THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

Proverbs 17:6 says, "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers." Indeed, but with this crown comes responsibility. God commanded Israel to teach their children and their children's children. "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes saw, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but make them known unto thy children and thy children's children; the day that thou stoodest before Jehovah thy God in Horeb, when Jehovah said unto me, Assemble me the people, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children" (Deuteronomy 4:9-10).

Over and over again, the law emphasized this responsibility (Deuteronomy 6:6ff; 20ff; Deuteronomy 31:9-13, etc.). The Passover observance was to be a means of reminding their children of God’s great works (Exodus 12:24ff). The twelve stones that Joshua set up in Gilgal as a memorial of God’s parting the Jordan River, thus enabling the people to enter the promised land, (Joshua 4:20ff) were to remind them of the great things God had done for Israel. To teach these great lessons they must talk with their children, as well as teach them by example. Yet, we read in Judges 2:10, "And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, that knew not Jehovah, nor yet the work which He had wrought for Israel."

It is disturbing when children and grandchildren of faithful brethren never obey the gospel or, as soon as they are away from their parents’ rule, forsake the Lord and His church. This weighs heavy on my mind, especially because I am a parent, and now a grandparent, who above everything else I want for my family, wants them to love and serve God all their lives. I want to be able to provide for them the physical necessities of life, but if they forsake the Lord, surely I must examine myself to see if I did everything I should to provide for them spiritually (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4; Matthew 16:26).

During a recent conversation with my son-in-law, as I looked into the precious face of Kaitlyn (our granddaughter), I asked, "Doesn't it become easy now to answer the question, 'What would you give to protect and provide for one so innocent and precious?''' He quickly and correctly responded, "Whatever it takes!" Indeed, most would be willing to sacrifice their lives in a moment for their children, but are we willing to sacrifice the time necessary to teach them and set before them a lifetime of consistent examples?

Paul described Timothy as one of "unfeigned faith..., which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice" (2 Timothy 1:5). It was because of the faithfulness of his mother and grandmother, who taught him the Scriptures from the time that he was a "babe," that he became "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). This is not to suggest that one who was not reared by a godly family cannot become a Christian, but it certainly would be more difficult. Nor does it diminish from the fact that salvation is an individual choice. However, I am persuaded that one reason why we may be losing our young people to the world is that parents (and grandparents) are failing in their responsibility to consistently train unto godliness "FROM A BABE."

The apostle Paul, who considered himself Timothy's spiritual father, gave him specific instructions and warnings to prevent him from casting aside his faith:

· Be godly (1 Timothy 4:7-8), devout, and sincere, rather than just going through the motions.

· Be completely dedicated in faith, as opposed to serving half-heartedly (1 Timothy 4:13-15).

· Take heed to thyself and the doctrine; that is, practice what you believe and preach (1 Timothy 4:16).

· Do not be ashamed of your faith, nor the gospel; be bold (2 Timothy 1:8,11-14).

Today’s children (and grandchildren) need to hear and give heed to these things. Dangers are ever present. It is possible for our children to believe certain things, just because Mom and Dad believe them, instead of having individual conviction that must be "learned" of God (John 6:44-45) through knowledge of the Scriptures. True faith comes when an individual hears and believes (Romans 10:17). Too many are not converted to Christ, or else are in error, simply because they choose to carry on the "family religion."

It is easy to take faithfulness for granted if we assume that just because our grandparents and parents were faithful, we are too. Please note the individuality of faithfulness. "... the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him" (Ezekiel 18:20). The Bible clearly teaches that we can fall from grace, no matter how good the environment in which we were reared (Galatians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 10:12).

Some never learn true commitment to Christ. They view being a Christian as having been baptized and attending worship services, but Scripture speaks of the church as "subject to Christ." (Ephesians 5:24) "Subject" is a military term meaning "to line up under," and denotes complete submission and obedience to authority.

Some fail to personally study God's Word. Christians, from the beginning, must "long for the spiritual milk..." (1 Peter 2:2), so they may grow in faith. We may admit our lack of Bible knowledge and hunger and thirst to obtain it; but some who are "raised in the church" may think they already "know" all they need to know without personal study. Parents can become lax and not diligent in providing proper spiritual training (Cf. Ephesians 6:1-4). Taking our children to worship, as important as it is, is not a substitute for providing a godly atmosphere at home, with regular Bible study coupled with a good example. The "do as I say, not as I do" approach does not influence our children to serve God.

Israel failed to properly teach its children, and the next generation did not "know Jehovah, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel." Therefore, they did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. We ARE teaching our children, both verbally and by example, but WHAT are we teaching them? Certainly, the next generation will tell.

I will not exchange this birthright for a mess of pottage called social position, or business or professional reputation, or a paycheck. An hour of concern today may save years of heartache tomorrow. The house will wait, the dishes will wait, the new room can wait, but children won't wait... May I know that no other career is so precious, no other work so rewarding, no other task too urgent. May I not defer it nor neglect it, but by thy Spirit accept it gladly, joyously, and by Thy grace realize that the time is short and my time is now. For children WON'T wait."

There is a time to wonder at the ways of God, knowing this is the destiny for which I was crafted;

A time to show him that his new world is a world of love and goodness and dependability.

There is a time to ponder what he is - not a pet or a toy, but a person, an individual - a soul made in God's own image.

He is not mine. I have been chosen to care for him, to nurture him, and to answer to God.

A time to show him God in earth and sky and flower, to teach him to wonder and reverence.

To run a race, to draw a picture, to catch a butterfly, to give him happy comradeship.

A time to share with him my best in attitudes - a love of life, a love of God, a love of family.

There is a time to teach him the beauty of duty, the habit of Bible study, the joy of worship at home, the peace of prayer.

And to know that other minds have his attention, but that I will be there to answer his call when he comes home and listen eagerly to the story of his day.

For soon, so soon, there will be a time to let him go, the apron strings untied,

I will not exchange this birthright for a mess of pottage called social position, or business or professional reputation, or a paycheck.

There will be a time when there is no slamming of doors, no toys on the stairs, no childhood quarrels, no fingerprints on the wallpaper.

There will be a time to look back and know that these years of motherhood were not wasted.

I pray there will be a time to see him an upright and honest man, loving God and serving all.

· You can’t be too careful what you tell a child because you never know what he’ll take hold of and spend the rest of his life remembering you by. (Frederick Buechner)

· A torn jacket is soon mended; but hard words bruise the heart of a child. (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

· One important way for us to help our children grow up is for us to grow up first.

· Children are natural mimics – they act like their parents in spite of every attempt to teach them good manners.

· Our children are the only earthly possessions that we should want to take with us to heaven.

· If we paid no more attention to our plants than we have to our children, we would now be living in a jungle of weeds.

· For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him. (Genesis 18:19)

· Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments. (Psalm 78:1-7)

· But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)