I came across an article today. It’s on preaching – as in, sermons to the church. But I think it’s pertinent to us (in our own lives, and as parents, and in educating our children) too. I believe it is VERY important that we teach/learn Bible Principles (or I wouldn’t be doing it with my children, nor training others in it). Our children (and we) need to know how to reason Biblically to live a Christian life in this world. It is the renewing the mind that transforms us to have the “mind of Christ” and to be able to apply His ways in this world – to obey His command to “take dominion”.
But I think we also must take care that we do not present (nor grasp) the “Letter” without the “Spirit”. It is not my goal to raise children who have a lot of “head knowledge” and can tell you all the right answers, but don’t live it in their own lives. This is God’s whole message, that we can not “do right”. No one can keep the whole law. It is the “school master” that brings us to Christ. But the goal is coming to Christ. It’s not about our works, or our knowledge. It is about His grace that enables us to do what is right, which is only found through the Cross. The Law sets the standard, but through it we also see that we cannot meet the standard. We must not just give our children a moral foundation and Biblical understanding. We must bring them to Jesus, their only hope and salvation, each and every day.
A friend and I have been discussing how not all the Founding Fathers of our nation were converted Christians. Yet, even those who were not, had a more Biblical (God centered) view of the world than most Christians today – and perhaps even lived more “Biblically”. That worldview they had, provided a strong foundation for our nation, and gave us a heritage and advantage as future generations. We are indebted to them. But, it didn’t profit them for eternity.
I am concerned about my children’s eternal souls, not just that they get a good, or even “Biblical” education. I cannot just fill their heads with knowledge, even Biblical knowledge and understanding. I must bring them to Jesus – to the Cross – to meet grace, where it’s all about HIM and what He’s done (and doing), not about “me”.
So yes, we must teach Biblical Principles, but even more so, we must bring our children to Jesus.
Quote from the article by Tim Keller:
“We have said that you must preach the gospel every week–to edify and grow Christians and to convert non-Christians. But if that is the case, you cannot simply ‘instruct in Biblical principles.’ You have to ‘get to Jesus’ every week.
” …There is, in the end, only two ways to read the Bible: is it basically about me or basically about Jesus? In other words, is it basically about what I must do, or basically about what he has done?”
