Reform Means Conflict

If you are worshiping peace, you are not imitating Jesus (or the Apostles, or the Reformers, or even a faithful Christian parent).

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me."

Jesus the Lord, Matthew 10:34-40

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." 

Jesus the Lord, Matthew 22:37-40 

"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceable with all." 

The Apostle Paul, Romans 12:18

"Peace if possible. Truth at all costs."

Martin Luther

The New Testament (mostly the Apostle Paul, who stirred up much trouble) is loaded with exhortations to pursue and guard peace and unity within the Church. And while the exhortations stand, Paul's life and practice was to simultaneously instigate significant unrest in his efforts to clarify and guard the gospel. Be like that, or be an idolater. There is no reform without conflict.

 

Trained and Untrained - Part 2

"There's no tough," is a part of Creasy's framework for high performance. In other words, there is no substitute for training. We do this, don't we. We are unwilling to do a hard thing the right way so we offer substitutes that come easier to us, even to our own precious children. A list of examples of such useless offerings is next to limitless. And if our parents related this way to us we are even more prone to relate this way to our children. Did you have regular meaningful conversations with your parents about the most important realities, like God, for example? If you didn't, raising your children in the good way will probably be much more difficult for you, sometimes seeming impossible. I have no memory of such a conversation with my father. I do have memories of substitute offerings. I have been largely untrained, and it has cost me and my family; because relating rightly to our children is not a natural skill, but a learned one. I am thankful to be able to see the problem. Overcoming it is the ongoing challenge.

Faithful biblical parenting is demanding, but it is not terribly complicated. It has to do with being a Godward helpful influence through modeling, yes, but in a large way also through conversation. We see this in some of the Scripture's earliest descriptions of the way believing parents are to operate, such as in the early chapters of Deuteronomy where we are told to take every opportunity to be in conversation with our children. We see it in the Proverbs, many of which are presented as a father speaking with his son (beginning with 1:8 and continuing from there). The Apostle Paul uses this format to instruct and counsel his "son in the faith," young Timothy (Cf 1 Ti 1:18 & 2 Ti 2:1, etc). This is the model -- a Godward parent in helpful verbal communication with his or her children.

Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, "Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children." 

Dt 4:9-10

Trained and Untrained - Part 1

"There's no tough. There's trained, and there's untrained," says Creasy to his pupil Lupita. Watch it here.

Perhaps John Creasy has learned his teaching philosophy from the Bible which he reads regularly. I am not holding up this movie character as a model in general. But he does provide a useful illustration of faithful parenting. Our children are becoming what we are leading them to become. They are modeling what they observe in us. They are taking to heart our values reflected in our practices, attitudes, habits, speech, use of time, use of money, etc. And then there are the deliberate sessions with them in which parents instill particular lessons. Whatever it is we want them to learn, we must teach. Whatever it is we want them to understand, we must explain. And we must not expect from them what we have not taught and expounded. And we must be patient throughout, for there is much repetition involved, not unlike the way Father God regularly repeats Himself to me and for my sake. Apparently He thinks I'm worth the effort. Certainly to us our children should be worth no less.

I am not beginning this particular blog series because I have figured out parenting and have a handle on the sound practice of it. I am beginning it because I need to better learn the art of raising children and be vastly more consistent in it. Writing can be helpful to me in this regard. Perhaps the series may prove helpful to you as well.

Train up a child in the way he should go. . .

Pr 22:6

40 Good Thoughts

Visit with Jared Wilson here.

Commending Carl

Carl Trueman:
Professor at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA;
Pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Ambler, PA

Carl Trueman is hilarious. I know "hilarious" is a subjective term. So perhaps I should say that to me, he is hilarious. His intelligent whit mingled with dry sarcasm, good-natured jesting, and British disposition make him a delight for me to hear. And he has many helpful thoughts for the followers of Jesus Christ. Below are a few links to some of my experiences with him.

Mortification of Spin - In combination with Aimee Byrd and Todd Pruitt, Trueman dialogues on topics crucial for the Christian Church. The link will take you to the ministry web page where you can find useful resources including their podcast which has been, for a while now, my favorite audio option. I truly look forward to tuning in to this threesome and am regularly disappointed when a broadcast ends. I wish they were longer. But they are indeed quite abbreviated.

The Creedal Imperative Explanation Video - Here's a short presentation on why creeds, confessions, and catechisms are so important and so useful to modern day Christians and their churches.

The Cornerstone Lecture Series - A five-part video series on the realities of the Christian life. The link here is to video #4 entitled "The Normal Christian Life." I think all five parts are worth your time but if you must choose only one I would go with #4. I say this due to my subjective but nevertheless experientially educated guess at what might be most beneficial to modern day American Christians. If you're not American and will hear only one presentation, then I suggest you begin at the beginning, with video #1 entitled Foundations. 

Related to these YouTube resources are the many other videos to be found on the same website. There you can find many brief Trueman contributions relevant and critical to Christian understanding. This includes his thoughts on many common questions posed by believers. It also includes lectures on a variety of topics including Church History. For example, go here to watch him speak on Reformation catalyst Martin Luther, whom he calls a "troubled prophet." Weren't they all?

Republocrat: Confessions of a Liberal Conservative - Since the American political bullshit is beginning to spin up as we enter the presidential campaign season, I commend Trueman's book addressing such things. Along with being unusually insightful, again, Trueman is wonderfully entertaining.

Enjoy.

Our Children Should Be Safe With Us.

It is Walt Disney movies, after school specials, and oh yes, us parents, who lie to our children, telling them that they can be anything in this world they desire. We feed them with deceptions when we say to them that if they work hard, get educated, and just believe, they will rise. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are telling them none of this. Actually, the Scriptures are saying something quite different - that God is sovereign and runs the world, including every detail of the lives of each of our children. He measures out abilities, gifts, grace, failure, opportunities, and even faith (Ro 12:3). He is determinative, not them, and not us.

When I hear Romans 12 taught, the emphasis is almost always on the first two verses which contain instruction and activity for us. Then verse 3 informs us that God actually doles out the various degrees of faith to His various children. And the human author, the Apostle Paul, credits "the grace given to him" for his ability to offer Romans 12 information. A part of that information concerns our deep and abiding weaknesses and our need for God and others. And perhaps the most overlooked counsel in the text tells us that we are not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, but to think with sober judgement. . . What parent does this in regard to his/her children? It is true that in Romans 12 Paul has in mind a proper thinking of ourselves in relation to the quality of our faith and spiritual gifts. But spiritual gifts include natural abilities that God supernaturally employs. So perhaps this text has some further application to we parents as we consider the abilities of our little people (Cf Pr 22:6).

To think soberly doesn't mean to think badly of, unless of course our children are all bad. In a way, we're all all bad, in that we are sinners who, in our best moments, do not meet God's standard of a perfectly righteous performance. My point here, as I sit for a few moments and think about the reality of God and my desires for my children, is that the Bible calls us to sobriety, integrity, honesty, and accuracy when we are considering our little ones (or now young adult ones). It calls us to raise them in the fear of God, to train them in His righteousness, and to give them godly counsel for a lifetime. It does not call us to give ourselves idolatrously to their worldly success. It does not call us to live vicariously through the achievements we want for them. It does not call us to finance their foolish dreams of glory. It does not call us to be proud of their accomplishments in the flesh.

Romans 12:2 commands that we grow less like the world by acquiring a changed way of thinking and understanding. Yet we Christian parents are so often not only like the world but worse than the world  because we tie God to our sinful aspirations, as though they were birthed in Him. How difficult it is to be Christian in America, where worldly success and entitlement is the air we breath. Our children should be safe with us. And they won't be if we are deceiving them. They cannot be and do anything they desire, no matter how they may apply themselves. And you and I are to be happy about this, because it is God's design. The best and lasting success is faithfulness to Jesus Christ. Let's strive to model and teach that.

The Perfect Parent Is Unfair, and Generous

It is popular for parents to strive to be "fair" in relationship to how they distribute gifts to their children; "fair" meaning that each child receives an equal measure of the wealth distributed. This is the case whether we are talking about a weekly allowance for completion of chores, the distribution of Christmas gifts, the division of an inheritance, etc. And in my experience, it is common for parents to speak of this impartial practice with a measure of pride, as if such like disbursement is a great virtue and even proves their unbiased paternal love. I want to briefly argue that such practices are not just faulty, but ungodly. The Bible tells us so. And to further make His point, God granted me a living illustration recently, which of course is not authoritative like the Bible, but is helpful for me.

First of all, and most clearly, God, in this life and the next, does not give the same wealth of gifts to all of His children. He does not treat us all the same in this regard. (There are many Bible texts that teach this, and too, you can just look around.) Father God is not "fair," but grossly unfair, biased, and partial, but not because He loves one over the other, but because He is altogether wise. Some children simply should not have certain things, while other children should. And for the sake of brevity I am not going into all the reasons why this is so. Furthermore, I don't know all the reasons. But for this post suffice it to say that God in His complete and eternal love and wisdom does what is best for each of us. And in a very humanistic and un-Christian way of thinking, that's not fair.

Having said that, I will offer two reasons that some of God's children receive particular blessings while others do not. They are given in James 4:2-3 where the Bible tells us that there are Christians who go without for the simple reason that they have not asked God for what they desire, or they are asking, but with corrupt motives. In this context, the corruption has everything to do with selfishness. In this regard, prayer plays a vital role in how God treats us.

A few days back my son Joah received several gifts through the mail, gifts I had purchased for him. I was curious to see how my daughter Tess would react as we all sat on the living room floor and opened the boxes. I was happy to see that she was happy for him, and didn't display jealously or any other feelings of a sense of injustice. She didn't even ask why her brother was receiving the items. But if she had asked me, I would have answered that the gifts were being given to Joah because he had asked for them. It's that simple. I love my son. He wants a thing. As far as I can tell, the thing will be good for him. I have the ability to give it to him. So I grant his request. Not complicated. God Himself is like this (You should read Mt 7:7-11).

Don't misunderstand, I give gifts to my daughter as well. I love her too. More often than not I give  gifts for which my children have not asked, because it's in my heart to do so. But when I know they want a particular item or experience or opportunity, because they have expressed their desire by asking, I work to fulfill that request. Or, I say "no" to them, as God will sometimes do. But my disposition as a loving father is to say "yes" to my children. My bent is to bless them, not deny them.

May the Perfect Parent grant us the wisdom and discernment required to be generous, and unfair.

The Mystery of Imitation - We Reproduce What We Are

"Be imitators of God, as beloved children."

Ep 5:1

There is an exceptionally powerful and mysterious link between knowing you are loved and becoming like the one loving you. This is most clearly seen in the parent - child relationship, and it has nothing to do with a shared DNA. It has to do with the way God has made the world, and the way He has wired the family for covenant. For our children's sake, let's not be ignorant of this beautiful reality. It is in the parent - child bond that children first learn, and these lessons are the foundation laid for how they will understand every other relationship they have in this life, including the one they have with God. Our children are students of us. God has made it so. May He grant us  the grace to teach and model well (Ep 6:4).

As I am writing this, my son Joah, who is 3, just came over to me and said, "Daddy, do you know I love you?" God is teaching me even in these very moments of contemplation. He is validating what is written here, I think. My dearly loved son loves me. And he desperately wants to be like me, because he is proud of me, for reasons I don't fully comprehend. I am reminded of a few ways he makes this known, as the pictures below will show.

Joah arranged the floss, his next to mine.

Joah arranged these too.

Joah wanted his grill next to my grill. . .

And his mower, and shoes, next to my mower and shoes.

Parents often wonder how it is, when their children disappoint them, that the children could behave in such a wrong way. The answer to that question is not always simple. But I think it normally has something to do with us, the parents. And perhaps it's often true that the failure is not in what we have done, but in what we haven't done. We haven't modeled and taught biblical godliness. Instead, we've modeled and taught morality, worldly success, and culturally acceptable behaviors. So we raise children that believe that God exists for them, and that He is most interested in their comfort and happiness instead of their character and holiness; He's a therapist then, and not a King. We raise legalists who relate to God by keeping rules as if those rules are arbitrary and not reflective of a Person who loves them.

It is certain that their mowers and grills are not the only things our children are lining up next to ours. Yes, their ways of thinking, believing, behaving, and relating are there also. Because day by day, we are reproducing what we are. May God help us.

My Son of the Covenant

God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, 

you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

Ge 17:9

Because She's My Baby Bird

When Tess was just a few months from the womb, she began to make sounds that greatly resembled those made by baby birds. They were her happy sounds. So I affectionately began calling her my Baby Bird, and have continued to call her that for the past six years. Last week I asked her to write her name for me. Then I took that signature, paired it with a little bird, and had that design forever pressed into my flesh. This is my tat for Tess, because she's my Baby Bird.

 

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. . ."

Is 49:16

Get Wisdom - Post 31

Proverbs - Chapter 31

Observations:
1 - It is a man who speaks the wisdom of this chapter; a man well-taught by his mother (v1).
2 - The man's mother has warned him of the destructive influence of women and wine (v2-7).
3 - And she has taught him the significance of justice and righteousness (v5, 8-9).
4 - Verses 10-31 show the mother's choice of her son's wife. Instead of giving his strength to women (v3), he is taught to give himself to one godly wife (v10).
5 - The good woman's goodness and excellence is rooted in her fear of the LORD (v30). Such fear makes her fruitful (v31). This is quite significant. Jesus repeatedly condemned fruitlessness. He did not speak well of those who failed to produce. He says it's a symptom of unbelief (See Mt 13, for example).
6 - Finally, an excellent wife is precious (v10) and praiseworthy (v28-29). She has regard for the quality of her mind (v26) and body (v17). And she is disciplined (v15, 19, 27), and therefore productive (v31).

Purposes

As I sit in my chair attempting to concentrate on a thing, it's quite difficult not to regularly give a glance toward my children playing wildly and loudly in the living room. So I must ask myself, "Was the room made for my children, or were my children made for the room?" (Cf Mk 2).

I think the right answer to this question has enormous potential for the calming of my soul.

Christians Should Kill Santa

The Bible tells us to train up our children in the way they should go, and to instruct them, and to tell them what to believe and what not to believe. We see this in a text like Dt 6-7 which shows us that biblical parenting means having lots of conversations about God with our children. In these conversations we rehearse His character, His ways, His acts and His commands. We also show the connections between Him and all of life. Or consider the Proverbs, which are largely one-sided instructional talks between parents and children. And of course there is Ep 6 which commands us to raise our children in a particular way under particular recognized realities. One thing central to each of these texts is Truth. We can't parent well and therefore do our children good apart from our own understanding of what is, and is not, true. So we should kill Santa, because any other act falls short of the Truth.

Not only do countless Christian parents continue to lie to their children about the source of Christmas gifts, they do it by ascribing God-like powers to an effeminate fat man with an affinity for reindeer. They tell their precious and gullible little ones, who should be receiving sound instruction, that there is an eternal man who "sees them when they're sleeping and knows when they're awake; who knows if they've been bad or good," etc. Really? Is this a notion that honors God as the giver of all good things, and His Son on the day we celebrate His birth, and the Holy Spirit as the One at work in that divine conception? Of course not. Instead, it honors the devil, whom Jesus calls "the father of lies". And it helps the devil; for certainly he delights to distract the youngest souls from Immanuel via false meanings ascribed to the Christmas holiday (holy day) set aside in honor of the Son.

Many parents say they can do both, teach Christ and have fun with Santa. All the while the Bible is asking, "What harmony has Christ with Belial?" (2 Co 6:15) And I am asking why those who do hold out this idol to their children believe themselves obligated to do so. Why is Santa so treasured and his lack of existence so guarded? Why are the parents disappointed when their little ones finally become unbelievers in regard to this fantasy? This is truly upside down. Satan must be so pleased.

As bad, and as wrong, and as damaging, is the teaching that this eternal gift giver does us good by rewarding us strictly according to our works. The Santa of Christmas is a Pharisee, while the Christ of Christmas is a Savior who gives according to grace, meaning without regard to our works. Now, God will one day reward us according to our works. But that reward will be permeated with grace. For if He were to give strictly according to our deeds, attitudes, intentions, and motives, then we would all be without reward. For there is no purely good work except His own work.

A week before Christmas we had guests in our home. One of them, assuming we preach Santa, asked my five year old who was coming to visit her the following week (meaning Mr Kringle). Her answer was, "Grandpa and Grandma". Oh how I loved that moment, when I heard truth reign in my daughter. May it reign in all of us, and in our children.

A "Trouble" I Love

". . .and a time to dance. . ."

Ec 3:4

One In My Likeness: Offering Praise for Joah

"When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image. . ."

Ge 5:3

Joah on his 2nd birthday, and sporting his mother's Raiders cap

Joah prefers a big boy cup

As Adam was made in the image of his Father (Ge 5:1-2), so our children are made in the image of theirs (v3). There is a covenant connection between children and their parents. Adam was in a covenant with God (as his Father), a covenant with Eve (as his bride), and a covenant with his son (as his offspring). This last covenant binds us to our children in deep ways and with profound power. I think it is the reason our little ones naturally want to please us, and be like us. It's the reason they naturally love us, trust us, and imitate us. And it has to do with our own natural affection for them, and our consequent natural duty to raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ep 6:1-3). They are, after all, gifts from Him (Ps 127:3).

Birthday relaxation

We recently celebrated both Joah's birthday and his adoption finalization. On these occasions I am reminded of the gift that he is and am compelled to thank God afresh for him. My relationship to him does not run parallel to my relationship with my daughter. For one, he is a boy and she is a girl. Contrary to the foolishness fueled opinion of some, there are multiple genders, and that matters much. Also, Joah is two years old while Tess is five years old. This also matters. While there are similarities in how I relate to each of them, there are also stark differences. But let me talk about Joah for a few moments.

A younger Joah dominates his prey

One of the most fun and revealing aspects of my relationship to Joah is how much he enjoys showing me what he can do. Just this week he's begun regularly jumping over things -- toys mostly, and sometimes the cat. But before doing so he will often find me, beckon me to follow him to the toy, say "watch this," and then take the leap. Then he laughs in celebration. I laugh with him, and sometimes offer the over used "high-five". Good times. As my friend Chris says, "Shared joys are double joys."

The Joah Tree

Joah loves on me with hugs, kisses, waves good-bye when I'm leaving the house, and warm greetings when I return home. Sometimes his affection is revealed in sadness, like when he cries at my absence. He's also beginning to offer me his best drawings and other creative ventures, like yesterday when he adorned a decorative tree with toys and then eagerly sought me out to show off his work with enthusiasm.

As for me, my favorite activity to share with Joah is the wonderful experience of being still. He is so active and energized and so full of life and zest. As impressive as these qualities are, what I appreciate most in him is his desire to simply sit with me. When he crawls up on my lap, and nestles down to rest, in a secure place, that's the highlight. I am sincerely glad for his precious desire to share his achievements, his hugs, and his tears. But what I treasure most is his desire to rest on Daddy. I'm sure there's something in that, pointing me to the Father of enduring and saving rest (Ex 14:13-14; Dt 7:7-9; Ps 46; Mt 11:27-29; He 4; Re 14:13).

This blog is named in memory of the prophet John the Baptizer. The prophet Malachi tells us that one aspect of John's ministry was to "restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers" lest God come and smite the land with a curse (Ma 4:6). May it please the Lord to bring about such a restoration in our cursed day.

"Let Your work appear to Your servants, 

and Your majesty to their children."

Ps 90:16

The Life-Breath of My Soul: Giving Praise for My Daughter Tess

"And Jacob said. . .I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that You have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps."

Ge 32:9-10

Tess and I recently spent some quality time together at Cracker Barrel.

God's blessing to Jacob and God's blessing to me do not run parallel. He got two camps. I got two children, so far. But what blessings are those two! And I do share Jacob's sentiment -- I am not worthy of them. Since September 10 is the date my family celebrates God's work in the finalization of our adoption of Tess, I thought I would write of her this week. And there is much good to say. But I will be brief, sharing some recent highlights. But first, about the title of the blog; Steve Camp sings a song in which he says of his children that they are "the life-breath of his soul". That bothers me a little because it sounds like something we should say of God, not man. That being said, I use the words here to convey my bottomless affection for, and enduring devotion to, my precious daughter.

Her Sunday School teacher told Marian that during this past week's prayer request time, Tess said she was thankful that her daddy loved her. She's four years old. I don't know that she could do well defining love. But I am so grateful for a daughter that is secure in my love for her, however she contrives it. What a humbling experience for me to hear her prayer of praise. And she really doesn't know how deeply or how seriously and furiously I actually do love her. Nevertheless, at four, she's sure enough of my love to thank God for it. I am truly grateful for such a gift.

Marian recently asked her some questions which she recorded, along with the answers. Here's a sampling:

1. What is Daddy's favorite color? The answer: "Green, no dark green."

2. What does Daddy like to call you? The answer: "Daddy calls me baby bird and he says he loves me."

3. Anything else you want to say about Daddy? The answer: "I love Daddy because he brings me everywhere and gets me smoothies and I just love him."

Tess often loves on me by giving me gifts, mostly drawings or paintings along with various toys that she says she "doesn't use anymore"; but also rocks, weeds, and other sundry objects. I am thankful for each one. Below are pictures of a few recent offerings.

This is a large envelope in which Tess put a note to me saying, "To Daddy. I love you. Love Tess".

This is me with a heart above my big head. Do I not look happy? Dear men, there are few gifts greater that we can give our children than our happiness. A happy father normally makes a happy home.

Say hi to Buster. Tess gave him to me and told me that "he could go everywhere with me". I keep him in my truck.

Weeds from Tess. She said we should put them in water. Of course I obliged. I strive to say yes to my children.

My niece Hilary is pregnant. On a recent visit with her and her husband Charlie, I was asked to write in an advice book. The pages were quite small and so one must be succinct to stay on one page. So what to say to an expecting parent? Hilary has said of me that I am very deliberate. She's unusually observant. I would say that is an excellent description. So for a deliberate guy with one small page, this was a bit challenging. But I included something like this: "Give your children a lot of love, and discipline them (a form of love) when they are clearly rebellious." That is not all there is to parenting, and one must work out what it means to love. But that thought has served me well thus far. Do what love would do, and only discipline for clear rebellion, not for mistakes, innocent errors, and faulty judgment. Correct these, yes. But don't punish for them. I hope that helps someone.

Get Wisdom

Today I begin an ever so brief look at Proverbs, to make observations according to what I am able to see in a read through each chapter. I am an expert in nothing, including the Wisdom Books of Holy Scripture. But I do want to be wise. The only other option is to be foolish. And if my effort may help anyone else also seeking to gain wisdom, then I give thanks. I'll try to give some New Testament cross references for those interested in seeing Old Testament truth in New Testament texts.

Proverbs -- Chapter 1

What I notice right away is that God speaks to us as children (v8-10). This is a recurring theme throughout Proverbs, from chapter 1 to 31. God comes to us as a Father, as the Perfect Parent, much like I think He approached Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. You can see this in Genesis 3 when He comes to correct them following their rebellion. He comes to counsel and correct and hold out grace and truth (cf Jn 1:14-17). He also punishes, as any loving parent will (cf He 12:3-11). There is much here for Christian parents to see. Our parenting is to image God's care for His children. It's important that we raise our children in the fear of God, and in the instruction of the Lord (cf Ep 6). It's foolish to expect from our children what we have not deliberately taught them and modeled for them. And it's foolish to believe that our children are the exceptions that need no punishment. "He who withholds his rod hates his son. But he who loves him disciplines him diligently" (Pr 13:24). "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child. The rod of discipline will remove it far from him" (Pr 22:15). I find it quite difficult to deliberately hurt my children, even for their own long term good. But I remember that faith in God's ways is required for all of life, the discipline of our children included. I can trust my feelings or I can trust God's Word. Trusting my feelings damages my children.

Also, it seems clear to me that our Heavenly Father means for us to live full lives; that is, lives full of good things. The best things may be immaterial, like those held out to us in v2-7; things such as wisdom, instruction, insight, understanding, prudence, discretion, learning, guidance, and the fear of the LORD. Other of the good things include the good warnings of Scripture, such as those found in v24-32. God loudly, clearly, and repeatedly calls out to His creatures to listen to Him and kindly but sternly warns us of the consequences of ignoring Him (cf He 2:1-4).

Finally, God is the designer of life. So it only makes sense to learn of Him and trust Him and heed Him (cf Mt 11:27-30). This is wisdom. It is the fool that "refuses to listen" when God has "stretched out His hand" (v24). It is the fool that ignores His counsel and reproof (v25); that hates knowledge and refuses to fear its Source (v29). It should be taken to heart that the wisdom God offers is a wisdom learned. Work is required -- the work of thought and prayer. It is not the mentally stupid who miss the wisdom of God. It is the mentally lazy and/or distracted (v32; cf He 2:1-4 & 5:11-6:3).

Loving Our Children by Loving Truth

First, let me point you to Education Choices Are Not Neutral

Second, let me add, that as a product of the public school system, and now a father of two children, it is difficult to imagine that I would put my daughter and son under the influences of that system. I won't take much time with this because of the article link above that I hope you will visit. But I do want to briefly say that what is wrong with the public school system is not that there are no Christian administrators, teachers, and students in it. I have Christian friends who fill these roles. However, what is wrong with the system is that within it, everything is disconnected from God, as if God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, has nothing to do with anything; Nothing to do with math, science, language, government, history, physical education, etc. Or, to put it in the words of God Himself via the Apostle Paul, ". . .by Him (Jesus Christ) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. . .all things were created by him and for him" (Col 1:16). Or, "For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever" (Ro 11:36).

All of these things that the public school teachers want to disconnect from God the Son (the Christian teachers do this through silence) were actually created by Him and for Him to glorify Him. Of course Christian schools do this too when they assume a disconnect between the biology class and the Bible class. In that scenario, God has to do with the Bible, not science.

So my parenting friend, why do we want to put our children in a system of false teaching that is built on the lie that this is not so? Why do we want to put ourselves in the predicament of explaining to them over and over that what they were taught at school today is not altogether true and that the meanings that were conveyed to them are not the real meanings? Or worse, maybe we have them in the system and then don't do the loving work of distinguishing for them the truth from the lie.

I simply cannot make sense of putting my children under those sorts of influences for 8 hours per day, for 180 days, for 12 years. That's more than 17,000 hours of godless instruction, not to mention the influences from their classmates.

I am no one's judge. That is the work of God. But I am able to bear testimony that I have a great fear of standing before Him in judgment having chosen what presently appears to me to be the worst education option available -- the American public school system. I can hear the objections now -- that homeschooling is not an option (why?) and Christian schools are too expensive, etc. To which I will say -- These are our children! Figure it out. Ask the Lord for guidance and provision. Sell some stuff. Get another job. Do what it takes.

I can also imagine this, "Well, my children are good kids. They are in the system and they turned out just fine". Just fine compared to whom? "Just fine" is a nonsense statement because there is no other version of your child with which to compare the present version. There is no version that was raised learning that all things have to do with God and that He defines all things and gives them their meaning and purpose.

Another troubling issue is the whole segregation of life matter. Perhaps nothing has done more to fuel this than the public school system used by Christians. Out of this type of life division we come up with false ideas like "sacred" and "secular", which teach that some things have to do with God while others do not. Our children grow up learning that the classroom is for education and the church building is for God. That's simply not the case. "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things" (Ro 11:36, again). The Bible has something to say about the education of our children.

Well, this post will anger someone, perhaps even some friends. I hope not. I mean every word. But I am not, as earlier stated, any person's judge. I'm simply trying to think through what it means to love my children in the arena of education. We should question everything. We must know what it is that God says is important for our children to learn, and what is not, no matter what the Department of Education says.

I hope you will check out the article above. It's much better than my thoughts.

Grace & Peace

A Must-Read for Parents (Especially Mothers)

Actually, this is a must-read for everyone since it helps us think rightly about children, whether we have them or not.

Go to Where Your Children Rank.