WWJD By Dr. Richard Youngblood
Question: Given the many challenges that today’s
culture presents to families, what can I do as a father to pass my faith in
Jesus to my children?
The role of the Christian father, together with his
wife, is to bring their children up “in the training and instruction
of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Our faith must be more than an outward form
of godliness. We must not only have the
law of God “written in our hearts” (Hebrews 8:10) but also be bound to the Lord
in a genuine relationship for life. We
cannot teach our children what we are not.
A little boy was once asked, “Why do you love God?” He answered, “I don’t righty know. I guess it just runs in the family.” That kind of faith begins with faith in the
hearts of the parents.
Some parents attempt to protect their children from
the world around them by declaring war on the culture. Instead of trying to isolate our children by
engaging in such culture wars, we should learn from what the Lord God told his
people through Moses. Moses told God’s
people: “These
commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts” (Deut. 6:6). I believe this is what Jesus would
recommend.
Of the commandments, Moses told God’s people:
“Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and
when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:7). Making time for building and maintaining a
genuine relationship with our children is essential. We must be with them when the teachable
moments come. This does not happen in
today’s world without some effort. Instinctively,
children trust only those whom they know truly love and care for them. To pass on our faith as we walk the road of
life, we must take the time and make the effort necessary to build a genuine,
loving relationship with our children.
Moses also taught that parents must be an example of
the godly life before their children. He
said: “These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your
God directed me to teach you to do in the land . . . so that you, your children
and their children after them may fear the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 6:1-2). The parents needed to obey the commands in the
presence of their children. Our children
are always watching. A few years ago a
commercial showed a boy who mirrored what his father did. When the father washed the car, the son
picked up a sponge. As the father
painted the fence, the son found a paint brush and painted. When the father lit a cigarette, the son
reached for one, too. For a parent to
say, “Do as I say, not what I do,” is self-defeating. Values, morality and faith are more caught
then taught. Nothing can take the place
of a good, godly example.
Finally,
Moses taught Israel that examples must be accompanied with instructions in
truth that explain our actions. He said:
“Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when
you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind
them on your foreheads. Write them on
the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:7-9). We must seize every opportunity to teach our children
about the love of God. On shopping trips
we can reinforce the biblical teaching about honesty. While watching TV, we can discuss what Jesus
said about love, sex, romance and the family.
As they play, we can talk about sharing and fairness because this
pleases Jesus. We can use ballgames,
inspection stickers and lines in the bank and grocery to talk about justice,
unselfishness and truthfulness. Have you
pulled out your wedding albums and talked with the children about sexual purity
before marriage and about keeping vows?
Above all, we must teach our children that these things are right, not
just because they work, but because they come from God who is the source of all
truth and righteousness.
[Send questions or comments to
University Church of Christ, 801 N. 12th,