KEEPING OUR CHILDREN CHRISTIAN (PART 1)

Introduction

Coming from a non-Christian background and converting to Christianity, I often wonder about the importance of teaching, sustaining our children to remain in the church. It is extremely troubling that children are not attending services (converted and the unconverted) living in Christian households. Why and how this has occurred and the roles the parents have played in their upbringing? For as long as the child remains in the Christian home, he/she is subjected directly to the authority of their parent. It is our duty to instill in them the faith once and for all delivered to us (Jude 1:3) and our responsibility to ensure they stay in the church.

Ephesians 6:4

‘And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.’ (NKJV) (in some translations “rear them up”, “raise them up”, etc.)

This applies to fatherless households too. “Provoke” is translated from the Greek word ‘parogizette’ (Strong’s Greek 3949), meaning to be “unfair, cruel behavior, or blatant favouritism, to anger.” The emphasis of this verse is the commandment to raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Proverbs 19:18 further adds– ‘Chasten your son while there is still hope.’

Foundation

If the foundation within the family is weak, then the children (or child) will likely not be fed with the Word of God. One example is where the father or mother is not a Christian (one parent a faithful Christian). The child faces pressures from the parents pulling in different directions. By foundation, I refer to parents not being strong Christians themselves. It certainly will impact the emphasis given to church attendance or Bible study.

Bible Emphasis – God’s Word

Proverbs 22:6

‘Train up a child in the way he should go. And when he is old he will not depart from it.’ (NKJV)

Psalms 127:3

‘Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord. The fruit of the womb is a reward.’ (NKJV)

When do we begin our biblical studies with our children? The answer is obviously from the time they are very young, just like when we ‘train’ them up with the numbers and alphabets. To ‘train up’ is to teach, start or give instructions. The Hebrew word is ‘chamak’, which means to dedicate the child according to his way (Strong’s Hebrew 2596). Strong words indeed. Why? So that as he grows up, he will not depart from it. From what?  From God’s Word and God’s ways. Have we failed in our duty to the heritage that God has given us? In short, your children are not just your own, they are the heavenly Father’s children.

Priorities and Choices

Let us examine how we may have failed our children.

Secular Education

From the very beginning, the emphasis is on preparing the very young child for secular education, nursery, K1, K2 etc. Getting into the best schools, the emphasis on tuition and exams, telling them directly or indirectly that this is the most important stage of their lives- that not even God and His church should stand in the way, failure to emphasize on ‘Seek ye first His kingdom’ (Matthew 6:33) - Kids soak in everything we tell them at this stage. Hours and hours spent on tuition and assessment books. Exams on Monday or Thursday? Skip church on Sunday. Forget Bible class on Wednesday evening. As the child grows, this mindset and practice is ingrained. Very important work or meeting on Monday? Skip Sunday, no worries, ‘God will understand’.

How many of us will insist our children read the Bible daily and discuss what they have read with us? Do we ourselves read and study the Bible? 

Then there is Co-curricular Activities (CCA) from schools. This is treated as important too as it is related to secular education. The richer ones insist that on ‘free’ days, their children take up piano, flute, ballet or other enrichment classes. No wonder, we bring up stressed-out children.

Mental Health – Singapore

A significant portion of youth in Singapore has experienced severe or very severe symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress. The first nationwide survey on youth mental health by Institute of Mental Health has found that a third of young people aged 15 to 35 reported symptoms that include feeling empty, tense or upset most of the time. (Straits Times, 19 Sept 2024)

In other words, in their formative years, they have been exposed to all the secular pressures leading to this mental stage. Just think, from a 1-year-old to 15-year-old, if they were ‘trained’ in God’s Word – His ways, whilst growing up in a good home environment: I believe they will grow up well-adjusted and still do well in their secular education and grounded in the faith. God’s Word affirms as such.

More primary school kids are calling helpline over mental health (Straits Times, 29 Dec 2024). Is this helpful to our children?

Time Management

In the same mental health report, Singapore youth reportedly spent 27% in excessive social media use daily (1 in 4). I suspect this may be higher. With parents working, equally stressed, no time for the child’s biblical health and placing great emphasis on education and other pursuits, our children are unlikely to grow up and stay in the Lord.

(To be continued next week…)

Ask Yourself:

1.  What are some emphases by parents today?

2. Is there a command for Christian parents to teach our children the Bible? Or this is optional?

3. What takes up children’s time today?

   
   

Suggested Answers:

1. Secular studies and social enrichment classes.

2.  It is a command.

3. Social media, games, other pursuits.