Although I {Micheal Pearl} am greatly concerned for these first generation homeschool kids {second generation Christians}, it is the third generation Christians now being born that really cause me to tremble. I look at these beautiful young children and wonder how many of them are going to reach maturity in purity.
Pornography will very likely get over half of them. Their minds and thought life will be molded by ever worsening flashing digital media. Their relaxed, pleasure-seeking, second-generation Christian parents take it all for granted. At least their parents {first generation Christians} came out of a life of sin and were somewhat on guard against evil. They worshipped God with a memory of the mire from which they were redeemed. But the new parents have never been to war with the Devil, never been wounded in battle, and do not know the peril that awaits their children. These “greenhouse” Christian parents think that because it worked out well for their parents, it will by default work out well for them. After all, they are good Christian parents; why shouldn’t their kids turn out to be radiant believers as well? Because those lovely children are carriers of a genetic predisposition to a disease called sin. And historically, third generation Christians are religious, but lost.
I’ve likely alarmed you, and you are now asking, “What can I do to guarantee that my children (or my grandchildren) become real, born-again Christians?” Go back and walk in the old paths with them. “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” {Jeremiah 6:16}. First and foremost, you must become a Spirit-filled believer, daily rejoicing in the blessing of God, giving praise and honor to him in the presence of your children. You must manifest the fruits of the Spirit {Galatians 5:22-23}. Your children must see your compassion and justice. They must see your abhorrence of sin.
But most importantly of all, they must be raised on the Bible stories, not children’s Bible stories, but real adult Bible stories of law, sin, judgment, repentance, faith, heaven and hell. Reality. Don’t raise your children to live in a make-believe world…teach them TRUTH. Then they will walk in truth, and you will “have no greater joy than to hear that [your] children walk in truth” {3 John 4}, instead of grief. Instill a Biblical reality. You cannot expect one or two hours at church each week to feed their spirits any more than you would trust two meals per week to feed their bodies. They will become what you daily feed them. Give them one hour of TV per day, followed by one hour of Bible teaching, or visa versa, it doesn’t matter. You should expect the TV worldview to win. It is a better communicator than you are.
Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4
Pornography will very likely get over half of them. Their minds and thought life will be molded by ever worsening flashing digital media. Their relaxed, pleasure-seeking, second-generation Christian parents take it all for granted. At least their parents {first generation Christians} came out of a life of sin and were somewhat on guard against evil. They worshipped God with a memory of the mire from which they were redeemed. But the new parents have never been to war with the Devil, never been wounded in battle, and do not know the peril that awaits their children. These “greenhouse” Christian parents think that because it worked out well for their parents, it will by default work out well for them. After all, they are good Christian parents; why shouldn’t their kids turn out to be radiant believers as well? Because those lovely children are carriers of a genetic predisposition to a disease called sin. And historically, third generation Christians are religious, but lost.
I’ve likely alarmed you, and you are now asking, “What can I do to guarantee that my children (or my grandchildren) become real, born-again Christians?” Go back and walk in the old paths with them. “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” {Jeremiah 6:16}. First and foremost, you must become a Spirit-filled believer, daily rejoicing in the blessing of God, giving praise and honor to him in the presence of your children. You must manifest the fruits of the Spirit {Galatians 5:22-23}. Your children must see your compassion and justice. They must see your abhorrence of sin.
But most importantly of all, they must be raised on the Bible stories, not children’s Bible stories, but real adult Bible stories of law, sin, judgment, repentance, faith, heaven and hell. Reality. Don’t raise your children to live in a make-believe world…teach them TRUTH. Then they will walk in truth, and you will “have no greater joy than to hear that [your] children walk in truth” {3 John 4}, instead of grief. Instill a Biblical reality. You cannot expect one or two hours at church each week to feed their spirits any more than you would trust two meals per week to feed their bodies. They will become what you daily feed them. Give them one hour of TV per day, followed by one hour of Bible teaching, or visa versa, it doesn’t matter. You should expect the TV worldview to win. It is a better communicator than you are.
Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4
You can read all of it HERE.
Logging you in...
Heidi · 533 weeks ago
But I am reminded from this that I do "rest" on this and let my guard down, especially with tv and Computer games.
Thank you for the post and the "food for thought".
Blessings
Heidi
Lori Alexander 122p · 533 weeks ago
Cynthia Swenson · 533 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 533 weeks ago
jillsremedies 17p · 533 weeks ago
elspethbreathinggrace 46p · 533 weeks ago
I thought what she was trying to say is that we need to be careful of thinking we can save our children through the earnestness of our works. What if (heaven forbid!) they do go astray for a season, despite our best efforts? Then what? Is that then the parents' fault? Not necessarily. We have to remember that God is sovereign and our children have free will.
In any event, it was a good article by Mr. Pearl because those of us who are building the hedge need to be reminded that not all evil is external. That being born in sin and shaped in iniquity, our children are not immune form temptation. A good word.
-Els
Lori Alexander 122p · 533 weeks ago
Kate · 533 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 533 weeks ago
Roma · 533 weeks ago
Kate · 533 weeks ago
Becky · 533 weeks ago
Becky
jillsremedies 17p · 533 weeks ago
Ken · 533 weeks ago
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:29).
We do not know the mechanisms of God's election and thus we should not be presumptuous to assume that what we do has no effect on His choice, as it surely does. God relates to mankind by promises. He promises something to us and when we reach for those promises with true faith He grants them. One of those promises is:
'Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
The regularity by which this promise comes true to faithful parents is proof that God chose our children based most likely on His foreknowledge of our faithfulness and His devine need to aways keep His Word. He desires a family of God and is actively blessing His family.
A good possibility is that before the foundation of the earth God did choose all who would choose Christ. In other words, God declares that all who are "in Christ will be saved" so the election is complete. All that happens on earth is that those who are brought to Christ by their parents, or others, are the chosen ones. The choosing was done long ago, but it was not arbitrary, it was based on whom God dd foreknow, who is Christ Jesus. Jesus was the Chosen One of God, and not all people can choose to be in Christ and be known by God, or choose not to be known by God. But all who are in Christ belong to Him.
The bottom line is that we are to trust God on His promises and train our children in the Lord. To rest in a presumption that God does not make His choice based a parent's faithfulness is impossibl eto know. That mechanism of choice was certainly not random, and salvation is said to be available to all people. So parents may play a far greater role in the future salvation of the children than many Calvinist leaning believers may understand.
Only God can give a choice to all to believe yet know who will choose before time begins. And yet, we are called to be faithful to our calling as parents and rest in HIs promises: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Heb 11:6)
Katie · 533 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 533 weeks ago
Krista · 533 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 533 weeks ago
Sami · 533 weeks ago
Ken · 533 weeks ago
First, I don't know what "raised his hand to me" means exactly, but certainly you should not be living in fear. Find an older godly woman you can trust to confide in and seek counsel. Discuss with your husband the need to insure that no threat of hitting exists unless it is in the context of appropriately spanking the children on the rear end. No threat of "raising a hand" should ever exist in Christian home, so ask your husband if he will set that standard. If he refuses, ask him to go with you to see another godly couple or the pastor about it because it scares you and the kids, and living in fear that he might strike you is not good for the relationship.
As for the potential stealing from his boss, you need to tread very carefully here, making sure that you do not end up falsely accusing you husband for something he did not do. You should be able to figure out if more money is going through your bank account than should be. The items you mention are not so expensive that most wage earners cannot afford them if they are good savers, or are putting things on the credit cards. Look at his financials, bank account, credit card bills, etc. and evaluate things on your own if you have access to them.
If you suspect that he may be stealing, then you should ask him about it. Tell him that his boss came over and asked about his spending habits. It is quite possible this will resolve itself as someone will be caught at the workplace as the boss is looking into it. At some point, sooner rather than later, you will need to tell him that his boss came over.
Remember, all are considered innocent until proven guilty in our country, so we must be very careful with false accusations. That said, the wedge that is created now with this person planting the idea in your mind is not healthy. You will need to address it with your husband and have things resolved. Submission does not mean you bury your head in the sand when it comes to your spouse. You are entitled to ask questions and make requests, even while you are to be submissive to him. This can be accomplished in a caring and non-accusatory way while still discovering what you need to know.
After you have seen a godly woman that you trust, seek her counsel, and make sure it matches up with seeking the best interest of your husband with submission. Then set a time that you will talk to your husband about the situation. Ask your new counselor/friend to please call you 30-60 minutes later to be sure all is OK. If you do not answer ask her to call again in 15 minutes. Tell your husband the boss came by and that you told him that you were not spending more money. Apologize for listening to the boss when he asked you not to say something to him about his visit, but that you feared for his job, but you should have been upfront with your husband.
Gauge his response. If he becomes quite angry and difficult, don't press things. Let him settle down. At some point you will need to decide if he is trustworthy or not. To not trust your husband is a huge relationship breaker, BUT if a husband is indeed untrustworthy, no amount of trusting him will change that. You will need to rebuild the trust, all the while being apologetic that this person has placed the idea in your mind. That part is not your fault and it is the reality of the situation that your husband must now deal with.
Ken · 533 weeks ago
If you do not have full access to verify the credit card statements and bank account, ask that this be granted to you. If it were me I would perhaps be upset that my wife does not know me well enough by now to trust me, but because I have nothing to hide from her she would be given access to all my financial records to look at them forever (which she already has.) In your case, a husband cannot refuse your request without suffering the consequences that you will not completely trust him.
Lastly, you are not responsible for turning your husband in for the crime. Our laws specifically and purposefully protect spouses from even testifying against each other. You may wish to seek a Christian attorney for counsel on this matter as the attorney can advise you, but he cannot tell others what you have confided in him. Stealing is certainly a big sin, but again, if anyone must give a person the benefit of the doubt it must be a spouse. But this does not mean turning a blind eye. If indeed it appears he is stealing you now know that your husband has a significant character flaw and sin that does not match up with Christ and godliness. You will need to be more wary, but still submissive, while insuring your protection and that of the kids. Only you, with those who you confide in as counselors, can coach you what to do if the situation proves true.
Exposing things to the light with your husband is the way to get healing, but one can really damage a marriage by false accusations, or believing false accusations. You are in a tough situation, but it is not your fault. Trust that the Lord is in this with you, and surround yourself with godly, discreet counselors who can support and advise you. Make wise and godly decisions, while still practicing godly, wifely submission and see what the Lord has in store for your husband and marriage.
Krista · 533 weeks ago
Krista · 533 weeks ago
Krista · 533 weeks ago
We go to a very small church and I guess I could ask one of the older women what I should do. I will pray about it. There is a woman down the street who I like but I don't know if she is a godly woman I think she goes to a cathlic church. She has invited me come with her but I don't know. She is awful nice though. I think she sences my troubles.
Ken · 532 weeks ago
Trust the Lord that he will give you one or two women to talk to this week about your concerns. You need someone local to discuss your concerns with. Do you not have any family in the area? You do not have to be specific on the potential issues in anyway that paints your husband at wrong when you don't know if he is or not. But you can share with them that you have something you need to talk to him about and that you are afraid he may become quite difficult when you do bring it up, so you need some help or protection.
It is impossible for anyone offerring advice on this over the Internet. There are Christian counseling centers, or counselors in churches. Find one to confide in and seek wise counsel. You have nine children with this man? I can't imagine any wife who has had nine children being afraid of her husband. But as you are, this needs to be resolved so ask him if he will go to a counselor with you to discuss your marriage as you are afraid of him and his reactions at times. Don't stay in this condition, but before you tell him anything make sure you have a couple of friends who will check in on you regularly and support you. Move things forward to a place of trust and no fear.
God does not want you living in fear, but Satan does. You should be talking to your husband about them, and if you cannot do that without fear, find a local counselor to coach you. You need help that goes beyond Internet advice from people who do not know you or have all the story.