We Need Watchmen Because of Our Children - The Need for Children to be Taught- Part 2 by Jarrod Jacobs (contributed by A. McNabb)
Our Young People Need a Proper Knowledge of the Bible.
What do our youth need to be taught? Put simply, our youth need to be taught the Bible! Our young people need a proper knowledge of what is right and wrong. One of the problems that is destroying the church today is a lack of knowledge. Of course, this is nothing new, but that does not make it any less tragic! In Hosea's day, God said, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." As a result, God said, "because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee" (Hos. 4:6). I do not want to be rejected by God, do you? I do not want to reject His word, either. You see, one day that word (that is rejected by so many) is what will judge us (Jn. 12:48). A good illustration that shows us the danger of not knowing Gods word is seen in a survey taken by Guy Woods several years ago. He found that 50% of Christians do not know why we do not use mechanical instruments in the worship, 85% of that 50% said they would not mind using the instrument, 10% of Christians believe that one church is as good as another, and 75% cannot find the plan of salvation in the Bible. Scary, huh? Just think, the people who took this survey are teaching our Bible classes, are teaching their children, and are on the job supposedly shining their light to their co-workers (Matt. 5:16).
Can you dear reader, see the connection between our children's lack of knowledge, and the lack of knowledge that is so evident among older Christians? If you can, then you understand why I began by prefacing these remarks with the fact that older Christians must be what they should be if we expect our young people to be what they need to be. The young will generally follow the example of the old.
Unfortunately, what we have coming out of the pulpit and out of the lives of many Christians is hardly what it ought to be. We find in many places preachers who are more interested in entertaining than preaching, and Christians who love to have it so (cf. Jer. 5:30-31). Sometimes, we have situations where the preacher will preach his heart out, speaking only "the oracles of God" (1 Pet. 4:11). Yet, those Christians who hear that sermon will continue to live as they please, all the while proclaiming that they love God's word and stand behind it. Friends, our young people are seeing these things, and it is not surprising that so many are discouraged! After all, we cannot have it both ways! Why should there be any urgency for Bible study when those who ought to know better act as if Bible study is nothing? Brethren, we are facing a grave problem in this country, and it is high time we awoke to the problem around us. If we do not have the proper knowledge of God's word, how in the world can we ever obey Him? How can we be Christ's friend (Jn. 15:14)? How can we show our love for Him when we do not know what He wants us to do (Jn. 14:15)? I can read of a generation that did not know God (Judg. 2:10). How is this possible when the generation before was the one to enter the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua? How is this possible when those who went before vowed that they would, without question, follow God's commandments (Josh. 24:16-18, 21-24)?? We do not know all the reasons, but I am certain that if we are not interested in our young people now, and are not interested in making sure they have a proper understanding of God's will, we will have a generation just like the one in Judges 2. Mark it down!!
Our Faith Is Not Inherited
What else do our young people need to be taught? They need to be taught that faith is not something handed down. We have many second generation or perhaps third, or fourth generation Christians today. That is, they have been brought up knowing nothing of denominationalism, or worldliness, for they have been "brought up in the church", as many say. Certainly, we ought to encourage people to follow in the right steps of their parents and grandparents who made great sacrifices for the cause of Christ. There is no question that there would be no local church established in many places if it had not been for the sacrifices and accomplishments of those just a few generations ago. However, it is important that no one think that just because Grandpa or Grandma or Daddy or Mother did what was right, that this automatically makes us right!! It is high time that our young people understood that their faith is not inherited. Friends, GOD HAS NO GRANDCHILDREN!!!
While I love my parents and grandparents dearly, my faith is my own. I (as well as all other Christians, young and old) must realize that Christ died for ME. I have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). I am the one who has gone astray (Isa. 53:6). I need forgiveness for the sins I have committed (Ezek. 18:20; Col. 3:25). Our young people need to face reality. It is fine that they enjoy life and have fun, but they need to remember that things will not always be like this, and that one day a judgment is coming (Ecc. 11:9-10, 12:13-14). Seeing that no one knows when the Lord will return, we need to prepare while we have the opportunity (Matt. 25:1-13). The Bible teaches that all we have is now. We are not promised a later to make things right (2 Cor. 6:1-2; Heb. 3:7-8, 15; Jn. 4:35). Our faith is not inherited, (Just like our sin is not inherited! They stand or fall together.) therefore our youth must be impressed with the value of their souls, and the need for becoming a Christian while they can (Matt. 16:26; Mk. 16:16).
I Samuel 17 tells us the story of the battle between David and Goliath. In the story, a Philistine named Goliath approached the army of Israel and issued a challenge. Goliath said, "...choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us." Goliath went on to say, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." (I Sam. 17:8-10) If you are familiar with the history of the nation of Israel, you know that God gave Israel victory in battle as long as Israel was obedient. This battle with Goliath would have been no different. With the right type of faith, any of the soldiers of Israel would have been given victory over Goliath.
As the story continues, we find that a young man by the name of David was the only person willing to challenge Goliath. When King Saul heard that David was willing to accept Goliath's challenge, he sent for David. King Saul told David that David was unable to fight Goliath, being small and young. To this David replied, "The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." David had confidence that God would help him to defeat Goliath. David's confidence was well placed. God gave David victory over Goliath and, therefore, gave Israel victory over the Philistines.
The question that you should ask yourself today is this: Do
you have faith in God that He will give you victory over the giants
in your life? Many of us face various giants every day. To some
people, drinking alcohol has become a giant within their life.
To others, sexual sins are the giants of their lives. There are
some who are defeated by the giant of covetousness (greediness.)
There are also some who are defeated by drugs, homosexuality,
and many other sins. Just as David knew that victory was possible,
you too must understand that victory is possible. If you will
put your faith in Jesus and His Word, then you can be victorious
over the giant of sin within your life. If you will become a Christian
and live a faithful life, then you will be victorious over sin.
Paul wrote, "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I
Cor. 15:57) John wrote, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh
the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world,
even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that
believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (I John 5:4-5) If
you believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God (John 3:16), if
you will repent and turn from your past sinful live (Luke 13:3),
if you will confess your belief in Jesus Christ (Matt. 10:32),
and if you will be baptized into Christ (Mark 16:16), then you
will be saved. Your past sins will be forgiven and you will be
reconciled unto God. After you become a Christian, you will then
have a greater chance and, hopefully, a greater desire to overcome
the "giants" in your life. If we can help you to answer
God's call to you from His Word, please contact us today. [Copyright
1999, John M. Duvall, Truth Factor.]
A pilot was experiencing difficulty in landing his plane because of fog; and the airport decided to bring him in by radar. As he began to receive directions from the ground he suddenly remembered a tall pole in the flight path and appealed in panic to the control tower about it. The reply came bluntly, "You obey instructions, we'll take care of obstructions."
How many a Christian hesitates to obey God's Word because of problems and difficulties! If we only trust & obey, He is capable of dealing with the obstructions of life.