Article - Teaching Our Children

Teaching our Children

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart
from it.
Proverbs 22:6

Who has the primary responsibility in teaching our children? Does the responsibility
fall on the public school system? Is it the church? Does it really take a village
to raise a child? I believe that the Bible places the principal responsibility on
the child’s parents. Locally, I believe that we have one of the best public school
systems in the world. However, public education was not designed to supersede the
moral teachings of a youth’s family. In the beginning the primary purpose of school
was to teach reading, writing and math. Sadly, some have neglected the Biblical
mandate of Proverbs 22 and public education has been given a burden that it was
never intended to bear. I am thankful for Godly men and women that gladly bear this
yoke. However, it ought to be our desire to return to the pattern of the scriptures.
Some may place the task of teaching our youth on the church. While local congregations
and ministers are to provide clear instruction from God’s word, the training up
of children is a parent’s job. Well meaning Christians will sometimes enroll their
children in Sunday school, youth groups or children’s church and assume that they
are receiving the necessary spiritual teaching. Mothers and fathers, God has made
you responsible for teaching your son/daughter the moral truths of God’s word. As
Christians we need to find a church that upholds the doctrine and practice of the
Bible. We should regularly attend a house of worship that teaches the Word of God.
When we are spiritually fed the Word at church, then we pass those teachings along
to our children.
Solomon instructs us to train up a child in the way that he/she should go in Proverbs
22:6. The word train in this verse is synonymous with the idea of instructing, shaping
or guiding a child. How do we go about shaping our children in the things of God?
It has already been mentioned that we need to be sitting under the preached word
of God. I believe that the most effective method of public worship occurs when families
are all together. This also appears to parallel the pattern of the New Testament
Church. When families worship together there is no doubt about what your children
are hearing. When we are not in public worship we need to be taking time daily to
study the Bible with our children. When our youth are trained in Biblical morality
they will be equipped to deal with the evil that they confront in the world. Another
way that we teach our children is to be actively involved in all aspects of their
lives. This means that we are discussing with our children what they are learning
in school, church, etc. When the teachings from other places are contrary to Biblical
instruction it is imperative that we show our children the right way.
In Deuteronomy 6:5-9 we observe the importance of teaching our children to love
God with all of our heart, soul and might. God states that the children of Israel
were to
“Teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest
in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and
when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they
shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts
of thy house, and on thy gates (v.7-9). God wants parents to be constantly engaged
in teaching their sons and daughters.
Solomon says that when parents are diligent to train up their children they won’t
depart from these teachings when they are old. Does this mean that all will be perfect
when we diligently teach our children Biblical morality? As long as we are in this
world of sin God’s children will periodically stumble along the way. However, when
we provide Godly teachings and live a Christ-honoring example before our children
they will know where to turn when confronted with our present culture. I believe
that when we as parents adhere to this Biblical principle, we can make a positive
impact in our present and successive generations. I know that we do not live in
a perfect world and many children come from broken families. It is my prayer that
mothers, fathers, grandparents or others who are guardians of children would make
Godly teaching a priority in the lives of their children.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org)
in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm.
Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastor@palmchapel.org.
Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist
Church.