But what about parents and our role in raising our children in times where even our culture stands opposed to the things which we want to teach to our children? It is very important to remember that our response to the things around us will either reflect our faith in God, or else exhibit the same unbelieving attitude of much of the culture in which we live. Either we believe that God and His Word is sufficient to provide for the Christian everything we need for the job and task of raising our children, or we do not believe that they are. There really is no middle ground. It is interesting to note that we are not the first generation to have to learn to live in a culture or society that is immoral.  Remember, Noah and his family lived in a society that had given itself completely to sin and rejection of God. Yet Noah was able to raise three children whom God provided with three wives from among a sin filled world. Can God still do this today?

What is the answer to what parents are facing?The Bible clearly states that those who are saved people have only one choice in how to live. Hebrews 10:38 says, “but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” In the following chapter of Hebrews, the divine text tells us that “…without faith, it is impossible to please Him...” As parents, our response must be a response of faith in God and in His Word.  We can look at the current affairs of men either through our own weak and limited understanding, or we can look at what is happening all around us as a challenge to trust and believe God, no matter how bad or evil things have become. The question that we must ask concerning us as parents, as well as for our children, is God still God. If so, then God is well able to provide for us in each and every generation, no matter how evil it may be.

What is the practical side of this teaching as it affects us as parents?  First and foremost I believe that instead of looking at how bad things are, and seeking to blame the culture for our child’s behavior, faith would require us to ask the question, “What does faith demand of me as a parent?” Is it possible that we avoid the demands of faith and delegate our responsibility of teaching and training our own children to others? Certainly Christian schools and churches can be a tremendous blessing to our children, but the Bible places the burden and responsibility of children first and foremost upon us as parents. It is not a question if God is able to use other means to train our children – He can and does at times use many other means to accomplish His will in the lives of our children. I am simply saying that God’s Word teaches that parents have the primary task of teaching children.

As parents, God intended to use us to teach our children God’s Word. In our desire to see our children turn out ok, we have at times become desperate to find new ways to insulate and protect our children. Have we ever considered that maybe the old way – the way of the just living by faith, may be in fact the best way to teach and train our children? But how do parents raise their children by faith? May I share a few short practical ways in which we can do this?

For the parents to have and exercise personal faith in God and in His Word, it would obviously require that before we expect our children to do what is right (obey God) and expect our children to live by faith, we ourselves must be willing to listen and heed God’s Word. This will require you and me as parents to learn to trust God no matter what the circumstances are in our life.  We then need to stop blaming the schools, stop blaming the teachers, and stop blaming our own circumstances regarding our children and their behavior. Actually, the way of faith begins by accepting our personal responsibility before God to fulfill the spiritual role of training our children. It would also require us as parents to know God’s Word if we are going to teach God’s Word to our children. This would, of course, require us as parents to seriously spend time in God’s Word so that we know what it says. It would require us to begin to attend church faithfully where God’s Word is taught so that we can be learners before we are teachers. It would require a genuine teachable spirit in ourselves that our children are able to see and recognize as the real deal. This would mean that our children would see mom and dad working hard at learning about God and His will for their own lives. A good question to ask ourselves as parents is “When was the last time that that my children saw me seeking the Lord with all my heart?” 

Isn’t it interesting how Jesus Christ came and worked with 12 adult men? I am sure that Jesus had a great burden for children. He had a tremendous love for both young and old alike.  But why did He choose 12 men? Maybe according to His great wisdom He knew that to make the greatest impact on families children and teenagers, then it was important to see grown men learn to trust and follow Jesus.  How does this play out in our daily life with our children?

This is where I believe that Christian parenting becomes more than just an academic occupation. I believe that God intended for us adults to live out the wonderful Truths of His Word in front of our family members. Our families become our training ground for this to happen. God teaches us in I Timothy 3:5, “But if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?” The great lessons of grace, forgiveness, and of love were meant to be lived out in front of our children. Our children should be able to see God at work in their parent’s life. They will see and learn how to handle failure, as mom and dad are willing to own up to their own failures before God and before the children. They learn what it means to “confess our sins” to the Lord as well as to one another.  They will learn from watching mom and dad that obeying God is at the very heart of life.  Our children will learn to pray, not by having 12 lessons on prayer, but by observation.  Every child should have the opportunity to hear their father asking God for His help and direction as well as have their father or mother pray for them before they fall off to sleep. How good it is for a young teen to hear his father acknowledge to the Lord his own struggle with personal holiness and be willing to acknowledge that to his family.

Just maybe what our culture needs is not something new, but rather a return to something genuine.  Is the answer as simple as getting back to God’s original design for man? Maybe the answer is right in front of us, ..The just shall live by faith..  This of course does not mean that parenting will be easy. If it was, why would we need God’s help? It does not mean that there will not be complex and seemingly impossible problems arise in our families. In fact, what it means is that we need God and that His Word is sufficient to help us find the answers to life’s greatest problems. Just maybe God designed our families as His tool to help us learn what it means to walk by faith.

Publisher's note:  Steve Hontz is the pastor of CrossPoint Worship Center.

The congregation of CrossPoint Worship Center worships the Lord every Sunday morning at 10:30.

Wednesday night Bible Study and youth group meets at 7:00 p.m.

CrossPoint Worship Center, formerly Peoples Baptist Church, is located 200 yards south of Teays Valley Volunteer Fire Department at 118 Poplar Fork Road, in Scott Depot.

The church telephone number is 304-757-9440.

www.CrossPoint-wv.com

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