RAISING A GENERATION OF INFIDELS
By
Charles N. Spence, Jr.
I am very much concerned about the direction in which
many of God’s people are heading today. Too many among us have become apathetic
in the cause for Christ. While not totally abandoning the faith, some have
become stagnant in their service to the Lord. They have become more committed
to and excited about other things. They put more effort into establishing
careers, recreation, and entertainment than they ever do in the work of the
Lord. The Lord has never been pleased with such service (Rev. 3:15-16). When we
do not love first and foremost the Lord and all that He is about, then we have
compromised our souls well being (Rev. 2:4-5).
It is sad when we allow our own spiritual lives to flounder. What is
sadder, however, is when we allow our mediocrity to rub off onto our children.
Those of us who are parents should ask themselves, “Am I
providing the best example that I can to my children?” Bear in mind that your
children see you more than the brethren do. They see you at your best and at
your worst. Yet, what are you trying to instill in them? Do you ever consider
what they would be like as Christians? Parents have a hand in developing the
kind of Christians their children turn out to be. Certainly we must exercise
care in the kinds of entertainment to which they are exposed, the kinds of
relationships that they have with other kids, the types of clothing they wear,
etc. We also must exercise care in the
things we allow them to see us do and hear us say. Parents, who do not make it
a habit of reading or studying their Bibles daily, will likely raise children
who will not read or study their Bibles daily. Yet, some of those same parents
will not miss a daily showing of their favorite soap opera or sports game. We
make excuses for missing services sometimes. Our children know whether our
excuses are true or not. Sometimes there have been those who were too sick to
go to worship, but with the same illness could go to work. Your children
observe this. The excuses some of us use to miss worship, we would chastise our
children for, if they dared to use such excuses to miss school. Consequently,
they will grow up believing that school and work are more important than
assembling with the saints. Our children know that we will travel far and long
and spend long periods even under unpleasant conditions to provide them with
enjoyable recreation and outdoor activities. Yet, they also know that there may
be a good chance that they may miss services because it is too far to travel,
the weather is not suitable or their parents are simply too exhausted. Do not
be surprised when they use the same excuses for missing services when the are on their own. And that is if they decide to attend
at all. The Lord warns about putting a stumbling block in front of the children
who potentially would come to Him (Mark
Some of our children never heard, never mind saw their
parents share Christ with anyone; sometimes not even them. This is not raising
those children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). This is
unacceptable because it is a death knell for the future of any congregation.
Yet, our children see us sharing our business and marketing strategies with
friends and neighbors, the highlights of sporting events, and movies that we
have seen. They see and hear us share recipes and even gossip. However, some
children of Christian parents have never heard nor seen their parents share
Christ with anyone. In these are areas
some of us fail to provide a good example to our children.
What kind of Christians do we want our children to be? I
supposed some parents would not tolerate the kinds of excuse some of those same
parents give to excuse themselves from their service to the Lord, if their
children used them to be excused from their chores at home. If we are slack in
our attendance to worship, our children will be slack in theirs. If we consider
as more important our jobs, recreation and entertainment, our children will do
the same. We must not forget the law of procreation: things produce things
after their own kind (Gen. 1:24-25).
The worst kind of Christian is one who is apathetic or
lukewarm. This is because he thinks he is all right when he is not. He is just
indifferent about his spiritual life. Most people know where the person who is
hot or cold stands.
Look in the mirror and ask yourself honestly, “Am I
giving the best that I have to the service of the Lord? Am I providing the
right kind of example for my children to follow?” Be careful how you answer! It
could be your child looking back at you in the mirror.