“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Deuteronomy 4:9
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The other day I heard a parent (A professing Christian) confesses to her children that her life sucks and every time she prays nothing happens and I was stunned. I could not believe it. The seeds parents are sowing into their children can make them or break them. She told me that her children were her friends (they are 8 and 11 years old) and she has no one else to talk to. What? First of all parents must know that children are not their equals. They may have a friendly relationship but they are not friends in the sense of being each other' confidant. Parents simply cannot forget that their words and actions along with education, upbringing, and the culture they live in, the books they read, the media and movies they watch, and other cultural influences form children worldview. Parents have to be vigilant and pay attention to what their children are exposed to on a regular basis.
Let us be honest, all parents want to have delightful children. All parents want to train their children to be delightful, smart, poised, funny and just good kids, but the truth of the matter is that most parents forget that the purpose of training is to plant the soil of child's heart with an uncompromising and unconditional love of God in order for them to seek him for themselves and be able to build a relationship that comes from the heart. The Bible refers to the heart as the place where good, bad, evil behavior and attitude come from and what we teach the children either by words or actions will determine whether he/she will generate good or evil.
Children cannot develop good behavior and develop a biblical worldview unless they understand that God exists (Heb. 11:6) and that He is the standard by which we measure everything else. God created everything that exists (Gen.1: 1) and he holds everything (Col. 1:17). They must believe the Bible is God's divinely breathed/inspired Word, revealed to mankind (2 Tim. 3:16). They have to know that the fullness of God came to earth and lived in the human body of Jesus Christ (Col. 1:19). They must be aware of the fact that that mankind rebel against God in the Garden of Eden and because of that one act of rebellion, sin and death entered the world (Rom. 5:12-14). They must understand that believing in (John 3:15-19, 5:24), and obeying (Luke 8:21, John 3:20, John 14:21, 23-24), Jesus Christ is the only way to have eternal life or to be reunited with God (Acts 4:10-12). And salvation is a free gift (Romans 6:23) from God that cannot be earned because Jesus completed the work at Calvary (John 19:30). There will be a judgment day (Hebrews 9:27, Matthew 12:36 and Revelation 13:8).
Children need basic understanding of God's Word and the principles it teaches in order to have a biblical worldview. It is the responsibility of parents and all believers to embrace a Christian worldview in order to teach the children by words and examples. Our children need guidance and unless our children receive sound bible teaching, they will not be able to stand firm when temptations come and they will not have biblical worldview.
Parents, be vigilant! Teach your children well and expose them to what is godly and be blessed.
Praise the Lord!
