Children with Religion

Why I’m Rearing My Children WITH Religion

Several months ago, I read an article entitled, “Why I’m Raising My Kids without Religion,”1 and my problem with the article began right with its title. First, parents may raise corn, raise the roof or even “raise Cain,” but we are to “rear” children, not raise them. Second, we do not raise “kids,” unless we are talking about baby goats—we rear “children.” I hope I have not lost you already with my “Grammar Nazi” pet peeves.

do your children know god

Do Your Children Know God?

Seriously, the author of the article in the “Shine” section of Yahoo News began the article with the question, “Does God really exist?” and then proceeded to explain why he chose not to believe in God any longer and would not include religion in his parenting. The entire article dripped with subjective morality and pointless postulations about ethics and religion. Yes, the article both angered me and saddened me.

Therefore, I want to express why I am rearing my children with religion, but not just any religion—a godly, true religion based upon the principles guided by the Creator of the heavens and earth. I want to discuss why I will not avoid discussing these issues while they are young and then allow them to search and decide for themselves, and why this is an absolutely crazy and unloving gesture on the part of parents.

First, I am rearing my children with religion because society throughout ages has shown the deplorable conditions of homes without religion. Crumbling home foundations without a godly religion continue to exist all around us. We have noted the rapid deterioration of families without a godly religion for centuries, yea, even millennium. Homes without religion often contain mounting materialism, licentious living and sinful sensuousness. Thus, many of these problems can traced to the fact that far too many homes exist without a godly structure of morality and a firm foundation of righteousness in which families may stabilize and grow. Case in point, far too many children are subject to watching their parents go through the painful process of divorce right before their eyes, because their parents are not maintaining the type of marriage that a godly religion demands (Eph. 5:22-33). Among a nation of families, we are quickly becoming a nation of broken (and immoral) homes, and it is not due to the influence of a godly religion, but just the opposite! In order for America to save our homes, it will take the influence of a godly religion: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34).

Second, I am rearing my children with religion because homes with Jesus Christ in them are far better! Just as Jesus blessed the homes of Simon Peter and Andrew (Mark 1:29-31), Jairus (Mark 5:22-41), Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), He can infinitely bless my home! He is not a shunned stranger, but a welcome guest! He blesses my home when His presence and influence is felt through the lives of those inside. It is because of a Christ-like atmosphere from a religion that serves Him that words of encouragement and kindness are spoken to each other (cf. Prov. 25:11; Eph. 4:29-32). I am rearing my children with Christ as the center of my home because Jesus leaves homes with His godly presence therein much more blessed than otherwise!

Third, I am rearing my children with religion because only religion teaches me how the family best functions. The morals of society and culture change and blow like the coming winds, but only godly religion teaches me who made the first home (Genesis 2) and how our Creator intends for homes to function. Only godly religion instructs husbands how to best love their wives (Eph. 5:25-33), and only godly religion instructs wives how to respect their husbands as the heads of their households (Eph. 5:22-24; Titus 2:3-5)—I certainly will not learn these otherwise! Only godly religion instructs children to honor and obey their parents (Eph. 6:1-3). Only godly religion instructs parents to teach, discipline and nurture their children (Eph. 6:4; cf. Deut. 6:6-10). Homes in which families function accordingly are the happiest; homes in which these do not happen struggle.

Fourth, I am rearing my children with religion because I am interested in the salvation of my family, and only a godly religion can offer that. The writer of the article clearly mentioned that he only lived in the present (the here-and-now), and refused to believe in an afterlife. How sad will he conclude when he meets his Lord and Judge? How successful of parents are they ultimately who fail to prepare their children for the impending judgment and resurrection? In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about those who failed to prepare for the coming Bridegroom, and parents who rear their children without religion are doing their children a disservice by not preparing them for eternity! Every accountable husband, wife, father, mother and child needs God! Every accountable husband, wife, father, mother and child needs Jesus Christ as their Savior! Every accountable husband, wife, father, mother and child needs Christianity! All of this is true because every accountable husband, wife, father, mother and child needs salvation from their sins (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). It is the duty of parents to live godly lives and to teach their children the need to believe (John 8:24), repent (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 17:30), confess their faith in Jesus (Matt. 10:32) and to be baptized for the remission of their sins (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Pet. 3:21).

Therefore, every home needs to hear these words: “This day is salvation come to this house…” (Luke 19:9). Only parents who choose to rear their children with religion will have the chance of this happening! As godly parents, let us rise above the militant atheism and outrageous secularism of our day and loudly proclaim, “I am rearing my children with religion, because I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ!” (cf. Rom. 1:16).

1http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/why-8217-m-raising-kids-without-religion-212000345.htm be

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Unfeigned Brotherly Love

Brotherly Love

through it all with brotherly love

Through it all with brotherly love.

There is no greater force than love. If two people truly love each other, they will do anything for the other. For, there is no greater bond on earth than true love. And, how much more true is this of the love that is to exist between believers of Christ. When we immerse ourselves into the words of God, we find a love that exists between brethren, which is unlike that which the world knows. And, Peter states that our souls are to be pure so that we can have unfeigned love of each other stemming from a pure heart (1 Pet. 1:22).

This love is Philadelphian love, which is a very special kind of love and rarely ever used in the Bible (12 times). Brotherly love as it is known, is a love that consists of the glow of the heart kindled by the perception of that in the object that affords us pleasure. It is the response of the human soul to what appeals to it as pleasurable. Philadelphian is a word used to speak of a friendly affection. It is a love called out of one in response to a feeling of pleasure or delight which one experiences from an apprehension of qualifies in another that furnish such pleasure or delight. And, it is this love:

  • That binds one another together as a family, as a brotherly clan.
  • That binds one another in an unbreakable union.
  • That holds one another ever so deeply within the heart.
  • That knows deep affection for one another.
  • That nourishes and nurtures one another.
  • That shows concern and looks after the welfare of one another.

Thus, Peter states we are to have this unfeigned love, that is, a love that is genuine, sincere, without pretension, hypocrisy, or play–‐ acting (Rom. 12:9). We are not to pretend, play, and act like we love one another; we are to love one another genuinely and sincerely. This is important that we love in this way because 1 Pet. 1:22 Points out the command to love with a pure heart “fervently”. This word does not mean to just love in warmth, but with full intensity. It literally implies to stretch love fully out or to love one another in an all out manner. And, we love because we have purified our souls (v.22), because we are born again by the Word of God (v.23) and because our flesh withers and falls away (v.24–‐25).

Believers love one another because God has purified our souls and cleansed us of sin. We are forgiven through the majestic blood of Christ. We are free from guilt and the pollutions of the world. And, we stand before God, in a right relationship with him because we have been obedient to him. It is in this spirit that we each have the capability to love people with a clean and pure heart, with no restraint, no hiding behind bushes, and no thought of shame or weakness. Therefore, love one another in the freedom of a pure and clean soul.

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What is Your Goal?

Pursuing Your Goals?

what are your goals

What Are Your Goals?

As an avid Ohio State Buckeyes fan I was delighted that “we” won the National Championship last Monday night against the University of Oregon. In a three game stretch the Buckeyes shutout the Wisconsin Badgers 56 – 0 in the Big Ten Championship; defeated the then #1 team in the nation, the University of Alabama, in the Sugar Bowl 42 – 35; and then defeated the Ducks 42 – 20. What impressed most people about this amazing finish to the Buckeye’s season was that they won all three games with their third string quarterback, Cardale Jones. The most impressive thing however was that these three games were not only the three biggest games of Cardale’s college career, they were the only games he had ever started for the Buckeyes. On the largest stages of collegiate athletics Cardale Jones not only won those games, but did so with such skill and poise that many thought he would forgo any further time in college to enter the pro football draft.

Cardale had said, “In my personal opinion, I’m not ready for that level.” But as is the case with many young people when faced with the prospect of fame and fortune one’s judgment can become quickly blurred. It was announced (via his own twitter feed) on Thursday, the deadline by which Cardale had to declare whether or not he would make himself available for the NFL draft, that there would be a press conference that he would be announcing a “Life changing decision at 4pm.” This lead to a fury of speculation that the young quarterback was bolting for the NFL. My friend Terry wrote on Facebook that he seemed inevitable now that Cardale was leaving (As I write this I checked Terry’s Facebook page and his prognostication has since been deleted).

His decision? “My decision was very simple,” Jones said. “I’m gonna return next year for school.” WHAT?! How could you pass up all that fame and fortune? Cardale said he wanted to finish his education. And when the time came to play in the NFL, if it does come, he will be able to concentrate on the job at hand. “I want to make sure I meet all my goals,” Jones said. A more mature press conference I have never seen.

As Christians today, many become distracted by the fleeting rewards of this life. Many too quickly give up an eternal reward for the temporal fame and fortune of this life. Paul said, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ…I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8 – 14).

This past week I was also inspired by two fine young Christian men who took a stand against worldliness and gave up roles in a school play that would have caused them to compromise their Christianity. Both are talented actors and singers and would certainly have been lauded for their performances, but at what cost? I am reminded of the Hebrew writer who spoke of Moses saying that he “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:24 – 26).

The goal of every Christian, indeed every man, should be to live a life that is pleasing to God and which is rewarded with eternal life in heaven. I certainly want to be the best husband, father, friend, brother and neighbor that I can be. But I cannot be any of those things if I am not first, and foremost, the Christian God expects me to be (Ecclesiastes 12:13). My goal? I want to hear those sweet words of welcome, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21, 23). What is your goal?

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Give Me Coffee!

Give Me Coffee!

coffee brings dark to light

Coffee brings dark to light!

What was life like without coffee? Before coffee found its way to Europe and the America’s the people in those regions were very sleepy and depressed because they did not have coffee to drink. (Historical “fact” I just made up.) Coffee had been, up until the 1700’s, a very tightly controlled commodity that was monopolized by the kingdom of Arabia. It originated in Ethiopia and as the legend goes it was discovered by an Ethiopian goat-herder who noticed that his goats seemed like they were full of energy and would dance around every time they ate these little red berries off of a certain type of shrub. So apparently he ate some of the berries too and from that experience he, or someone else, decided to dry and roast the seeds (beans) that were in the berries and grind them up to steep in hot water and thus coffee was born! (What a great day that was!) They traded these beans to Arab traders who were quick to notice the potential financial windfall that would result from cornering the market on this marvelous bean! For many years, they maintained the secret of where these beans came from and would not allow any “green” coffee beans (non-roasted; still fertile) to leave their shores. Another legend is that the wife of the Swedish ambassador to Arabia became enamored with coffee (and also it seems a certain prince of the royal house) and was given a single “green” coffee bean nestled in a bouquet of flowers as a parting gift from her special “friend.” And it is from this single green coffee bean, that the majority of the world’s supply of Arabica coffee derives.

What did people drink before coffee became widely available? Tea and hot chocolate, that’s what! When Europeans and Americans mainly drank tea, was there an industrial revolution? NO. Were the sciences advancing at any sort of rapid pace? NO. Am I saying that coffee is the reason for this rapid expansion in science and industry? YES, although very unscientifically! With coffee, people were more alert and more able to become more intellectual. Case in point – the Arabs were in the heyday of their “enlightenment” soon after discovering coffee while at the same time the Europeans were in the depths of the Dark Ages. Coincidence, maybe but I choose to believe not! (After all, this supports the point I am trying to make…!)

What is the point of all this rambling on about coffee? Without coffee the world was in darkness and there were none of the great advances in industry in science; and the human condition was fraught with pessimism and sleepiness. (I don’t know this, but it sounds good. I love coffee!)

Whether my conclusion about coffee is sure or not, I know one that that is sure: Without Jesus Christ and His coming to this world all would be darkness, pessimism and men would still be slumbering in spiritual ignorance and bondage to sin. Like the first drink of coffee opens the eyes in the morning, the Son of God opened the eyes of those who were in spiritual darkness and led them out into the sunshine, dispelling all spiritual slumber and giving those who would accept and OBEY Him the promise of eternal life.

“And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…” Matthew 4:13-17

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Getting Clean Dishes

How Are You at Washing Dishes?

getting clean dishes

Getting clean dishes?

There is a famous hymn in many church hymnals titled, “Purer In Heart, O God.”  The song itself is short and simple, but its message is weighty and piercing.  The main point of the hymn is found in the words “may I devote my life wholly to Thee.” This attitude of willing and total submission to God’s will is the key to the answer to all of life’s problems, struggles, and uncertainties.

To keep himself from sin, David pleaded with God, saying, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10).  You see, David understood the reward of having a pure heart; a reward that Jesus referred to in Matthew 5:8, saying, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Sadly, there are those who are more like the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees who did not “cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also” (Matt. 23:25-26).  Had they done so, they would have received the same reward as David.

Friends, if you want to see God, you better wash your dishes.

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