Teach Your Children Well

Teach Your Children Well

 

The Crosby, Stills & Nash song begins by saying, “You who are on the road, must have a code that you can live by” and then in the chorus “Teach your children well”.  Here we have a hummable or singable reminder that, as parents on our journey to heaven, we are responsible for shaping our children’s minds.  Of course the Bible has already given us that instruction, “You shall teach them (these words) diligently to your children” Deut. 6:4-9.

As parents we have many things to teach our children, but most importantly we must teach them the Bible.  We begin when they are very young and build on simple truths and Bible stories laying the building blocks for a faith they must grow on their own.  A bonus to this at-home education is the church Bible school program.  It is here that children are exposed to someone other than their parents teaching the same truths, however the Bible school program cannot do it all.

In order to teach our children well, we must be aware of what they are being taught.  While there are many good literatures available, some contain denominational teachings or subtle references to unscriptural things.  If you’re not sure what literature is being used in your Bible classes, find out!  Ask to see a teacher’s manual & student work book and study it to make sure the truth is being taught.  The word of God does not need to be made into a watered-down comic book.  Children need to learn to read from the Bible and know that they can read the Bible. 

Mothers understand the reference to babies in 2 Peter 2:2 “as newborn babes, desire the milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.”  Babies thrive and grow on milk.  We can also understand that children cannot go from only milk to a T-bone steak, there are stages in between.  Likewise, children need to be taught the basics and then challenged as they grow.  If all we teach our children is Noah’s ark and the creation, when will they be ready to learn of Paul’s missionary journeys or the gospel or the conversion stories in Acts? 

God has blessed us with amazing children who can learn His truths and can understand.  Remember with each day to teach your children well.