In a world where our children are being killed, at an enormous rate, the possibility of reaching adulthood for urban children (especially boys) becomes more and more difficult each day. Children are disrespecting their parents, joining gang, doing drugs, experimenting with homosexual relationships, and ever kind of perversion you can imagine. Grandparents are the parents of the 2K era, not only raising their children, but now raising their children’s children. God has been taken out of the schools and out of the courts and for many Americans, God has been taken out of the living rooms and from the dinner tables as well. Is there any wonder that our children have been given up to a reprobate society. But no loving parent wants to see his or her child die, and nothing is more tragic than to have a parent bury his own child. Nothing except when a parent has to bury his own child and know within his heart that his child has not been saved, that his child will burn eternally in hell, because his child had never known Jesus. For this reason it is of the utmost importance that we teach our children about Christ, and help them to develop a relationship with Him so that in time of trouble they will be properly equipped with the spiritual things needed to battle this corrupt world.
The bible teaches that we should “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he gets old he will not depart from it” The only question that remains is how do I train up a child? should we read child rearing books by Dr Spock, or some other deep thinker? Or should we take the advice of our friends whom had all their children go to college? Maybe we should just medicate our children to the point that they walk in a state of semiconscious stupor, that’ll teach them to act right! Let’s see what the bible says about this subject.
Deuteronomy 6:1-7 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
In short it says to teach your children the law of God, not that we are justified by the law but that by the law (Ten Commandments) we show our children in simple terms what sin is. Now pay attention to God’s promise when you teach the law to your children verse 2 says that their days may be prolonged! This is the simplicity that is in God’s Word. ( not snuffed out in their youth, by gangs or drugs)
Now verse 3 says “observe the law and do it “(here is the promise again) and all will be with well with you, and you will prosper in the land of milk and honey as God has promised. What is important to understand is that in all the promises made to Israel, it is the observing of the law which initiates these promises in their life.
Likewise of all the inherited promises to the Christian nothing is it true if we don’t follow the law of God. I know we are taught we as Christian are not under the law and this is true, however, if (when) a Christian breaks the law he does so as a sinner, and the law was made for the sinner. Can a Christian be a sinner also? Is not a sinner one who sins? Don’t even Christians occasionally fall into sin? But it is the law which convicts the non-repentant sinner and faith in Christ Jesus, which acquits the christian of our sin.
So God Commands Israel that they teach the law to their children because it is in having a knowledge of the moral law of God (summed up in the 10 Commandments) that gives not just our children but even adults a foundation of what sin is and the realization that without Christ we will never have salvation.
Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
It is in teaching the moral law that we show our children what sin is. 1 John 3:4 tell us “sin is transgression of the law”, and Paul teaches in Romans 7:7 “I would not have known sin, if not by the law”So we have established that what we train our children is in the knowledge of sin through the law. let go back to Deuteronomy 6 to see how we train up our children.
Deuteronomy 6:8-9 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
In short you should forever have the commandment in front of your children, Not just that you read them occasionally but that they become a tool to teach them all they need to know in life. This is of utmost importance, also that you not just force them on them but have them express to you their understanding of them in daily life.
When a child lies saying thing like “You know its wrong to lie don’t you? (wait for their answer) tell me why you should not lie. Their answer should not be founded in you but in God. by this I mean if their answer is because you will spank me, it may be true but that’s not enough, guide them with patience to see that what they did is a transgression of God law not just mommy and daddy’s rules. Read here how the Message Bible explains the next two verses of Deuteronomy 6
Deuteronomy 6:8-9 (The Message) Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.
I hope this helps, I know it may seem too easy, and even as if I had move the complicated task of rearing a child to a few lines in the Bible, but the bible says we should not through the hidden things of this world be mislead even as Eve was by the serpent, lead astray from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 11:3)
Your Brother in Christ
Troy "FireSpeaks" Pearsall
[1] Romans 3:20 (Amplified Bible) for no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His (God’s) sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin []not mere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith, and holy character]