For want of counting the cost, the children of religious parents often turn out ill and bring disgrace on Christianity. Familiar from their earliest years with the form and theory of the gospel, taught even from infancy to repeat great leading texts, accustomed every week to be instructed in the gospel, or to instruct others in Sunday schools, they often grow up professing a religion without knowing why or without ever having thought seriously about it. And then when the realities of grown–up life begin to press upon them, they often astound everyone by dropping all their religion and plunging right into the world. And why? They had never thoroughly understood the sacrifices which Christianity entails. They had never been taught to count the cost. ~ Holiness by J.C. Ryle
This quote by J.C. Ryle was very sobering.
I was also sobered while reading What He Must Be. Voddie Baucham quotes James Snyder's biography of A.W. Tozer. Although Tozer was a great preacher and writer, he "had his share of contradictions and incongruities." He writes, "At home there was no preaching and, in fact, little religious discussion. There was no discussion of doctrine at all, and no effort at formal or regular scripture reading in a group setting such as might be called a family altar."
When I read this, my past lack of spiritual instruction for my daughter rose up like an ugly spectre. We had stopped meeting with a local church due to serious issues. There was all but a church split at the time. In reaction, we stayed at home for the next seven years. In reaction to being taught "doctrines of men" we refrained from any kind of teaching. Because we were so paranoid about doing anything in the flesh, we did nothing at all thinking that was the spiritual thing to do. This meant that we encouraged our daughter to read the Bible daily but just "listen for the Holy Spirit" to speak to her without any instruction on our part.
How do you expect a 5 year old to know what that means? My daughter remarked that she did learn the order of the books of the Bible and became familiar with the stories in the Bible. However, she was waiting for an audible voice to speak to her or have some feeling come over her. She said during that period she was never told why she should read the Word and why these things were important.
I cringe at this now and repent for this sinful folly. At best, we were naive and ignorant as we over spiritualized things. At worst, we disobeyed Scripture by not instructing her in the Word.
However, God is greater despite my failure as a mother. Although I failed her those years, God was determined to draw her to Himself.
He used this tragedy in our family to change both our lives. The Word began to have a daily impact on my life. It made all the difference in my being able to have the strength to get through a day. It was like the change from being a jelly fish to a vertebrate. It was change from wondering if it was worth living to finding joy every day.
It was only natural that I began to share these things with my daughter. I am thankful that daily we are able to share about the Word, the books we are reading, the sermons on Sunday, etc. It's not that I'm such a great Christian or a great mom, but that God is a great God who works all things for good and is able to redeem the years the locusts have eaten.
It's true that I cannot be responsible for my child's salvation or her sanctification. But she will see what I care or do not care about. If Christ is my treasure and not just a cliche, she will see it in my life and in my speech.
If I love God and love her, I will teach her and then leave the results up to Him.
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their own children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; Psalm 78:2-7
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to you children , and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way; and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:4-7
This quote by J.C. Ryle was very sobering.
I was also sobered while reading What He Must Be. Voddie Baucham quotes James Snyder's biography of A.W. Tozer. Although Tozer was a great preacher and writer, he "had his share of contradictions and incongruities." He writes, "At home there was no preaching and, in fact, little religious discussion. There was no discussion of doctrine at all, and no effort at formal or regular scripture reading in a group setting such as might be called a family altar."
When I read this, my past lack of spiritual instruction for my daughter rose up like an ugly spectre. We had stopped meeting with a local church due to serious issues. There was all but a church split at the time. In reaction, we stayed at home for the next seven years. In reaction to being taught "doctrines of men" we refrained from any kind of teaching. Because we were so paranoid about doing anything in the flesh, we did nothing at all thinking that was the spiritual thing to do. This meant that we encouraged our daughter to read the Bible daily but just "listen for the Holy Spirit" to speak to her without any instruction on our part.
How do you expect a 5 year old to know what that means? My daughter remarked that she did learn the order of the books of the Bible and became familiar with the stories in the Bible. However, she was waiting for an audible voice to speak to her or have some feeling come over her. She said during that period she was never told why she should read the Word and why these things were important.
I cringe at this now and repent for this sinful folly. At best, we were naive and ignorant as we over spiritualized things. At worst, we disobeyed Scripture by not instructing her in the Word.
However, God is greater despite my failure as a mother. Although I failed her those years, God was determined to draw her to Himself.
He used this tragedy in our family to change both our lives. The Word began to have a daily impact on my life. It made all the difference in my being able to have the strength to get through a day. It was like the change from being a jelly fish to a vertebrate. It was change from wondering if it was worth living to finding joy every day.
It was only natural that I began to share these things with my daughter. I am thankful that daily we are able to share about the Word, the books we are reading, the sermons on Sunday, etc. It's not that I'm such a great Christian or a great mom, but that God is a great God who works all things for good and is able to redeem the years the locusts have eaten.
It's true that I cannot be responsible for my child's salvation or her sanctification. But she will see what I care or do not care about. If Christ is my treasure and not just a cliche, she will see it in my life and in my speech.
If I love God and love her, I will teach her and then leave the results up to Him.
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their own children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; Psalm 78:2-7
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to you children , and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way; and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Comments
Post a Comment
Civil and pertinent comments are appreciated. Trolling will be deleted. Thanks.