From the Heart...

I am putting a very disturbing but popular opinion into type... While, I know most of those who will read this and follow my blog regularly do not share this view, it is important to recognize that many parents in our community do and their children are in our neighborhoods and schools and are in need of our prayers and service. I am speaking of the idea that we, as parents, should not "push" our religious or spiritual views onto our children but rather allow them to research and determine what is best for them as they grow and mature. The world thinks that this thought gives a child the luxury to be who she was made to be. Unfortunately, this so called "luxury" strips the child of becoming who their creator made them to be... The Bible gives explicit guidelines as to how to parent in a spiritual manner... Fathers (& mothers), do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) Luke 18:16 says, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." The Lord not only commands us as elders to keep the path free of obstacles between our child and Christ Jesus but also states that NOT allowing a child the privilege to freely follow Christ will prevent them from receiving the great inheritance of our KING! I have heard it said recently that children should be left to fully explore and determine which GOD they desire to serve. Let me make this point clear, there is NO DOUBT that our children or teenagers will find a GOD to serve! Whether it be the god of materialism, god of chemical dependency, god of lust and sexual impurity, god of self... There is no shortness of opportunities to deflect from the one true GOD... A lifetime full of sadness, emptiness, pain and hardship can easily be avoided with a proper foundation. Granted, as Believers and followers of Christ we are not exempt from sadness, hurt or even mistakes with consequences but we are blessed with a peace and joy that surpasses human ability. As parents, we do many things to care for our children. Nourish, love, clothe, protect, educate... Has it ever been said that it would be best to give a child the freedom to eat or dress at their own discretion? To learn to read and write when they deem necessary? To seek medical attention when they determine? What if one waits too long to instill either spiritual or physical values? When is it too late? A funeral took place yesterday... A sixteen year old sophomore girl was killed in a car accident. Her parents do not regret a single moment that they spent nourishing her as a young child... teaching her to tie her shoes and ride a bike... but it is not those things that they consider the highest of the lessons taught and then learned... This mom and dad, rest assured that their child will spend an eternity with her Savior as a result of her decision to follow Christ. This is the sweet fruit from an unshakeable foundation that they helped to lay and which guided her to the feet of her God whose arms hold her today.