“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he
is old he will not turn from it” (Pro. 22:6)
This past month school started. Public education can be a
wonderful thing. We have been blessed with many wonderful teachers and staff
members here in Eugene and the surrounding areas. Yet educating our kids is not
just something that is to take place in the classroom, we as parents have a
huge responsibility.
Over the past 2 months we have considered how the doctrine
of original sin (that mankind inherited sin from Adam and Eve) is not Biblical.
A person cannot be held accountable for the sins of their parents or children
(Ezek. 18:4, 20; Rom. 14:12). And Scripture confirms that originally all people
are created morally upright just like Adam and Eve were (Ecc. 7:29).
Furthermore, the Apostle Paul spoke of a time in which he was
alive spiritually but then when the law came, he says that he died spiritually
(Rom. 7:8-9). The only time then that a
person could be alive spiritually in the absence of God’s law is prior to them
understanding good from evil, right from wrong (Deut. 1:39; Jonah 4:11; Rom.
9:11).
From these passages we find the doctrine of original grace,
every person who does not come to the point of understanding right from wrong
yet perishes is assured of their salvation. This naturally leads to the
doctrine of the age of accountability. When a child does understand right from
wrong they are now accountable for their sins.
Unfortunately, Scripture tells us that at that point all
sin, and thus, die spiritually just like Paul explained (Rom. 3:23; 7:9). This places a huge responsibility upon us as
parents. The Bible teaches that we are to raise up our kids in the ways of the
Lord. Dr. James Dobson said, “There is nothing more important to most Christian
parents than the salvation of their children.”
The Lord commands us to tell our kids about the Lord as we
go through life (Deut. 6:6-7). So don’t just drop your kids off at the mall. Go
with them. Talk to them about what they see. When they see the outfits that
have necklines that meet the hemlines; it is an educational moment. Ask your
kids what they think an outfit like that is trying to tell you about your
bodies, and how you should think about yourself? What do you think that that
kind of outfit will tell others when they see you in it? What do you think that
boys will think when they see you in it? This should be the case in all of
life. So while you are watching TV, use it as a teaching moment to discuss what
is going on. Class is always in session, and dad and mom are the teachers. That
is what Scripture commands us to do. Remember, this is about the salvation of
your kids.
As parents we are to teach our kids about the Lord through
our words and through our actions. If you want your kids to follow the Lord, do
you follow Him? Sadly, there is not much difference between the majority of
Christian parents and parents who are not Christians. So are you modeling what
a Christian is supposed to look like?
Can they tell by your actions that your faith in Christ
matters to you? Do you communicate with God on a daily basis through prayer,
and reading the Bible? Are you actively a part of His body, the church? And are
you taking part in the Great Commission through sharing your faith?
Remember, there is nothing more important than the
salvation of your kids. Therefore, may we as parents teach our kids about the
Lord and model what it means to be a genuine Christian to them.
In His service,
Matt
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