Discipling our Children

The moral decline of our society is blatant and obvious to both the Christian and non-Christian alike. Some think that we can mandate morality through some political means or other attempt to force Biblical morality upon an unwilling people. Some of us Christians live so like the world, and are suprised when our children follow in turn. And yet others choose to do nothing, after all...it is out of our hands.

As a parent these issues are paramount to me. And over the course of the last year, the Lord has really been dealing with my husband and me about how we are raising our children. We both have had some radical ideas coming to us....so radical indeed that we hesitated to approach each other with them, only to find the other had the same exact feelings on it.

As parents we have more power than we know. We are given amazing gifts and opportunities pertaining to our children. God cares very much how these children will be raised, and gives us instruction as to how we are to see to it. Proverbs 22:6 delares, "Train a child in the way he should go,and when he is old he will not turn from it." Note, it doesn't say "ship your kids to church to learn about me", or "send them to a teacher to be educated". It is a mandate to parents....it is our responsibility, and our unique position to rear and disciple our own children. And it starts from day one. It is through the lifetime of the child that the parent models for them the unfailing love of God, the trustworthiness and truth of His Word, and the way that a child of God should live. It isn't any wonder that study after study with teens has declared that the most important influence on their life is their parents.

But this goes even deeper. Scripture declares that when we do this the right way, this instruction will trickle down to all of our future generations. Psalm 78:2-6 says,
2 I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

3 what we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our forefathers
to teach their children,

6 so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.


Here's where it gets radical. We must raise our children in a profoundly different way than that of their peer generation. We must set them apart through the teaching of Biblical virtues, and modeling of a Christian life. It does absolutely no good to teach them things that we are unwilling to attempt to live out. It also, if I may be so bold, does little good to teach them a Biblical worldview when an entirely contrary and morally defunct view is being modeled before them 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. I recognize the implications here. I am not sure that even the most well meaning and good intentioned of my generation's Christian families did enough to prepare their children to face the world through Christ. I feel that many parents of recent generations have assumed that this would be done in Sunday school or through one day a week in a church house. No, my friends. The Bible clearly expresses that the discipling of children in the Lord is the responsibility of those rearing the child (ideally parents). Furthermore, it is a 24/7 job, and the most important we are given. And I admit....I am totally enept to do it. I must in this instance trust in the Lord I love to guide us and keep us in this endeavor. I will say, however, that the church family and a network of other Christian families is vital in the pursuit of discipling children. It often takes a tremendous effort by the parents to at the least somewhat distant those relationships which are harmful to the task of discipling our children.

I really don't believe that most parents of our Christian generation are willing to do what it takes to make this happen, or give up what it takes to see it through. Again, we are so not there yet. But I will say I believe the number is growing who the Lord has dealt with on this issue and are taking up the cross of discipling and teaching their children. This is one reason why I feel homeschooling is such an important step in this task. We need to teach them to think about what they learn, rather than just digest what is being given to them. They need to be able to by faith and reason discern the things that are told to them. When this is the case, the world will see the difference in our little ones, and they will be primed and positioned to make a difference for the cause of Christ.

Ref.
Gen. 18:18-19, Psalm 145:4, Joel 1:3, Deut. 4:9-10