|
GRACE LEAFLETS No. 4
Bringing up Children
It is an issue, and in our modern secular and multi-cultural world it is increasingly an issue, to know how to train the children God has given into our Christian families. This leaflet attempts to outline some of the principles.
Teach them from Infancy
In 1 Timothy 3: 15 we learn that Timothy had been taught in his home from infancy. In the same way we need to see that our children are taught. The process starts from infancy! The suggestion in Luke.1: 41 is that even unborn children can respond to God – how much more our babies and young children. The spiritual education described in the Bible begins young and is home based (Deuteronomy 6: 4-9;
Proverbs 22:6). Both parents are involved in this. Jesus Himself grew up, as did Timothy, in a specific educational background, which was God-centred in form (Deuteronomy 6: 7) and content (Proverbs 1: 7; Ecclesiastes 12: 13). Indeed the reference there from Ecclesiastes is saying that when we have examined all other human learning and education, all that really matters is that we fear God and keep His commandments, which is man’s whole duty.
In this connection we should remember that we do not only teach our children by word, such as by telling them Bible stories, but by example, for instance by showing that we are fully involved in worship with the Church –even when we are trying to mind the kids at the same time.
Teach Biblical Truth.
Give a real prominence to teaching truth at home. Children are not primarily the Church children’s workers’ responsibility. Teach them full biblical truth, not a watered down fantasy. Teach them responsibility before God. Do not give them half a theology. We tell them “Jesus wants to be your friend” – but tell them it is at the price of the cross- because God commends His love to us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. We are important to God, but we come to Him by the cross and repentance. Children need to know this too and to respond to God themselves. We do not want to teach them simply “God likes you” – we need to teach them that their real value is that God has chosen them from before the world so that they should be like Him and He has a purpose in their lives. Children ask good questions; they should be answered properly (Exodus 13: 8).
We need to respect our children and recognise their ability to learn, and understand spiritual truth. After all, Jesus said that until we become as little children we cannot see God’s Kingdom.
Take a Risk
We want to protect our children, but it is not good to protect them from God. We need to expose them even to things they will not intellectually understand, because they will receive in their spirits. It is more important than any education school offers – therefore the occasional late night for a meeting when God is moving will be a blessing not a problem! Our aim is to see the children growing up in faith, grace and in love for God (Luke 1: 80; 2: 40, 52).
Raising Children for God
The Bible talks quite a lot about discipline, and even explains how God disciplines His children (Hebrews 12: 7-11). We are responsible for the spiritual and moral standards our children grow up with. We need to be careful what they are exposed to- what about books, videos and computer games? They need early on to understand “no” – but always respond better to encouragement. Parents can be afraid of being too strict or too demanding. We need to see as a priority the standards of God’s Kingdom, not popular notions, established in their lives.
Children need to learn the moral and spiritual standards we want them to have. Our human nature teaches us to do many wrong things and the world teaches them very different standards of self-seeking too. We must learn to be firm and gentle in teaching Godly standards.
We need to be absolutely consistent and always taking responsibility, but at the same time to love and to discipline in such a way that we do not contradict the vital principle of living by grace. Law will not save the children any more than it has power to save the adults. We need to pray for our children and love them in such a way that from the beginning they are exposed to the grace of God.
We have our children to bring up and release into the Kingdom of God. It is difficult, but our priority is God’s Kingdom. We train them, pray for them and equip them to serve God – and then release them to do it.
I was pleased, in reading the life of John Wesley's mother, to notice how she set apart Monday to speak to one of her daughters; Tuesday to speak to another; Wednesday to speak, as she says, "to Jack," meaning John; and Thursday to speak to Charles; so that they each had a day. And there was an hour each day given to speak to each child about the affairs of the soul. That is the way to win children for God. C.H.Spurgeon.
Children need to be saved and may be saved. The conversion of a child involves the same work of divine grace and results in the same blessed consequences as the conversion of the adult. But there is this additional matter for joy that a great preventive work is done when the young are converted. Conversion saves a child from a multitude of sins…. It is the highest wisdom to pray for our children that while they are young their hearts may be given to the Saviour. C.H.Spurgeon
DerekReynolds © Grace Church2002
|
