As children grow up, we do our best to instill in them the truths of God. Have you ever wondered why some kids just don’t get it? I have. I see kids who were taught the Bible. Their parents were good parents. They were given every advantage possible to help them in their faith. Or were they?
Are we truly teaching our kids what God wants them to know? Are we truly instilling in them a desire to please our Heavenly Father? Are we making it absolutely clear that there is only one way, and if we follow that way, God will reward us? Or, are we teaching them to follow us (their parents)? Or to follow their preacher (pastor, youth director)? Or that we can pick and choose what to do out of God’s will?
God is not a God of confusion. God wants all men to understand His will. If we study the Bible with an open mind and a prayerful heart, He will help us understand His will. God does not want us or our children to be confused. He wants us and our children to have total faith in Him. Faith that if we do His will, we will get to spend eternity with Him.
Some young people believe their parents can do no wrong. As much as we parents would like to think we do no wrong, we can’t let our kids put their faith in us. As they grow, we need to teach them that God is the ultimate authority. They obey us because God commanded them to obey us. We instruct them in the ways of God because God commands us to do so. If our children’s faith is in us (parents), what happens when we sin? What happens when we lose faith? If their faith is dependent on our faith, they will fall when we fall. We must teach our children to have faith in God. Then, if we fail them, they will not lose their faith.
We’ve had another prominent, nationally known preacher fail those that trusted in him. As of this writing, he’s only been accused, not admitted guilt, but the people who had faith in him are devastated. They have been seen on television showing their utter disbelief that this man that they “put my faith in” could’ve done anything wrong. There is the problem. Their faith was put in a man. Are we teaching our children that they should trust a man (any man)? Are we teaching them that those in position of honor and authority are to be treated as God? Our responsibility is to teach our children to trust in God and only God. If their faith and trust lies in God, it doesn’t matter what men do, their faith will not waver.
As we read and study the Bible, are we teaching our children everything it says, or just what we want to teach them? There are lots of things in the Bible that are very easy to teach our kids: don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t commit adultery, etc. But there may be some things that kind of make us feel uncomfortable. Are we teaching our children the things that we don’t feel comfortable with? The Bible says that there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, etc. What are we teaching our children when we teach that everyone is okay as long as they believe in Jesus? What are we teaching our children when we say that baptism is not necessary for salvation? What are we teaching our children when we say to “attend the church of your choice”? What about God’s choice? Shouldn’t we look to Him to see what He wants us to do?
How confusing is that? We teach that everyone that believes in Jesus is a Christian, but then read in the Bible that even the demons believe and shudder. Are they Christians? We teach that all the different faiths that are based on all their different creed books are okay, but then read in the Bible that there is one faith. How can many be the same as one?
We wonder why our children’s faith falters when they ask God for something and He doesn’t give it to them? Have we looked in the Bible to see if our prayers are even being heard? Have we taught our children whose prayers are heard? Do we even know ourselves? What are we teaching our children when we tell them that God will take care of our physical wants? Is that what the Bible teaches? Have we reduced God to our Big Daddy in the sky that just deals out physical blessings left and right? God promises to supply our every need — not wants. Yes, we should ask Him to help us through trying times, but that doesn’t mean He’s going to give us help our way. He’ll give us help His way. If we’ve taught our children that God will answer their prayers the way they want them answered, then what happens when He doesn’t? Our child has nothing to base his faith on. He thinks God failed him. God didn’t fail him, we as parents have taught him error. We failed him.
We need to be very careful when teaching our children about God. If we teach the wrong math facts, or teach something that is historically inaccurate, it might hinder our child’s SAT score or other academic endeavor. If we teach error concerning God, our child’s soul will be in trouble. It won’t affect his SAT scores, it will affect where he spends eternity.
When we study the Bible with our child (or on our own), it is so important to put aside what man teaches. We should read and study it as if it is the first time we’ve heard it. If I find that what a man teaches is the same thing I am reading, that’s fine. If we both submit ourselves to obeying God’s word, I can consider him a brother. If what my preacher/pastor/minister teaches is different from what is found in the Bible, I will have to choose who I will serve? God or man.
Let’s not confuse our children by teaching parts of the Bible. Understand what the will of the Lord is and teach it to the children.
your blog looks so interesting! So much information! I hope I can find some time to sit and read everything. but now my 3 year old is telling me he wants me to come to school. gotta run! will come back soon! God willing!
I am so pleased to hear someone else say it. I am constantly concerned about whether or not I will fail my children concerning who and what God wants them to be. I do my best to teach them, but I have already told them many times that the reason others do not follow God’s will the way they are supposed to is because they do not read the Bible with an open heart themselves. My children also know that their daddy and I are not perfect. When I make a mistake, I try to swallow my pride(and yes, sometimes this is a little difficult), and I say I’m sorry to my kids. My children are still young(all four under 11), and I pray constantly that God will give me the right words to teach them. One area I lack in is teaching others(besides my family) about God, but I do find it easy enough to tell others to read the Bible with an open heart so that they will understand it the way God wants them to. So many people are lost simply because they do not read God’s Word. I think that is very sad. I too have spent much thought on why some kids just don’t seem to have the relationship with God that they should when they come from a family you would consider a good Christian family. I have to believe that something was not taught correctly. God says to teach them in the way they should go when they are young and they will not depart from it when they are older. I know that kids are human and will grow into adults that are human and imperfect. Therefore they will make mistakes, but if they are taught correctly, they will not lose their faith in God and their relationship with him. I only pray that I teach my children in the way that God would have me to, so that I do not lose even one of them to the devil and we will have eternity together in Heaven. Thanks so much for your blog!