A recent statement from a teenager, “I don’t want to be different. I want to fit in with everyone else.” These words were spoken by a teen that has been raised in the church and has a generational godly heritage. When they were spoken, it made my heart ache.
Deuteronomy 6: 1 – 9 (NLT)
A Call for Wholehearted Commitment
1 “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, 2 and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. 3 Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
4 Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
I was blessed to be raised by parents who received the Holy Ghost in 1925. Their whole life was centered in loving and serving God. They were imitators of God in the home and outside the home as instructed in Ephesians 5:1. Their lives created a hunger in my heart for God. I was baptized young and received the Holy Ghost at nine years old because I wanted to be saved. My father was my pastor and I loved how he made the Word of God came alive even to a young child.
I’m extremely concerned today how children are being influenced in the home of Christian parents. With all the media devices today, each family member seems to be caught up in their iPad, computer or cell phone that are all connected to the Internet. They will have family movie nights, but not family Bible study nights. There is good and evil on the Internet. The problem is that most of the things on the Internet are influenced by the world. Ungodly sitcoms can be seen on all of these devices with the applications that are available. Much of the music that is listened to today, unless straight Gospel, has the influence of the world. What we feed on is what we become.
American Christians are spoiled rotten. I think there is a false sense of security among us that says, “As long as I go to church, I’m OK with God.” This is exactly the place the devil wants us to dwell – it’s called apathy. There is no apathy in the countries where ISIS murderers are killing Christians daily.
When I went to high school of over 2,000 students, I was the only one with the Holy Ghost that I knew. I was thankful that God had allowed me to know His truth. I never wanted to be ‘just like everyone else’ to fit in. I loved God and His truth more than my selfish desires. It’s been sixty years and my desire is stronger every day to be like the Lord! Something is missing today in many Christian families.
If parents think that taking children/young people to church activities are going to save their soul, they are fooling themselves. Children need to see their parents making God an active part of the family life just as instructed in Duet. 6 above. Parents must bring godly wisdom into their talk, attitudes and decisions and how they treat one another. Parents must closely monitor the Internet they allow their children to see and hear. What we feed on is what we become. Children need to see their parents in an intimate relationship with God.
Many people have a relationship with church activities, but do not know how to have an intimate relationship with God. Psalm 119:9-11 (NLT) “9 How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. 10 I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” If our children do not learn the Word of God, they will have no wisdom or strength to stand against the evils of the world. This should be the theme of daily parenting – putting the Word of God into our children’s hearts.
I pray for all Holy Ghost parents to wake up out of apathy and realize each child has a soul that will live forever in eternity. Nothing in this life is more important than each child seeing godliness in action through its parents. It’s a matter of choice with priorities in life. Choosing self-control over the activities of your family and allow God to reign in every area of life!!!!! My greatest joy is to know my children’s children walk in truth!
(c) Carol Clemans – March 2015
www.carolclemans.org – bio, 136+ articles, teaching CD’s, DVD’s, book: GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE.
Nationwide confidential counseling by phone/Skype is available (636) 448-0121. Teaching God’s anointed Word for churches/conferences for spiritual, emotional and relational growth in God, Contact by phone or email: carol@carolclemans.org