Christian Reality for Parents & Children

Our childhood invariably plays a major role in shaping our adult life. Our circumstances in the bud have a very real bearing upon the flower, and becoming a Born Again Christian does not necessarily remove our childhood influences, nor does it always demand their removal.

Those things of course that are sinful, immoral or belong to the baser inclinations of human nature must be forsaken. But those things that are manly, those things that are healthy, those things that are stimulating to body and soul, such as outdoor pursuits, country sports or outdoor activities are to be valued more and more in these days when Juvenile degeneracy and the general trend of diminishing family values is growing at an alarming rate. When more and more young people are taking their own life, surely it is time to take heed that something in society is drastically and tragically wrong.

The Christian parent or child is not immune from the influence, ills and prevailing trends of society, and we must bestir ourselves in the battle to preserve our children from the dangers that lurk without, and indeed from within.

Bodily exercise, mental stimulation, recreation, adventure, excitement are all part of the young persons need, and when educational responsibilities are met and social duties discharged then a young person could not get too much of the above mentioned activity. I'll advised and imbalanced cramming of knowledge, whether educational or religious is not the way to win either their confidence or their respect. "Cocooning" them or "protecting" them in a sterile environment will not make men and women of them nor, more importantly will it bring about their soul salvation.

Salvation is of the Lord, Jonah 2 v 9 let the Christian parent remember, and while bringing our children up in the fear of the lord, let us not deny them the joys and aspirations and adventure of their childhood. Let us encourage them to develop in a balanced way physically, mentally and spiritually. Taking a parental interest in them and their needs as children, and not seeking on the one hand to make them an extension of our own particular character, nor on the other hand neglecting them and leaving them to their own devices.

If we don't succeed, at least we will have tried, but if we fail without trying then we fail miserably.

The Christian parent's prayer is that their children may be saved, but healthy and lawful pursuits will not diminish the parent's prayer, nor will it weaken a Christian testimony. There is nothing in Gods word that demands exclusivism, asceticism or elitism. In fact Biblical Christianity is essentially carried on through the very opposite of these things, through the natural interaction of the Christian with others. Through the personal witness, the personal approach, the personal contact.

We need the younger generation, they are as arrows in our hands, let us beware of allowing anything to cause us to err in our preparation of them. The cause of Christ is the most worthy cause on earth and the men and women who carry that cause must be strong and resourceful, willing to bear hardship. They must know what it is to be knocked down and get up again. They must be mature, patient, in touch with the human heart and human needs, compassionate towards the lost and needy.

Above all they must be real, they must be themselves, for only a down to earth reality will serve to reach others effectively, and only a down to earth reality can sustain us in the crucible of life. Only a real Christian can endure the real world, fight the real battle, bear the real losses, rise above the real sorrows and deny the real temptations.

These things can only be forged on the anvil of life, they are not taught in school, nor found in any Bible School curriculum.

Parent if we don't succeed...