Truth Magazine

By Clarence W. Fell

Basketball, baseball, football, tennis, track, soccer, choir, band, karate, wrestling, boys club, girls club, PTA . . . the list is endless. Hundreds of things beg for our time. Consequently, we parents can unwittingly neglect to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).

If a family attends church services regularly, the children receive some biblical instruction. However, if we think scheduled services are all the instruction our children need we are sadly mistaken. Scheduled services are a nice compliment to our children’s biblical education but by no means all that our children need.

There are many opportunities and ways to teach children outside of scheduled service. I would like to suggest a method I enjoy using to teach my two little “angels.” I refer to it as spontaneous teaching because it is quick and unexpected. It seizes the opportunity of the moment without warning and is over almost as quickly as it began. Since children are notorious for their short attention span, this method is advantageous. Also, since this method is brief, it lends itself nicely to repetition and children do not soon grow weary of it because it doesn’t last long.

Caution: This is not intended to be an entire biblical education program for children. This method is suggested only as another tool, one among many that parents can use if desired.

Spontaneous teaching uses your child’s current activity or thoughts to make a spiritual point, briefly, on your child’s level, and then lets the child pursue the point further or drop it for the time being. If they want to pursue the thought then do so to their satisfaction and when they are satisfied stop. If your children gives you a weird, “What planet are you from?” look don’t think that a seed of knowledge was not planted. A child’s mind runs fast and changes direction quickly. Some of our strongest and most influential memories took only seconds to create.

The main advantage of spontaneous teaching is that you are using what is already in your child’s mind, he is already thinking of the subject, you are just pointing out a biblical connection. Since the thought is already in his mind you do not have to arrest his attention and insert a new thought – often against resistance. Don’t underestimate the value of brief thoughts strategically placed here and there.

How about some examples of spontaneous teaching to help clarify the method?

I find it easy to turn supper conversation into a spontaneous teaching opportunity. At supper the children eagerly bring up things that happened at school. These things often provide excellent opportunities for a brief point. When they talk about someone cheating on a test I ask them why it is bad to cheat. I ask them what God thinks about cheating. I ask them who is really hurt by cheating. Children are not stupid; they give good answers to such questions when encouraged a little.

Evening walks, trips to the park and other nature outings are good times to make brief comments about God. Consider the veins in a leaf, the singing of a bird, a worm sliding through the mud, all of these stir a child’s thoughts and give the parent an opportunity to make a brief point in favor of God. Ask your boy why God made worms? When he answers, “For birds to eat” or “To go fishing with” then comment briefly about how God provides for the birds (Matt. 6:26) and us too (Matt. 6:33).

Times of discipline can be good times to discuss Bible verses.

Bedtime is a great time for a brief Bible lesson. Almost every child on earth will do anything to stall turning off the lights. Take advantage of this natural phenomenon and teach them about God. Read them a brief Bible bedtime story. Take a moment to talk about their day and make points you think beneficial.

After Bible class and worship is another good time to briefly teach. Ask your children what they learned. This causes them to review the lesson, thus reinforcing it in their mind. I like to ask my children what they learned from the sermon. Sometimes I’m surprised at how much they really hear.

Life is full of spontaneous teaching opportunities. All that is required is that we learn to be aware of them. I enjoy using this teaching tool. I hope you can use it as one way to enhance your child’s biblical education.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 12, p. 373
June 20, 1991

By Calvin R. Schlabach

It happened again. Another child died. This time it was a nine-year-old girl named Joy. Her parents had beaten her with a board on her head, arms, legs, chest, and vaginal areas. After a few days of painful struggle in the hospital, her tortured body surrendered to its injuries and died.

What’s going on with these people? This is the latest in a series of cases of child abuse in this area which have resulted in the deaths of a number of young children. We read these things and shake our heads in disbelief. Has all the world gone crazy? When these little ones, these most innocent and most helpless of victims, are treated this way, we become angry and want the courts to “throw the book at” those brutal parents! Certainly, they deserve to be punished for their crime!

Later, in our calmer, more reflective moments, we wonder to ourselves how a father or mother could act like that. Rather than beating them, parents have a responsibility to provide for their children. Food, discipline, clothing, education, protection from harm, guidance for the future – all of these are things which parents must supply for their children (1 Tim.5:8). God says parents must “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph, 6.4).

I don’t think we are judging too harshly to say that parents who abuse their children or refuse to provide for them are lacking in love. Paul said that those “who had rejected the knowledge of God” became, among other things, “unloving” (NAS) or “without natural affection” (KJV, Rom. 13:1). That love for our children, which ought to be natural, is certainly missing in parents who mistreat their children like this. Proper parental love would motivate us to protect and provide for our children rather than beat and abuse them.

I am not so naive as to think that no member of God’s church would ever physically abuse a child, but certainly such a thing is rare among Christians. Nonetheless, it seems at times that some of God’s people do have a similar problem.

There are parents who would never physically harm their children, but they do lash out at them with verbal abuse. They berate, ridicule, and assault them with their words in the cruelest way, inflicting wounds that will never heal. If we love our children, we will use our words to build them up rather than to tear them down (Matt. 5.22; Jas. 3.8-10; Eph. 4.26,29).

Some parents, too, abuse their children by not providing them with what they really need. No, I’m not talking about material things; most of our children have more than enough toys, clothes, food, etc. I’m speaking instead about providing children with a proper example to follow; giving them parents “who lead the way” in serving God, illustrating in their own lives what a Christian ought to be (2 Tim. 1:5). Children need parents who will teach them God’s will, read to them from the Bible, talk with them about God, instruct them in matters of right and wrong (Eph.6:4). Loving parents will bring their children to Bible classes faithfully and not let other things take priority over this important ingredient in a child’s spiritual upbringing (Heb. 10:25; Eph. 6:4).

How tragic it is when children go astray, and the parents, with broken hearts, speak about them, saying, “I don’t know where we went wrong.” I obviously don’t know the facts in every case, but I suspect, in many cases, the children went astray because that’s the direction their parents carelessly sent them (Prov.22.6).

Joy is dead now. Her suffering is over. She’s gone to a place where she will never be abused by anyone again, and perhaps that means that she is more fortunate than some, for many children are still being mistreated by their parents.

Christian friends, let’s see to it that our children never have to suffer from child abuse, whether it be physical or verbal violence, or the even greater crime of spiritual neglect!

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 12, p. 365
June 20, 1991

By P.J. Casebolt

There is an old adage that says, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

And, while this philosophy may work in some areas, some of the time, it must still be recognized for what it is – chimney corner Scripture. Or, for the purpose of this article, it may be more accurately termed vacation Scripture. Some brethren do things while on vacation that they wouldn’t do at any other time.

The Scriptures teach, and it is generally conceded, that Christians are not to forsake the assembling of themselves together (Heb. 10:25). In his travels, and often under severe conditions, the apostle Paul sought out and found the disciples in the communities where he visited. He found the disciples in Jerusalem (Acts 9:26), in Ephesus (19:1), at Troas (20:7), at both Tyre and Ptolemais (21:4,7), and at Putcoli (28:14).

Sometimes the disciples found Paul, or by their mutual efforts, they found each other (Acts 28:15; 2 Tim. 1:17). Paul looked diligently for the disciples before his conversion in order to persecute them (Acts 8:3; 9:2), but manifested a similar zeal after his conversion in order to edify, and be edified by, the disciples. The enemies of the church sometimes spend more time looking for the true disciples of the Lord than those disciples spend looking for each other.

Under normal conditions, brethren tend to assemble with and fellowship those brethren with whom they are in agreement on such matters as the identity, work, worship, organization, and mission of the church. But let those same brethren go on vacation to Florida or some other geographical area for a few days, weeks, or even months, and they will assemble wherever it is convenient.

And, this inconsistent practice isn’t just a one-sided thing. Those who consider themselves to be of a liberal or conservative attitude back in their home communities will switch their loyalties like vacillating politicians. When in “Rome,” they will fellowship the very thing which they condemn at other times and places.

I have known brethren to stop on vacation and “observe” the Lord’s supper with the digressive Christian Church, instrumental music, missionary societies and all. Yet, the Lord said his supper would be in his kingdom (Matt. 26:29). Some say if they had to make a choice, they would prefer Catholicism to Buddhism, Protestantism to Catholicism, the Christian Church to the Baptist Church, or a liberal church of Christ to a Crossroads church of Christ.

We should speak and practice those things which constitute “sound doctrine” (Tit. 2:1), and we should have no fellowship with those things which are “contrary to sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:10). The idea that “it is better to do something wrong than to do nothing” was born of rank liberalism, and violates the Scriptures in both precept and principle (Rom. 3:8).

Anyone may become lost, receive the wrong directions, be deceived by false information, or encounter circumstances beyond his control. But brethren get themselves into some of the aforementioned predicaments through negligence or a lack of conviction. “Let every man be persuaded in his own mind” applies not only to things which are optional (Rom. 14:5), but also to things which have been legislated (Jas. 4:17). We don’t have to be condemned by others, we condemn ourselves by allowing that which we condemn in others (Rom. 2:1; 14:22).

In order to take our phrase out of the realm of chimney corner or vacation scripture, and make it harmonize with the Holy Scriptures, we might say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do, provided the Romans are doing things ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ'” (Col. 3:17).

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 12, p. 357
June 20, 1991

By John A. Smith

Pressure From Peers

Peer pressure and influence can be good! Jesus described his disciples as the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. 5:14-16). He told them to “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” We are to influence and affect the lives of others. Influencing and teaching are not just for older saints. There is something special about a young person who sets a godly example.

In 1 Timothy 4:13 Paul encourages all young people to be a good example. Each young person has the responsibility to set a godly example. One young lady refused to wear the silky, skimpy shorts given her by a coach. As a result of her protest, the school’s uniform was changed. Another young Christian befriended a lonely, confused classmate. As a result of the Christian’s influence, the other young man found answers for his life in Jesus Christ. Godly young people can encourage other young people as well as older saints.

We must take a balanced approach to our relationship with those of the world and recognize the danger that can be present. In 1 Corinthians 15:33 Paul bluntly and plainly tells us that “evil company corrupts good habits.” One of the reasons why evil companions often have a corrupting influence is seen in Deuteronomy 22:10. There the law prohibited the binding of a donkey and ox. Think about it for a minute – a big, strong, broad-shouldered ox and a diminutive donkey. That simply would not be fair or humane. The ox has an obvious advantage and superior influence over the actions of the donkey. The same is true among some people. If our worldly friends are stronger willed and more influential than we are, then we will be unequally yoked. I think you can see how such influence would corrupt good morals.

Often the pressure from others comes because of their own guilt. Peter speaks of those who will “think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you” (1 Pet. 4:3-4). This happens because those engaged in sin do not want their evil practices exposed by the righteous example of another (see Jn. 3:19-21). If they can corrupt the righteous then there is one less righteous light exposing their corruption. Thus their conscience is momentarily soothed.

The selection of peers is one of a young Christian’s most challenging and important decisions. Peers will either encourage and support spirituality or promote and encourage worldliness. Consider for a moment the example of Solomon. In I Kings 3:16-28, Solomon took time out of his busy schedule as king to hear the grievance of two prostitutes. Moved by compassion and concern for the life of an innocent baby, Solomon used his wisdom to secure the baby’s place with its true mother. However, in 1 Kings 11:7 we find Solomon building an altar for the abominable Molech. This disgusting idol had a furnace for a belly and accepted the sacrifice of live babies. What happened? What caused Solomon to change? 1 Kings 11: 1,4 tells us what happened. Solomon married many foreign wives and when he was old “his wives turned his heart after other gods.” Now, if a man with the wisdom of Solomon can have his heart turned from the Lord by the influence of peers, I certainly face the same danger. Choosing friends is one of life’s most important decisions.

We cannot avoid the influence of the world, but we can check its influence. I have often heard it put this way: We can’t keep birds from flying over head, but we can keep them from nesting in our hair! Or, if you lie down with the dogs don’t be surprised if you wake up with fleas!

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 12, p. 361
June 20, 1991