July 25, 1982
Message by John Piper
From www.desiringgod.org
士师记2:6-14
约书亚遣散了众人，以色列人就各归自己承受的地业，要占有那地。约书亚在世的时候，以及他去世以后，那些见过耶和华为以色列人所行的大事的众长老还在的日子，众人都事奉耶和华。耶和华的仆人，嫩的儿子约书亚，在一百一十岁的时候就死了。以色列人把他埋葬在他地业的境内，就是以法莲山地，在迦实山北面的亭拿希烈。那一代的人都归到他们的列祖那里以后，有另一代的人兴起来了；他们不认识耶和华，也不知道耶和华为以色列人所行的事。以色列人违背神的恶果以色列人行了耶和华看为恶的事，去事奉众巴力；他们离弃了领他们出埃及的耶和华、他们列祖的神，去跟从别的神，就是他们周围各族的神，敬拜他们，惹耶和华发怒。他们离弃了耶和华，去事奉巴力和亚斯他录。耶和华的怒气向以色列人发作，就把他们交在抢掠的人手中，他们就抢掠他们；他又把他们完全交在他们四围的仇敌手中，以致他们在仇敌面前再不能站立得住。
给我们所有人的一句话
我今天早上想代表儿童发言：我们教会家庭的儿童，包括还未出生的。他们无法代表他们自己发言，所以神为他们发言。我要将神为了儿童所说的话语应用在我们的教会家庭中，我知道你们当中有些人没有孩子，并且永远不会有孩子，有些人的孩子已经长大。无论如何，我要对你们所有的人说，因为接下去的内容是至关重要的，神所说的有关儿童的事情是我们基督徒生活观的一部分。重要的是，老年人要知道神说了什么有关儿童的话，儿童要知道神说了什么有关年龄的话，男人要知道有关女人的话，女人要知道有关男人的话，富人要知道有关穷人的话，穷人要知道有关富人的话，以此类推等等。因为神为了一个团体的益处所说的每一件事，都会影响到所有其他与该团体有关的生活方式，所以每一个团体都必须协助保存与传播神对下一代所有的启示，因此虽然我是为了儿童说话，而且我主要说话的对象是为人父母与将成为父母的人，这些话语对我们每一个人都是有需要的。
不认识主的一代
根据士师记2:8，约书亚死的时候，享年110岁。他已经将以色列人带进迦南应许之地，带领他们经过许多胜利，并且在他们面前树立了一个信靠神的好榜样。在他死后，他那一代的其他人继续生活了一段日子，然后他们也都死了。当他们在世的时候，以色列人服事神，因为他们还记得神伟大的作为。第7节说：「约书亚在世的时候，以及他去世以后，那些见过耶和华为以色列人所行的大事的众长老还在的日子，众人都事奉耶和华。」当人们还记得神的伟大与祂为以色列人所做的事情，他们对神是忠诚的。
但是第10节说到在约书亚与那些见过神奇妙作为的人去世了之后，「有另一代的人兴起来了；他们不认识耶和华，也不知道耶和华为以色列人所行的事」，接着第11节讲述了这个无知导致的后果：「以色列人行了耶和华看为恶的事，去事奉众巴力；他们离弃了领他们出埃及的耶和华、他们列祖的神」。然后第14节描述了神对于偶像崇拜的回应：「耶和华的怒气向以色列人发作，就把他们交在抢掠的人手中」。
总结来说，这里发生的事情有一个次序：首先，人们尊敬并且服事真神，因为约书亚与他同一代的人，不断地记念神奇妙的作为。继而，新的一代兴起，因为某些原因，他们不认识神也不知道神为以色列人所做的事。接着，这新的一代离弃真正的敬拜，并转向其他神。最后，神愤怒的审判临到他们。从这段文字中，我要提出三个给我们的功课。这三个功课虽然简单，却是我们的必需。第一，当有关神的认识被保存在一个群体中时，特别是由那些亲身经历过神的大能的人所保存的，这个群体的信心就会得到滋养，顺服会兴旺。第二，作为父母，如果我们允许我们的孩子在一个不认识神的情况下长大，我们不仅供给他们无知与不信，还有灭亡。第三，所以，教导孩子有关神与其救赎之工，这是所有父母的神圣职责，借此下一代将会认识神并得到救赎。
由于这三个功课中的前两个可以导致最后一个，所以这是我主要想要讨论的。神的旨意是要我们这些作父母的，承担起责任来，将那些神向我们启示有关祂自己的事，教导我们的子女。这是我们作父母首先也是最重要的责任——确保我们的孩子能正确地思想神。家庭是一个孩子最重要的学校，而爸爸妈妈则应该是最能影响他的神学导师。
圣经里给父母亲的见证
首先，我想为了这个训诫向父母们提供一些圣经里的佐证，然后再试着回答一些常见的异议。旧约最重要的一段文字是在申命记6:4-9，这是希伯来圣经中最重要的一个诫命：「以色列啊，你要听，耶和华我们神是独一的主；你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的神。」耶稣说这是第一也是最重要的诫命。每一位犹太人都知道，就好像我要你们每一位都知道，接续这一段重要文字之后的是：「我今日所吩咐你的话，都要记在心上，也要殷勤教训你的儿女」。作为爱神的父母，其首要的任务就是要将神的话语存记在心，并且教导他的子女。
这两件同等优先的事（对你自己的心与你的子女）同时还出现在申命记4:9：「你只要谨慎，殷勤保守你的心灵，免得忘记你亲眼所看见的事，又免得你一生这事离开你的心；总要传给你的子子孙孙。」（这也是讲给祖父母听的！）然后又一次出现在申命记11:18-19：「你们要将我这话存在心内，留在意中……也要教训你们的儿女……」家庭是神的设计，为了保存过去的启示。在基督徒社群中，介于这一代所知道的与下一代将会知道的主要联结就是父母与孩子的联结，约珥书1:3说的恰好：「你们要将这事传与子，子传与孙，孙传与后代。」
当我们进入到新约，这里没有很多谈到有关父母与子女的地方，但是有关神的家训的重要性却有所表现。耶稣在马太福音19:14中，当祂的门徒尝试着要把小孩子轰走时，责备祂的门徒，取而代之的是，祂接受他们并祝福他们，祂这样做，就是要赞扬父母亲的关切。在这段文字里隐含的一个功课就是：父母们，要引领你们的子女到耶稣这里来。时至今日，通往耶稣之道就是透过祂的话语，因此：父母们，透过神的话语让你的孩子认识耶稣。
然后，当使徒保罗指示父母们与孩子们，如何在一个基督化的家庭中互相联结时，在以弗所书6:1-4与歌罗西书3:20-21中，保罗仅仅重申了旧约中的模式：你们作儿女的，要听从父母；父亲要照着主的教训和劝戒，养育你的子女。
所以，我从这些经节中可以下一个结论：这是神的旨意，那就是家庭要被保留，而且父母要在神的名下承担起重大的责任，将圣经与教义的知识深植入子女的头脑与心中。很明显的，当士师记2:10说到另一代兴起且不认识神时，这是因为许多父母忽略了神所命定给他们的责任，结果是这新的一代遗弃主，并将审判带到自己身上，所以，很清楚的是，如果我们做父母的忽略这个责任，我们不仅供给我们的儿女无知与不信，还有灭亡。
我们是在误导我们的子女吗？
哦！我是多么的希望我们教会中的父亲们与母亲们能够成为你们家中神话语的老师。所以让我尝试回答三个也许你们心里会有的异议。第一，也许有人会说父母亲没有权力在有关孩子要接受什么是真理的事上使他们有偏见。比较好的做法是将宗教的选择开放，当孩子做了选择时，那才是他真正的委身，而不是因为父母的威权。这个异议有四个问题。
- 这违背了所有圣经的教导，那就是父母要教导有关神的真理。
- 不教导孩子关于神的事是不可能的，因为不去教导他们本身就是在教导他们很多。它教导孩子耶稣并不是很重要，爸爸和妈妈并不认为耶稣很重要或令人振奋，他就像新家具或是周末去湖边或是爸爸的工作或是所有其他充斥他们谈话内容的事物一样。对基督保持沉默本身就是一个教条，不教导基督的无限价值就是在教导基督是可以忽视的。
- 教导孩童有关神的事会造成他们头脑封闭与无理性的偏见，这并不正确。如果父母没有安全感，并且他们的信心是建立在沙土上，这倒是有可能发生。但是如果父母亲是因为令人信服的理由而成为基督徒，他们也会将这些传授给他们的子女。没有人会因为一个父母告诉他的孩子这个世界是圆的，夜晚的小星星比地球还大，以及太阳是静止不动，但地球是在转动的而控告他在宇宙学上误导孩子。为什么？因为我们知道这些事物真是如此，而且我们最终能够给孩子提供证据来支持这个真理。所以那些有好理由认为基督信仰是真实的人也会如此行。
- 第四，不给孩子他所最需要的，是缺乏爱而且是残酷的行为。因为我们相信只有在信心的顺服下跟随基督，一个孩子才能被永远的救赎，才能脱离地狱的痛苦，并享受天堂之乐，不教导他这样的法则是没有爱也是残酷的。当我在爱中注视着我的三个孩子时，我说:「哦，基督，让我在带领他们与我一同走向荣耀的路上不要懈怠。」
如果我知道的不够怎么办？
有些父母会提出的第二个异议是：我对圣经与教义的认识不够，我无法教导我的孩子并回答他们艰深的问题。这不应该成为你的阻碍，原因有二：第一，开始学习并且在圣经的真理下成长，是永远都不会太晚的事。你可能比一个老手教得还要好，因为这些事物对你来说是如此新鲜。我要从大学生活的一个小小经验中，告诉你一个鼓舞人心的秘密。大多数的大学生并不明了，当他们在某位第一次教课的老师下修课时，他通常知道的只比他们多一点点而且他就这么一直保持着一步的领先。他有两个优势：他知道接下来的是什么，所以可以提早一天计划；而且他在解决问题方面有稍微多一点的经验。如果你与你的孩子以及圣经之间的关系大抵如此，那么就像那位大学老师一样就好：仅仅保持一天的领先。要记住，神交给父母教导他们儿女的责任，远远超过一位大学老师教导他学生的责任。
第二个你不适任的感觉不能阻碍你的原因是，当你不知道如何回答孩子所提出来的艰深问题时，正好是教导一些非常有价值的东西的时候。我能想到的有两样：你可以教导你的孩子谦卑，如果你在神里面有足够的安全感来显示你的无知，而不是假冒为善般的吹嘘，你的孩子会学到谦卑的美。第二，你可以教导你的孩子自己主动解答问题。如果你现在正在阅读撒母耳记上（就像我们现在一样），并且你不知道在7:12中以便以谢的意义，你可以说：「让我们去教会图书馆查考圣经辞典！」如此不但教导你的孩子如何使用图书馆，也表现出你很重视回答他所提出来的问题。不要让无知或不适任的感觉阻止你，神要你成长，祂也会帮助你做正确的事。
如果我的孩子不守规矩怎么办？
有些父母可能会提出的最后一个异议是：我的孩子无法安静地坐着听完一段圣经或是教导。这是今天教会中一个真正的问题，在拜访许多其他的地方时，Noel 与我一再又一再地留意到这个现象。在处理孩子的不顺服时，许多父母好像已经失去了耐性。这是一个奇怪的讽刺，许多聪明的父母，他们在大多数的场合都能有坚定与良善的信念，但是当他们孩子不听话的时候，却似乎经常不知所措。好像许多基督徒父母已经接受了一个概念，那就是你不能真的（或是不应该）从孩子身上期望顺服。所以，若是孩子没有照着你说的去做时，你会试着迎合他们，或是贿赂他们，或是把他们关起来。
我相信神在面对这个情况之下的话语是，我们做父母的需要恢复期望——我们的孩子顺服我们，带着全部的爱与谦卑，我们执行坚定与公正的管教，以确保这样的顺服。孩童的天性并没有任何改变，会使得箴言里的神的话语变得没有智慧。箴言13:24：「不忍用杖打儿子的，是恨恶他；疼爱儿子的，随时管教。」箴言19:18：「趁有指望，管教你的儿子；你的心不可任他死亡。」箴言22:15：「愚蒙迷住孩童的心，用管教的杖可以远远赶除。」箴言23:13-14：「不可不管教孩童，你用杖打他，他必不至于死；你要用杖打他，就可以救他的灵魂免下阴间。」箴言29:15,17：「杖打和责备，能加增智慧；放纵的儿子，使母亲羞愧。……管教你的儿子，他就使你得安息；也必使你心里喜乐。」
只要孩子大到能够听懂你的命令并且能够身体力行，他就必须被教导做什么是正确的，并且没有做就会受到惩罚，直到他在家里与公共场所都能顺服才行。如果我认为我是对着一群虐待儿童的人说话，我会说些许多别的事情，拥抱与亲吻、打滚玩耍、爱、原谅、花时间和你的孩子在一起，这些都是与杖打同等重要的事。我也许错了，但是作为一名牧者，我的判断是，在二十与三十多岁的基督徒父母群中，趋势是对于顺服的期望通常都是来的太低与太晚了，管教也常常缺乏坚定、严厉与一致性。我并不是儿童心理学专家，我是透过对圣经的理解、与三个孩子共同生活的经验、以及对他人的观察得出的结论。
我要用两个劝诫与一个应许来作为结束。第一、父母亲们，认真地思考一下，在教导你的孩子有关于神的事情与教导你的孩子顺服神放在他们之上作为他之代表的你这两件事上，连结有多紧密。第二、这正是这篇信息的重点，教导你的孩子有关于神与祂救赎之工的伟大，这是父母们的神圣职责。他们的救恩可能尚难确定，你的喜乐也是如此，所以我要用箴言23:24-25中的一个应许做为结束：「义人的父亲，必大有快乐；人生智慧的儿子，必因他欢喜。你要使父母欢喜，使生你的快乐。」
愿神在未来的年岁中，使我们的家庭充满这样的喜乐。
附件
Will the Next Generation Know?
Scripture: Judges 2:6-14
When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work which the Lord had done for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of one hundred and ten years. And they buried him within the bounds of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them, who did not know the Lord or the work which he had done for Israel. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals; and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; they went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were round about them, and bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. They forsook the Lord, and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them; and sold them into the power of their enemies round about, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.
A Word for Us All
I would like to speak this morning on behalf of the children: the children in our church families and the ones not yet born. They can’t speak for themselves, and so God has spoken for them. And I want to apply what God has said for the children to our church family. I know that some of you don’t have children and never will. Others have children who are grown. Nevertheless, I speak to you all because it is crucial that what God has to say about children be part of our shared Christian view of life. It is important that old people know what God says concerning children, and that children know what God says concerning age; that men know the word to women, and women the word to men; that the rich know the word to the poor, and the poor the word to the rich; and so on. Because everything God says for the good of one group will shape the way all the others live in relation to that group. And every group must assist in the preservation and transmission of all God’s revelation to the next generation. So even though I speak for the children and speak mainly to parents and parents-to-be, the word is needful for all of us.
A Generation That Did Not Know the Lord
Joshua died when he was 110 years old, according to Judges 2:8. He had brought the people of Israel into the promised land of Canaan, had led them through many victories, and had set them a good example of faith in God. After his death, others of his generation lived on for a while, but then they too died out. While they lived, the people of Israel served God faithfully, because the memory of his greatness was preserved. Verse 7 says, “The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work which the Lord had done for Israel.” While the memory of God’s greatness and the work he did for Israel was alive, the people maintained their devotion to God.
But verse 10 says that after the death of Joshua and those who had seen God’s mighty acts, “there arose another generation after them, who did not know the Lord or the work which he had done for Israel.” And the result of this ignorance is given in verse 11, “The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals; and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt.” And then verse 14 describes the divine response to this idolatry. “So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers.”
In summary, there was a sequence like this: first, the people revered and served the true God because Joshua and his generation kept the memory of God’s mighty acts alive among the people. Second, a new generation arose who for some reason did not know God or his work for Israel. Third, this new generation forsook the true worship and turned to other gods. And finally, God brought the judgment of his wrath upon them. The three lessons for us that I want to draw out of this text are simple, but so needful. First, when the knowledge of God is preserved in a community, especially by those who have personally experienced God’s power, faith is nourished and obedience flourishes. Second, if we parents allow our children to grow up without this knowledge of God, we serve not only their ignorance and unbelief, but also their destruction. Third, therefore it is the solemn duty of all parents to teach their children about God and his saving work, so that the next generation will know and be saved.
Since the first two of these lessons lead to the last one, this is what I want to talk about mainly. It is God’s will that parents assume responsibility to teach their children what God has revealed about himself. It is we parents who have the first and foremost responsibility to see that our children think correctly about God. The most important school a child should ever attend is the home. And the most influential theological teachers he should ever have are Mom and Dad.
The Biblical Testimony to Parents
First, I want to give some more biblical evidence for this admonition to parents, and then try to answer some common objections. The most important text from the Old Testament is Deuteronomy 6:4–9. The most important commandment in all of Jewish Scripture is: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” Jesus said that was the first and great commandment. And every Jew knew, just like I want every one of you to know, what comes next in this great text. “And these words which I command you shall be upon your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children.” The first assignment a parent has after loving God is to store God’s Word in his heart and teach it to his children.
These same two priorities (to your own heart and to your children) are also commanded in Deuteronomy 4:9: “Take heed and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.” (A word to grandparents too!) And again in Deuteronomy 11:18, 19: “You shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul . . . And you shall teach them to your children.” God’s design for the preservation of historical revelation is the family. Within the Christian community the main link between what this generation knows and what the next generation will know is the link between parent and child. Joel 1:3 puts it in a nugget: “Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.”
When we come over into the New Testament, there is not much talk about parents and children. But the importance of parental instruction about God shines through. Jesus rebuked his disciples in Matthew 19:14 when they tried to send the children away. Instead, he received them and blessed them, and in doing so, commended the parents for their concern. One of the implicit lessons of that text is: Parents, bring your children to Jesus. Today the way to Jesus is through his Word. Therefore: Parents, make Jesus known to your children through his Word.
Then when the apostle Paul instructed parents and children how to relate to each other in a Christian household, in Ephesians 6:1–4 and Colossians 3:20, 21, he simply reaffirmed the Old Testament pattern: Children obey your parents; fathers bring up your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
So I conclude from these Scriptures that it is God’s will that the family be preserved and that parents assume primary responsibility under God for getting biblical and doctrinal knowledge into the heads and hearts of their children. Evidently when Judges 2:10 says that another generation arose who did not know the Lord, it is because many parents had neglected their God-ordained responsibility. The result was that the new generation forsook the Lord and brought judgment on itself. It is clear, then, that if we parents neglect this duty, we serve not only the ignorance and unbelief of our children, but also their destruction.
Are We Wrongly Prejudicing Our Children?
O how I want the mothers and fathers of our church to be teachers of the Word of God in your homes. So let me try to answer three objections which may come to your mind. First, some might say that parents have no right to prejudice a child regarding what he will accept as true. It is better to leave all religious options open, and then when he chooses one, it will be owing to authentic commitment, not to parental authority. There are four problems with that objection.
1) It goes counter to all the teaching of Scripture that parents are to teach truth about God.
2) It is impossible not to teach children about God, because not to teach them is to teach them plenty. It teaches them that Jesus does not matter much, that Mom and Dad don’t consider him nearly as important or exciting as new furniture, or weekends at the lake, or Dad’s job, or all the other things that fill their conversation. Silence about Christ is dogma. Not to teach the infinite value of Christ is to teach that he is negligible.
3) It is not true that teaching children about God has to make them close-minded and irrationally prejudiced. It might if the parents are insecure and have their own faith built on sand. But if parents see compelling reasons for being a Christian, they will impart these to their children as well. Nobody accuses a parent of prejudicing a child’s cosmology because he tells the child the world is round, and the little stars at night are bigger than the earth, and the sun really stands still while the earth turns. Why? Because we know these things are so and can give evidence to a child eventually that will support this truth. And so it is with those who are persuaded for good reasons that the Christian faith is true.
4) And, fourth, it is simply unloving and cruel not to give a child what he needs most. Since we believe that only by following Christ in the obedience of faith can a child be saved for eternity, escape the torments of hell, and enjoy the delights of heaven, it is unloving and cruel not to teach him the way. When I look at my three sons in love, I say, “O Christ, let me not be delinquent in bringing them with me to glory.”
What If I Don’t Know Enough?
A second objection some parents may raise is: I don’t know enough about the Bible and about doctrine to teach my children and to answer their hard questions. There are two reasons why this should not stop you. First, it is never too late to begin to study and grow in your grasp of Bible truth. You may be a better teacher than a veteran because you are learning it fresh yourself. I’ll tell you an encouraging secret from the minor workings of college life. Most college students don’t realize that when they take a course from a teacher who is teaching it for the first time, he often knows very little more than they do and is staying just a step ahead. He has two advantages: he knows what’s coming and can plan a day ahead, and he has a little more experience in how to solve problems. If that’s your situation in relation to your children and the Bible, then do like the college teacher: just stay a day ahead. Remember the God-given duty of parents to teach their children is far greater than the duty of a college teacher to teach his students.
The second reason your sense of inadequacy should not stop you is that some tremendously valuable things can be taught when you don’t know the answer to a child’s hard question. I can think of two. You can teach your child humility. If you are secure enough in God to show your ignorance rather than bluff and be a hypocrite, your child learns the beauty of humility. Second, you can teach your child to take some initiative of his own in solving problems. If you are reading 1 Samuel (like we are now) and you don’t know what Ebenezer means in 7:12, you can say, “Let’s stop at the church library and look it up in the Bible dictionary,” and so teach your child how to use the library and communicate your own seriousness about answering his questions. Don’t let a sense of ignorance and inadequacy stop you. God wants you to grow, and he will help you do what is right.
What If My Children Won’t Behave?
One final objection some parents may raise is: My children won’t sit still long enough to listen to a Bible passage or receive instruction. This is a real problem in the church today. In visiting other places, Noël and I see it again and again. Many parents seem to have lost their bearings when it comes to handling the disobedience of their children. It is a strange irony that intelligent parents who have strong and good convictions in most areas often seem to be nonplussed as to what to do when their children disobey. It seems as if many Christian parents have absorbed the notion that you can’t really (or shouldn’t) expect obedience from a child. So, if the children don’t do what you say, you try to humor them or bribe them or pen them up.
I believe God’s word to this situation is that we parents need to recover the expectation that our children obey us, and that in all love and humility we administer firm and just discipline to secure that obedience. Nothing has changed in the nature of children to make the Word of God from Proverbs unwise. Proverbs 13:24: “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.” Proverbs 19:18a: “Discipline your son while there is hope; do not set your heart on his destruction.” Proverbs 22:15, “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it from him.” Proverbs 23:13, 14: “Do not withhold discipline from your child; if you strike him with the rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.” Proverbs 29:15, 17, “The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother . . . Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.”
As soon as a child is old enough to understand your command and has the physical ability to do it, he should be taught what is right to do and then punished for not doing it until he will obey at home and in public. If I thought that I was talking to a group of child abusers, I would say many other things. Hugging and kissing, and tumbling, loving, forgiving, and spending time with your children are all just as important as spanking. I may be wrong, but my pastoral judgment is that among Christian parents in their 20s and 30s the tendency is to have expectations of obedience that are too low and too late, and discipline that lacks firmness and rigor and consistency. I am no expert in child psychology. I speak from my understanding of Scripture, my experience with three sons, and my observation of others.
I close with two admonitions and a promise. First, parents, ponder seriously how close the connection is between teaching your children about God and teaching them to obey you as God’s representative over them. Second, and this is the main point of the message, it is the solemn duty of parents to teach their children about God and the greatness of his saving work. Their salvation may hang in the balance, but so does your joy. And so I close with a promise from Proverbs 23:24, 25. “The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice; and he that begets a wise child shall have joy in him. Your father and your mother shall be glad, and she who bore you shall rejoice.”
May God fill our families with this joy in the years to come.
