my children. As a child, I remember attending Presbyterian, Southern Baptist, Free-Will Baptist, and Independent Fundamental Baptist Schools. Without fail, my father would ask my brother and I if we were being taught this or that error from this or that school. We were definitely indoctrinated, but did not really realize how that indoctrination was taking place. (Side note, my father was much more hands on than most parents are, believe me. As a teacher, I only consistently talked with 4 maybe 5 parents over the span of 5 years). The point is this, children are sponges. Whatever you teach them, they will almost without fail accept what is being said. Hence Jesus’ words in Matthew.

Matthew 18:1-6

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

It is brutally difficult to “retrain” a child once he’s been indoctrinated either for good or for evil. Don’t believe me? Try reasoning with a life-long Muslim, Jew, Hindu….  It is not impossible, but close. Which is further illustrated by Solomon.

Proverbs 22:6

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Most churches have a watered down “kid” approach, which makes Bible truths into cutsie kid stories. Those kid stories remain kiddish well into adulthood. For instance, if a child is brought up with the Apostle Paul looking like a giant, talking cucumber, he will have that picture for many years. This is a dumbed down approach to the Bible, and highly irreverent. The end result makes the “stories” just that and nothing more. The Bible is much more than stories, it is truth that frees from sin (John 8:29 ff.).

Another more dangerous issue is Salvation. Using the dumbed down approach, many well-meaning teachers will coax children into praying a pray to “Go to Heaven.” What’s wrong with this after all? 1. All kids would rather go to Heaven than Hell. 2. They are trusting that the adult knows what she’s talking about. 3. They trust the prayer that the adult leads them in. 4. No repentance is mentioned ever (being sorry is not the essence of repentance, more on that later). 5. No 1,2,3 repeat after me prayer is ever used by anyone ever in the Bible. 6. When children mature into adulthood based upon faulty methods leading to false-conversion, a total lack of “assurance” becomes a severe problem. Further teachers ensure the now teen/young adult that they prayed the prayer, and are in fact saved. In fact, however, the issue that the now matured child has is conviction, that is real conviction that he is lost, and living a life of sin apart from God. What in turn happens is an inoculated “God Believer” but not “Christ Follower” has been created. This belief will not save, because of the crippling false gospel message that was taught at a young age. Just wanting to go to Heaven is the wrong motive for salvation, it is inherently selfish. We must trust Christ upon both 1. Faith, which leads to 2. Repentance – that is a change of attitude toward sin, which will in turn change your life of sin to one of righteousness. Many, including children want to “Go to Heaven”, but few want to get rid of sin. They want a Heaven filled with the “peaceful, loving God of youth”, but they become offended with the Just, Righteous, Jealous God of the Bible after they mature. Parents, be careful, this is the harmful message most churches are teaching your child. Do not forsake, nor forget Matthew 18:6!

6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Children most certainly believe in God, you will not find one who doesn’t. They have to be educated out of the obvious, which proves how stupid adults become in order to continue in their sin. If they already believe in God, then teach them Christ. Teach them truth. Teach them yourself. It may be the difference between Heaven or Hell.

Why Go To Church, Part 7a.

8a. To teach/train my kids. Church is most certainly a God-ordained institution to teach/train. The other, and main, institution is the home. There is a third institution that God ordained, but He did not ordain it to teach/train, He ordained it to protect (not read provide), that is the government. The government does at times teach/train, but that is after the parent has failed – not the church, but the parent only, sorry parents – and the government has to penalize, jail, or even kill as necessity dictates.No parent wants the government then to ultimately teach a child under these circumstances. From the remaining two choices, which one has precedence? Unequivocally the parent, so let’s look at the home first, and then as an outgrowth the church will fall into proper place.

The home was established immediately after it was created to raise children. Understandably, the objection would be that Adam, Eve, and children were all that populated the earth, so there were no work conflicts, and no time conflicts. This argument is a straw man, because God established that Adam and Eve raised their own children. When other institutions arose, God did not commute His ordered command from the parents to anything or anyone else, therefore, the fact remains that Parents raise their own Children. What does the Bible further say concerning this issue?

Ephesians 6:1-4

6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

6:2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

No one other than the parent can properly fulfill verse 4. I taught, and did love my students, but I certainly did not love them the same way I love my own child. Further, I will teach my child more than any teacher can hope to teach. This is an outgrowth of the fact that I love my child, and because I love him, I will do all that I can to ensure he succeeds in life, but more importantly with Christ.

II Thessalonians 2:11

2:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

Implicit in this verse is how a child is raise by his father, exhorted and comforted. It was understood that the parent does this, and was doing it.

I Timothy 3:4-6, 12

3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Both passages deal with “men of God”, of which we are all, but do notice that these “offices” could only be held if the family was ruled and taught well. I add taught, because it is one of the functions that the church does, and how could a pastor be a pastor if he cannot teach his own children? He cannot be a novice, and must know the Bible. (Sadly, how many pastors know very little of the Bible, or know only a few pet issues? How can they be relied upon to teach/train?)

I Timothy 5:10, 14

5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. These commands are to women, so do not think that men have the only responsibility. Women are involved in guiding the house and bringing up children. The most successful children will have a double dose of teaching from father and mother. God planned it that way back in the Garden of Eden.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. This whole passage deals with teaching God’s greatest command, to love Him. The family teaches this to the child, there is no mention of school, church, government or anything else even implied in this passage. Further, the house was even to be used as a message board for teaching God’s truths! The Jews did, and many still do practice putting scripture on walls and doorways today in accordance with these verses. This was such a vital command that it was again restated in Deuteronomy 11:19-20. Don’t miss it when God says it more than once!

Deuteronomy 31:12-13

31:12 Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:

31:13 And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

Notice that training children may at times also spill over to those who are nearby? Regardless, the Fear of the Lord is taught by the fathers, as it was commanded. Another from Deuteronomy for emphasis:

Deuteronomy 32:46

32:46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. This was part of Moses’ final words before he died, therefore, it must be particularly special, and must be heeded.

Joshua 4:21-22

4:21 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?

4:22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

This is just one of many instances where a memorial is set up before God in the Old Testament. Children would ask their fathers of the memorial’s significance, and the fathers were responsible to teach history to the questioning child.

Psalm 78:1-7

78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

78:3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

78:4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

78:5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

78:6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

78:7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

What an amazing section! Notice what is to be taught, and who is to teach it? God’s words, and the fathers respectively. This holds perpetually, as fathers teach children, and children teach children. Again, no mention of any other institution. If these truths are forgotten, then the child will not know God’s words. The Book of Proverbs was an instruction manual given by a father, Solomon, to his son, Rehoboam. Consider some examples:

Proverbs 4:1-2

4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

Solomon gives instruction in Chapters 5-7 concerning the forward man, and the harlot. He commands children to listen throughout.

Proverbs 31:26-28

31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. The woman disseminates wisdom as well. She cares for her children as she does this, and will earn praise from those children that walk after God.

Isaiah 38:19

38:19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. The father makes truth known to his child.

Jeremiah illustrates what happens to those generations who do not teach God’s Word to their children. They become foolish, and only understand evil. Based upon the well accepted statistic that 85%, stated in every Christian Educator conference I attended, of Christian school kids go into the world, this verse illuminates that truth profoundly.

Jeremiah 4:22

4:22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. No doubt children can readily quote any rock song, movie line, and tv show joke much easier than he can quote John 1:1, 3:16, 3:30, or any other verse.

Our families are failing to toe the line, and do what God commanded, raise your own child! There are hundreds more examples throughout the Bible that illustrate Parental teaching. There are none to be found supporting any other child raising method.

Hosea 4:6

4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

The greatest reason why parents do not train their own children is because they do not know the Bible themselves. This is another illustration of the Christian school’s, and church’s, failure. Most students in Christian Education are products of parents who were also in Christian Education. Their lack of knowledge has created further generations who know even less about the Bible than they did.

Destruction is promised to those who do not have knowledge. Heed this promise parents! Learn what God has commanded for yourself, that way when someone who claims to be a “servant of God” comes along, you can rightly divide the word of truth, and expose error for what it is. It is your responsibility to protect your child from error, no one else’s! You will stand before God and give account for how you raised your child, make sure it is a good account!