It starts with the children. I cannot express this enough. The children are the future. Always have been. Always will be. How the children grow up and turn out is a direct reflection of the parenting and society. Today, sometimes those two are in direct conflict with each other. But as Christian parents we must keep up the fight to overcome what society is teaching our kids. Most of the time what is acceptable, even recommended, by society is in direct opposition to biblical teachings.
As Christian mothers and fathers we must teach and raise our children to live according to biblical principals. We can’t pick and choose which principals we want to live by. We must use the Bible as a guide book to life.
Let’s look what the book of Proverbs has to say on the subject.
Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you.
Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,
And when you run, you will not stumble.
Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.
Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;
And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.
My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:1-27 NKJV
Proceeds chapter 4 gives us 5 steps to teach your children so that they may live a Good Christian life:
Step 1: Teach them to listen, study, and learn.
Teach your children to pay attention in church and ask questions so that they may gain a better understanding of Biblical principals. Once the wisdom is gained they must keep it in their heart and never forsake God’s word…not for anyone!
Step 2: Teach them it’s ok to say no.
Teach them from an early age that they may not always be part of the in crowd and that’s ok. Let them know that there may come times that a “friend” may tempt them to do something wrong and teach them how to resist that temptation. Teach them that because “everyone else is doing it” doesn’t mean that they have to. And, in today’s digital age, teach them that just because TV, news, and other groups say that they should accept this or that or be this way or that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing. (What’s right is not always popular and what’s populist isn’t always right!)
Step 3: Teach them that the path of righteousness always leads to brighter days.
Teach them that if they always keep their eyes on God He will always light the way. Sometimes their journey will not be as bright but if they stay on the path of righteousness it will always lead to brighter days and God will see them through.
Step 4: Teach them to be the example to their peers.
By keeping God in their hearts and minds they should always be the shining light to others. Steadfast in their ways, certain in their steps, joyful in their heart, always speak the truth, and never speak I’ll of others. It is by this that they will begin to change those around them by leading them to Christ through their example.
Step 5: Be their example in all things.
As parents we all know that even if we don’t think our kids are paying attention to us they really are. They see and hear way more than you think and their minds are like sponges. Always be the shining example and don’t be the parent that has to say “Do as I say not as I do”.
In conclusion…
Make sure you know what your kids are watching on tv and know what they are learning at school (both from teachers and peers). If it is inappropriate have the discussion as to why it is not right and how they can rise above it. Do not shield them from the wicked of the world for they must learn how to “live in the world but not of it”. Shielding them from the evil does not make them stronger when they have to fight it on their own. Help give them the armor they need for battle.
If we as Christians raised our children based on biblical principals and also shared our faith more with non Christian parents who then found salvation and taught their children to walk a Christian path imagine what an amazing world our children could create!