I affirm, as a father of two grown children, the absolute truth of 3 John 4: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth." Trust me, there is NO greater joy for a parent than this. That being said, I can not overemphasize the urgency for Christian parents to place the highest priority to "train up" your children in Truth, by living your life as their example of such Truth. It only seems logical that if something that is offered to you promises to bring you the greatest joy in your life you would assign your highest priority to obtain it.
Children are maturing faster today than ever before. Puberty in the
1600s was not reached until after 17 years of age. Today, the average child reaches
puberty at age 12, and that number is dropping 4 months each decade. The
time we have to train our children is short, and getting shorter.
Children are growing up faster and faster and being exposed to more sin today
in one month than their grandparents or their great-grandparents
probably saw in their entire life.
The prevalent culture of the world today is an incubator pumping out generations with anti-God life styles. The Godless media machines (TV, movies, music, etc.) are constantly programming the consciences (inner sense of what is right or wrong) of our children. By the time a child reaches his/her teens, it is not uncommon that practically all hope and security has been stripped away, as seen with the letter written by the young teenager in U.S. News and World Report (slide #8).
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed 1979 as the International Year of the Child. The proclamation, signed by United Nations Secretary General, Kurt Waldheim, called for children to be freed from four things:
1. Freed from traditional morals and values.
2. Freed from parental authority, including any punishment.
3. Freed from religious discrimination.
4. Freed from nationalism or patriotism.
Social engineers practice a discipline in social science that refers to efforts to influence particular attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale. They might view themselves as "guardians" of sorts whose aim is the management of society with the end goal of achieving the highest levels of freedom, prosperity, and happiness within a population. Needless to say, we can safely assume that God is not a part of the equation. Dr. R.D. Ingthorsson states that a human being is a biological creature from birth but is from then on shaped as a person through social influences and is in that sense a social construction, a product of society. A social "construct"? Sounds like something from the Matrix.
Bottom line: The odds are against the Christian parent raising children to one day say their children "are walking in truth." However, the key variable to putting the odds in your favor is your total, uncompromising surrender to obey God's Word and walk in His truth. This is the first step to ensure your children have hope and security. Peace and purpose. God's wisdom is like gold... no, better than gold (Proverbs 8:11). Christian parents need all the wisdom they can get, and they need it FAST!
You, as the Christian parent, play a major roll in raising children who will walk in Truth, have a sense of security, find hope, happiness, and purpose in their lives. Is it guaranteed? No. But without your life being an example of God's design everyday, your children will most likely be consumed by the culture. Ultimately, you will suffer greatly.
Next week I will complete this lesson. We will look at discipline and more practical issues surrounding the greatest challenge you will ever endeavor--parenting.
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