Truth Magazine

By O.C. Birdwell, Jr.

Jesus prayed for his disciples as follows:

I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth. As thou didst send me into the world, even so send I them into the world (John 17:15-18).

Disciples of Christ in our age are faced with the problems associated with living in and working in a world where the “evil one” abounds. He has great influence, and even actively seeks those whom he may devour (I Pet. 5:8). The Bible teaches that he must be resisted (Jas. 4:7). This resistance and opposition to him must be made with truth. In the above prayer, as Jesus speaks to God the Father, he says, “Thy word is truth.” This writer is of the persuasion that teaching truth is the only way we can save our children from the evil influences of the world, including the bad influences of our school systems. When Christians in general and parents in particular wake up to an awareness of who they are and what they are to do relative to training their children, more preparation and work will be done on their part. They will sanctify themselves in the truth and teach their children that truth in order to create in them an abiding faith that cannot so easily and readily be destroyed by worldly influences.

There are thousands of school systems in our country and throughout the world. All of them have tremendous influence on the lives of our young people. Some, quite obviously, have a more direct and detrimental effect than others. Many of our teachers I know personally and I have a high regard for their dedication and devotion as they do what they can to have a proper influence in their profession. Any criticism, therefore, that I may direct toward our school systems is not a blanket indictment of all in the schools, nor is it a criticism of all schools alike. Some schools because of their location, administrators, and teachers are less dangerous in destroying morals and faith than others.

We must not, however, bury our heads in the sand and refuse to see the dangers to our children in any school system. Many of these dangers were pointed out in a special issue of Guardian of Truth (Vol. 28, No. 13) and also in the 1985 Florida College Lectures (the GOT special issue is available only io the bound volume and the 1985 lecture book can be ordered from Guardian of Truth Bookstore). In this short article I shall generally assume that our readers accept the fact that dangers arc present, and proceed to suggest some ways to deal with the problem. However, I do want to give you the following quotation from brother Allen Turner, taken from his 1985 FC lecture:

The 1.8 million member National Education Association has become a very effective tool for inculcating humanistic ideology. It is not surprising to learn that John Dewey, co-author of Humanist Manifesto I and founder of an educational philosophy (“progressive education”) that has dominated colleges for teacher training since the turn of the century, was a past honorary president of the NEA. It was Dewey who said: “Our thinking is enlightened in the degree in which we cease to depend upon belief in the supernatural.” Quickly recognizing it as a means to influence thousands of educators and through them their students with humanistic philosophy, humanist educators have gained control of the NEA.

Through its official organs and recommended texts, the largest non governmental bureaucratic complex in the world has become a gigantic propaganda machine indoctrinating our children with the credos, of humanism: if it feels good do it; nationalism is bad, but One Worldism is good; biblically based morality is passe; materialism and antis-upernaturalism; and evolution, but not creation.

While much of this humanistic philosophy may be filtered through a believing teacher (if the student has such a teacher), it is still in the text books and in much of the officially assigned extra reading material.

Overcoming the Impact

The Private School System. A few locations, such as Athens, Alabama, where Athens Bible School is located, have a dependable private school system that provides classes in grades one through twelve. There are problems, however, that must be dealt with in considering this type schooling. Very few such schools exist. Where they do exist they are expensive and many Christians are not financially able to use them or simply choose not to do so. There are, private schools that oppose humanism and immorality, but are advocates of false religious doctrines that are just as dangerous to the souls of our young people as humanism. Also, even as the world influences the attitudes and morals of church members, humanism and worldly moral attitudes influence the teachers and students of private schools. Having a student in a private school is, therefore, no reason for parents to close their eyes to their duties as parents.

Many parents use such colleges as Florida College to teach their children the basic sciences and humanities. Instructors are Christians and along with the secular curriculum there is a. required daily Bible class. A large percentage of the student body at Florida College are Christians, therefore, peer influence may not be as dangerous as that from state schools. But even at FC some have come under dangerous doctrinal and moral influences and parents have been sadly disappointed. Such colleges are often more expensive than a state institution and too often people are not willing to pay the price. Based on experience, I recommend Florida College to parents as a tremendous help in overcoming the impact of our secular schools.

Home Schooling. I know of several who do not send their children to any school system but do what is called “home schooling.” This apparently is successful in some cases. It is doubtful, however, that this is the solution to our school problem for the vast majority of Christians. Most people do not have the ability or the time to do the necessary schooling at home. Even if they are able to teach the lower grades, they find it necessary at a later date to place their children in the public school, often at an extremely vulnerable time when there is potentially strong peer pressure. Regardless of when one enters school, be it elementary, junior high, senior high, or college level, the student is going to have to deal with secular humanism, evolution, immorality, and unbelief of numerous sorts. In most school systems, if there is diligent attention and training at home, children can more readily deal with these matters if they face them in a gradual way from the very first day of school. Parents cannot be negligent and succeed. But without diligent effort neither will they succeed with home schooling or a private school.

Overcoming the impact from within the system. Most Christians will find it necessary to overcome the bad influences of our school system while using the system. It is unrealistic to take any other approach. The task will not be easy. The lukewarm, the fainthearted, and the parent with his head in the sand may not succeed. Many have had success and others seem to be succeeding, therefore, I know it can be done. I offer some practical suggestions that may be of help.

1. Start preparing yourself even before children arrive. Study the Bible regularly. Attend all the assemblies of the local church. Be active and faithful in worship and work in the fullest sense of the meaning of the word “faithful.” Avoid bad habits, such as smoking. If you have acquired such a habit, by all means, quit it. You cannot teach your children self-discipline unless you practiced it.

2. Begin immediately to teach and train your child. Before he can read, read to him. To Israel of old, God said, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt 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” (Deut. 6:6,7). Surround him with the right kind of books. Take him to all the assemblies of the church, including every Bible class for his age group. Work with the Bible class teacher. Study with your child. Supplement the class material where necessary. Regularly stress that the Bible contains the word of God and that God is true though all men be false.

3. Select the right kind of friends. “Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33). This is as important when applied to your friends as it is when applied to your child’s friends. It should apply to both. This needs to be practiced throughout high school. Do not allow to begin such things as “hanging out” at malls, shopping centers, amusement parks, and other such places. It is much easier never to allow such to start than it is to stop after it is started. Some are distressed because they have no control over late hours and questionable friends of their sixteen year old. They really lost control many years before by simply failing to control, Cute rebellion and disobedience in a small child is not so cute in a sixteen year old. Always exercise control, then you will not be confronted with the near impossible task of regaining control.

4. Get acquainted with school teachers. Do this from the very first year. Be cooperative and helpful, not critical and overbearing. By maintaining a good relationship with the teacher, parents will be in a much better position to deal with problems that may arise. Sometimes a parent will become upset, go to the school or call the teacher and rudely and in an abusive fashion “tell her off.” This embarrasses your child and adds to your problem. It will destroy any respect the teacher may have for you as a parent. Remember that Christians should conduct themselves in a Christlike manner.

5. Know what your children study. You may not have time to read their text books, but at least scan them. Discuss any questionable teaching with them in the fight of what the Bible teaches. Do this from the very first year, then it will not be a problem for you or the student when they later get to more advanced and questionable teaching. Show an interest in all your child’s studies and activities, not just that with which you disagree. One parent learned from his son that they were going to view a “sex education” film. Rather than become overwrought and angry about the matter, he took the occasion to discuss with his son how to judge such films and deal with the content. We must try to train our children to get any good that may be available from such teaching and leave off the bad.

Teach your child that he may not be able to answer the arguments of a learned and skilled teacher who advocates evolution or humanism, but that the false positions can be answered. The student should learn that in most cases a classroom confrontation with such a teacher is unadvisable. The student is always at a disadvantage. One needs to learn that a false position does not become true just because it goes unanswered for a period of time.

6. Put spiritual things first. This means that parents must put spiritual things first. If your main interest is materialism and worldliness, your children will be the first to know. If you often have a “Sunday headache” or the constant urgent need to do something during regular service times other than assemble, they will know this. When early in life children are allowed to spend Wednesday night or a weekend with a friend, and thus miss Bible classes and the assembly, impressions will be made that will bear the wrong kind of fruit.

Conclusion

Generally, conditions around us are not going to get any better. They may get worse. Paul said, “But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13). What is the simple solution? Paul gives the answer.” But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou has learned them; and that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every scripture inspired by God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work” (2 Tim. 3:14-17).

This is the best way to overcome the impact of our school systems.

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 12, pp. 384-385, 389
June 15, 1989

By Donald Willis

Onan J. Willis (June 20, 1908) and Wilhelmina Elizabeth Thompson (February 25, 1916) were united in marriage February 28, 1931. All of their life has been spent in Texas, most of it in Trinity County, about 100 miles north of Houston. To this blessed union, seven children were born: Cecil (1932), Donald (1934), Lewis (1938), Ouida (1941), Sue (1945), Michael (1947) and Barbara (1949). All the children are Christians. The four boys dedicated their lives to preaching the gospel of Christ.

Being born in Early Americana had its own form of hardship. Due to the sickness of his father, Onan left school, after having received only a sixth grade education, and worked in the logging business. Most of the time, he was self-employed, working up to twenty men.

Wilhelmina (affectionately called “Bill”) completed the ninth grade. Mom and Dad began dating when Mom was only thirteen years of age. Marrying at the age of fifteen, Mom never entered the job market. Dad remarked that the only reason for their first date was to stop Mom from dating another boy. Mom replied that she married Dad to keep from picking cotton.

Dating: Neither Mom nor Dad would recommend that children be permitted to marry at fifteen today. However, Mom said “that was all there was back there.” Dad observed, “Everywhere we went, Mama or Papa one was along with us. Nowadays, they just turn them loose.” Mom added, “We did go to the picture show where someone would play the piano while the movie was showing, but that was a ‘no-no’ . . . Jodie (step-father) did not approve of attending movies . . . so we were treading on thin ice when we did that. When we went to parties like we had in the country, as they started square dancing, we immediately picked up and went home. The only places we went were to church . . . and to our neighbor’s house for parties. That was our entertainment. Sometimes we had school activities, like community plays. We had a car and we would go to another community for church and the family would all go.”

How did your parents feel about a 15-year-old daughter getting married?

Mom: My sister married at 16. Mama said she would never let another one marry at 16. Mama was not too excited about my getting married, but she said if Daddy hadn’t been grown (Dad was almost 23), she wouldn’t have let me. A 15-year-old can get on a bus now and go to school. If I had had that opportunity, I probably would have felt differently about it, too. By the time I was 22, I already had three children.

Explain some of the daily family activities in a household with seven children.

Mom: After breakfast, the boys would milk the cows, churn the butter, feed the pigs and chickens, gather the eggs, cut the wood; the other kids would care for the other children, make the beds, wash dishes, and basically clean the house before leaving for school. I would wash on Monday. Mama taught us to do Sunday clothes on Monday, because you never know but that you would need them before the week was up, and we did not have but one good set of clothes (except the babies). All the clothes had to be pressed with a hand-iron you would heat on the cook stove. Besides, the Mother had to work in the fields, and prepare all the meals.

What effect on the children did the assignment of chores have?

Mom: They were all responsible, and are responsible. None of my girls are slobs in the house; they are all very orderly. I would tell my boys I would rather they knew how to cook, iron, clean house, etc. and not have to do it than to have to do it and not know how!

How do you account for all of your children being Christians?

Mom: We tried to teach them properly. You instill in them a desire to go to church. It’s a two-fold thing, the children have to “want” to. go as much as the parents want them to; of course, you realize you have to instill it in them as best as you can.

Dad: They enjoyed attending.

Did you have any problems with the children?

Mom: I don’t consider that I had any major problems raising the kids. Just mischievous things.

How did you handle a child when he refused to obey?

Mom: I handed him over to Daddy. That’s just a little higher authority than you, usually.

Was there much physical correction used?

Mom: When you and Cecil were little, I thought whipping was just a part of raising little ones switching you a little bit. I didn’t ever beat you, that I can remember. And I don’t remember any of you getting a hard whipping except Ouida, and Daddy gave her a good whipping one time.

Dad: That was all it took.

Mom: I once gave Sue a pretty good one, but other than that, just little switchings, not real whippings.

How did the children feel when you turned them over to Dad?

Sickness

Mom: We were blessed in that we never had any major illness. Of course, there were measles and chickenpox, but most of them had those while they were little. Lewis had some bad sickness, and Don got his head bashed and had diphtheria, and, of course, Mike’s accident (a mower threw a piece of metal into his arm, DW), and I don’t remember anything else that was major.

Mom: They dreaded it, I think.

Dad: We were fortunate to raise seven children, and all of them still be living.

Church

Mom obeyed the gospel at twelve years of age; Dad was fourteen. Prior to that, Mom’s father, Herbert Thompson, had preached in Groveton; and her stepfather, Jodie Harrott, preached in Groveton, Sylvester, Pennington and Trevat; Dad’s grandfather, Charles Willis, did some preaching and his father, Winslow, did some preaching and song leading. Dad said, “In Possum Walk (community out of Pennington), an old preacher used to come and stay at our house in the winter time for two or three weeks, and preach.”

Mom: Somebody asked me if I worked when the seven children were growing up, and I said, “No, I just stayed home and raised seven kids.”

On Raising Children to Attend Worship

Dad: When we were growing up, the parents made their children go to church. They wanted to go.

Mom: They took them to church services.

Dad: But the children knew they had to go. And I think that is where a lot of folks are laying down on their job, not making them go to church while growing up.

Mom: Our kids enjoyed attending. I can remember when one of the babies was sick, I would keep the next one and they would cry because they didn’t get to go.

Mom and Dad were the least faithful during the period of time we live in Caromona. Dad “felt the trucks had to be fixed, and it went on for years like that.” Mom said Dad was restored during Cecil’s first meeting in Groveton. They would take all seven children to church in that old 1940 two-door Ford. They started attending Groveton after Lewis was born.

How many preachers are in your immediate family?

Mom: Four, and (tongue in cheek, DW) all the women preach, too.

How does it affect you when you say all the boys preach?

Mom: It is certainly a sobering thing and something of which we are very proud. We can’t take all of the praise for it, of course. Mama did a lot to instill religion in you and Cecil especially. She sat down with them when I was too busy to do things, and she would have them sitting around her teaching them Bible verses and getting little sermons up, when you were just kids.

Dad: And different preachers had a lot to do with it. We entertained preachers a lot in our home.

Mom: Bill Thompson (preacher, DW) used to visit frequently at our house, eating Sunday dinner with us. He used to say, “If you stumped your toe going to our table, you just as well turn around and go back.” Nearly every Sunday we had company.

We never dreamed that our four boys would be preachers, and all our children would be Christians, but really have been very fortunate for this to occur. In Cecil’s family: Steve, Dave and Doug all preach, and Brenda teaches; in Don’s family: Marilyn teaches, Don, Jr. and Charles have both done some preaching and both are capable song leaders, Cathy, Dee, Donna and Christie all teach; in Lewis’ family, Scott and Ron both preach and lead singing; in Ouida’s family: Billy is an elder and does some preaching and/or teaching, Ouida and Jackie teach, Phillip assists with teaching, personal evangelism, and song leading, while Mike has given a few talks; in Sue’s family: Sue teaches, Forrest is a deacon, Cary leads singing; in Mike’s family, Sandy teaches and Corey has just begun leading singing. Mom’s two brothers, Alton (deceased) and Butler have both preached and Alton was outstanding as a song leader. Fauchie, H.A. (both deceased) and Jimmy Thompson have all served as elders; Otis Thompson preached; Jim Roy Nichols is a deacon. In 1970, at the Willis family reunion, 160 individuals attended, with only two of these not being family members and most of them Christians. Today, there would be in excess; of 250 Christians in our family lineage.

Do you think your working hot all your life had any kind of positive effect on your kids? I know one time you told me one of the best lessons you ever taught me was to work.

Dad: I think it ran in the family to “push.” Nearly all of the Willis’ and Pillows’ were that type folks. They worked real hard, they always said Mom would go to the fields and work just like a man; of course, everybody’s wife did that in farming days.

How do you feel about people without initiative?

Dad: If they were working for you and would not work, you would have to get someone else. If they did not do their job, I would tell them they had either to do their job or go, one of the two; because when one lays down on his job, it makes it harder on the other one.

What about their family and kids?

Dad: Well, that was his obligation to take care of his family. I had the job for him if he wanted to work, but he had to produce or I couldn’t use him. In the winter during bad weather, I have borrowed money to pay my men, for they had to eat. If one of the employees was injured, we would always make it light on them. He didn’t even have to go to work if he didn’t feel up to it; and we always saw that his family ate. I never worked a man that I know of in my life, even if I had to let him go for some reason, that I couldn’t go back and hire again. In working I never purposefully mistreated anyone that I know of.

Advice to Parents With Children

Mom: Others attempted to “make” their children go to church whether they wanted to go or not; we taught out kids to “want” to go.

Dad: I think that our trust in the kids had a lot of effect.

Mom: I don’t think I remember not trusting my kids. Some parents are always accusing their children of things they are not even doing. You always choose your friends, and you brought them to church with you or brought them to our house, instead of pushing you off somewhere else. We wanted you to bring all your friends to the house. We didn’t have much to entertain them with, but I remember we used to have New Year’s parties, and they would play ball outside the house. I always wanted to know where my kids were; consequently, I had all the kids in the neighborhood.

Dad: Lack of trust will make children sneak around and probably be rebellious.

Do kids sense parental inconsistencies, causing them to rebel against the positive you are teaching them?

Mom: I wouldn’t be surprised. My uncle’s (an elder, DW) children were strictly governed and, since his death, his children have told us of wrongs with the children, and th knew it; therefore, the children felt religion was just a bi farce, two-faced!

What Is the most important lesson you taught children?

Dad: To mind each of us. When told to do something we expected them to do it. And if they didn’t do it, we would generally get hold of them.

Mom: The kids knew we agreed on things we told them We did not argue before the kids about things like that. They were taught respect for the Lord and their parents grandparents, and people in general, and to respect any old person.

Dad: Whether they were white or black, I had to respect them. My Mother and Daddy made us do it.

What is the most important lesson the children taugh you?

Dad: Certainly, responsibility. A big part of the time I was not there, she was with them more than I was.

Mom: He was a workaholic. Perseverance, I guess. You had to keep at it. You had to stay a step ahead all the time with anything that would come up.

The family consists of 27 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

How many of these are members of the church?

Mom: All of them that are old enough.

Grace of God

You have experienced depression, personal life threatening illness, traumatic financial shortcomings, etc. How do you view the goodness of God?

Dad: He blessed us with good health.

Mom: We never had to go hungry. We were always abl to get the doctor’s help when we needed it.

Dad: I have lived to see them all through school and grown, and he blessed me because my work was very dangerous work. My worst accident was playing football with you boys. We live better since we have retired than we ever did before.

Mom: And we haven’t retired, we keep doing what can do.

Postscript: It has been a joy to interview an compose this short article. I have known many Christian couples in my preaching life, but none that I admire more t an! d my parents. I could have written a very enjoyable about their life. What a joy they have been!

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 12, pp. 380-382
June 15, 1989

By Bill Cavender

“When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth, And our daughters as corner-stones hewn after the fashion of a palace; When our garners are full, affording all manner of store. And our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; When our oxen are well laden; Where there is no breaking in, and no going forth, And. no outcry in our streets; Happy is the people that is in such a case; Yea, happy is the people whose God is Jehovah” (Psa. 114:12-15, ASV).

The desire and dream, purpose and prayer, of all Godfearing parents is that their children grow up as “tender plants” (Isa. 53:1-2) before Jehovah, being instructed in the “right ways of the Lord” (Acts 13:10; Heb. 3:10), and raised and reared in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:1-4). Knowledgeable and caring parents understand the truth that our children are really not ours but “are a heritage of Jehovah; And the fruit of the womb is His reward” (Psa. 127:3-5), and the “gifts” from our God and Father (Gen. 33:1-7; 48:8-11). Our Heavenly Father grants us our children, perpetuating the human race in the honorable union of marriage, and instructs us that they, his offspring (Acts 17:26-29), shall be brought up in accordance with his spiritual, heavenly and eternal precepts (Gen. 18:19). God is the Father of our spirit; our earthly father and mother are permitted to procreate a human body of flesh (Heb. 12:7-11). At death our body will return to earth and dust, its original composition, but the spirit will return to God who gave it (Gen. 2:7; Eccl. 12:7; Jas. 2:26). After death, then the resurrection and judgment await all of us – parents and children – and heaven or hell for all eternity (Jn. 5:28-29; Matt. 25:31-46). We only have the children for a short time to accomplish this task our Father has given ~us in teaching the children about him who is their true and everlasting Father.

Jehovah created and made the heavens and earth and all things therein (Gen. 1:1-27; Acts 17:22-31). “The heavens are the heavens of Jehovah; But the earth hath He given to the children of men” (Psa. 115:15-16). The earth was created as the proper habitat for all living things and beings (except th4 angels). This earth, being material, and human having material bodies of earth, and being physically sustained by material food, drink, clothing and shelter, to a greater or lesser degree are going to be desirous of and influenced by “material things.” From the cradle to the grave we will have need of money, or other means of exchange, whereby we sustain ourselves, our loved ones, and others who have legitimate rights to and expectations of being wholly or partially maintained by us – family members, poor saints in Jesus, our fellow-citizens and fellow-human beings (1 Tim. 5:4-16; Acts 6:1-7; 11:28-30; Rom. 15:25-27; Eph. 4:28; 1 Jn. 3:16-18; Gal. 6:9-10; Matt. 25:31-46).

In Psalms 144:12-15, the psalmist (probably David, as this psalm bears resemblance to David’s last son in 2 Sam. 22 and to Psa. 17 and 18), sets forth the ideal circumstances we would hope for in life. We would desire our sons be giant oaks, “plants grown up,” straight and strong, tall and true, honest and honorable, masculine and mature in manhood, vigorous and virtuous in the kingdom of our, Savior, truly being young men and adults as “trees planted by the streams of water, that bringeth forth their fruit in their season, whose leaves also doth not wither, and whatsoever they do shall prosper” (Psa. 1:1-6).

We would will and wish our daughters to be a “cornerstones hewn after the fashion of a palace.” So much of the strength, security and happiness of the family, the church, and the nation is dependent upon the females. They are “corner-stones” in the building of orderly and godly societies, and in building the churches of our Lord. More women than men are faithful and true to Jesus, oftentimes better students of God’s word, and more devout and sincere in the personal and prayer lives. Godly women will determine the moral and religious tone of the family by their character and conduct even more than men. Home life is often a reflection of the women in the family, especially the wife and mother. A mother’s love and care are supreme in the hearts of children. The beauty of the wives, mothers, daughters and sisters is the “fashion of a palace” of purity of heart and body, modesty and discreetness of spirit, a gentle and quiet personality, a loving and kind nature, a gracious and godly demeanor. The hand that rocks the cradle still rules the world. One only has to know of Sarah, Deborah, Hannah, the Shunammite, Abigail, Elizabeth, Mary, and Martha of Bethany, Mary Magdalene, Phoebe, Priscilla, Lois, Eunice and other women of the Holy Scriptures to see and recognize the “worthy woman” whose price is far above rubies (Prov. 31:10-31). One only has to be acquainted with men of history, leaders, powerful and influential men, who attributed their successes to their mothers and wives. Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, “All that I am, or ever hope to be, I owe to my mother.” Would to God that all our daughters and young women could be and would be beautiful ornaments, “comer-stones, ” in the temple and family of our God, and in their own families as daughters, wives and mothers.

Christians, who “set their affections on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:14), are not interested in becoming rich in the world’s goods and having an excess of money and the material “things” which money can obtain. We are not particularly interested in “full garners, all manner of store, sheep by thousands and ten thousands, and -oxen well ladened.” We appreciate enough material goods to meet our needs. We would be as the wise man said: “Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain” (Prov. 30:7-9). Men and women who swerve from the paths of heavenly things and eternal values, who set their affections on material things of this present evil material world (Gal. 1:4) and are minded to be rich and superfluous in their needs, habits and desires, will “fall into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all (kinds of) evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6:6-10). The men of God – brethren, deacons, elders, preachers – are to “flee these things” (i.e., the love of money among other evils, v. 11). People who learn to love money and things the money will buy have great difficulty in being “content with such things are you have” (Heb. 13:5), in living a life “in all godliness and honesty” and tranquility (1 Tim. 2:2), and in trusting in our God who richly gives unto us all things we need instead of the uncertainty of riches. Materialism and wealth breed a spirit of self-independence, a proud and high-minded heart, slow learning in sharing, giving freely and abundantly (1 Tim. 6:17-19; Lk. 18:18-27; 12:13-21). In forty-two years of preaching, I have known very, very few who obtained their wealth by unquestioned, truthful, honest, just means and who maintained an humble, dependent-upon-God, generous attitude and practice toward God and man in believing that it all belongs to our Father (Lk. 16:1-16). Very few of such people, and their children, are able to live moderate, unpretentious, quiet lives and give the greater portion of God’s wealth intrusted to them to the Lord, the church, the poor, and to many good works (Gal. 6:9-10; 1 Tim. 6.17-19). Some few people can and do divest themselves of wealth in behalf of the work of God but they are in the distinct minority.

My assigned subject for this special edition is “Materialism in Children.” We are told by Webster that “material” is: “4. Pertaining to, or affecting man’s bodily wants, interests, or comforts,” He defines “materialism” as: “2. The tendency to give undue importance to material interests.” So “‘Materialism in Children” would be the children learning, developing and cultivating “the tendency to give undue importance to material interests, to bodily “wants and comforts.”

The children learn these tendencies toward and for material things, bodily wants, interests and comforts. We are speaking of “American” children. Children in Ethiopia, India, Uganda, Borneo, the Philippines, Nigeria, and most countries of the world do not have many problems with materialism. Just a bit of rough food for the belly, a bit of clothes for their nakedness, and a hut or shack to shelter them are about the best they can hope for. Yet our Heavenly Father loves them as much as he does our “American” children! They have no material things to speak of, and little acquaintance with or expectations of having them.

I like to think (perhaps wistfully and mistakenly so) that “material things” have not been too much of a problem with those of us who were born and reared “in the depression years” of the twenties and thirties of this century. Living without electricity, indoor water and plumbing, no automobile, no artificially air-conditioned schools, no school buses, no high school football teams, no radios, televisions, video and tape recorders, hi-fi records and compact discs, etc. in our growing years, and who ate home-grown fruits and vegetables from the family orchard and garden, then canned by mother, and the home-grown pork, beef, chicken, eggs and milk grown by father, didn’t seem to create too much materialism in us. Those “things” and conditions were the order of the day in the small villages, towns and country farms where many of us “grew up,” shared commonly by neighbors, schoolmates and friends. It has been most difficult to “unlearn” those days! People saved money, clothes and food; shared what they had; were frugal but not stingy; honest and truthful in their dealings; their word was their bond; lived simply and unpretentiously; paid their debts; borrowed money only as a last resort and paid it back on time; bought very little, because there was very little to buy and very little money to but it with. Many of us who grew up then look back upon those days, in our present older and maturer years, and see more of our fathers and mothers in ourselves, our attitudes and personalities and concepts about “things,” than we realize we were learning and imbibing in our young, formative years. Doing without, and not knowing about present “material things” then, diminished one’s appetites for such material things now.

Children learn, develop and cultivate their habits, tendencies, personalities and characters, fundamentally and basically, from their parents and other family members. Then influences from brethren and their families, from the schools (teachers, friends, classmates, peers), from the culture and society in which they live and grow up, and from what they read, hear and see, who they run with, and where they run to. The children in the materialistic society of the present American and Western World culture of money, gadgets and “things” are going to learn from and be influenced by this type of society and world. It is interesting at the present time (but saddening to the spirit) to observe the changes in the cultures of other countries of the world – China, Japan, Eastern Europe, Russia, etc. – as they imbibe the materialism and spirit of the American-Western World “civilized” culture of “things,” money, luxuries, affluency, styles, crimes, immoralities, drunkenness, divorces, dishonesty in high places. These “backward nations” have had all these conditions in a smaller, relative degree all along, just as America did in the “depression years.” Now all these nations are going wholesale and headlong into the “love of the world, and the things that are in the world” (1 Jn. 2:15-17) which always condemns any nation, no matter how large, rich or powerful, to the garbage heaps, and sand dunes and dust bowls of fallen civilizations.

But what about our children of believers in America, in an affluent (but debt-ridden, living high on borrowed money which we cannot and will not repay) society, a world of “material things”? There are some things we cannot do! We can’t ignore materialism, for it is here and around us every waking hour. We can’t deny materialism, for all of us – parents, teachers, friends, preachers, brethren, citizens – are all involved in it, practitioners of and participants in worldliness and materialism, far more than we are willing to admit or even to realize. We can’t run away from the world (1 Cor. 5:9-10), for if we “take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea” (Psa. 139), there sin, worldliness and materialism will already be present -along with our God! So what shall we do?

Do what all true believers and dedicated parents have always done! The lot and task of the believer is to live in the midst of an evil, wicked world (Gen. 6:1-22; 12:6; 13:7), and to cultivate righteousness and true holiness while surrounded by ungodly people (Heb. 12:14; Eph. 4:24). We must not expect the children to be blessed of Jehovah if the parents are not growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Pet. 3:18). The inconsistencies of parents are the chief obstacles to conversion to Jesus and results in damnation of the children. Lack of reading the Scriptures and teaching in the home; no sincere living the truths of God’s word; no time for singing and praying in the home; no quietness, peace, kindness, gentleness and true affection; no putting God and his kingdom first in family life; no generosity of spirit which leads to good works, genuine interests in others, and deeds of kindness, hospitality and care of the poor; no times for family meditations and talks, recreation and togetherness; no emphasis on heavenly and eternal things but emphasis upon working, making money, buying “things,” and mothers and fathers both working to provide “things” and a “higher standard of living”: all these, and many more neglected practices and wrong attitudes in family life make for worldly minds and materialistic tendencies in the children. It all begins at home with the parents! Children are the true reflections of home and family life in most cases. There are some few exceptions.

Parents who will tell the truth, are moral, are honest in their dealings, have good marriages, borrow money sparingly, save some money from every paycheck, pay debts on time, live quietly and plainly and frugally, are peaceable in the family and in the church, love the truth of God and teach it publicly and privately, love the brethren and speak well and kindly of all the brethren, and go about doing good in sincerity before their children, will raise some good children to serve the Lord.

Our children must be reared by the Spirit of God as taught us in his holy word. If they have been hushed to sleep by the sacred psalms, hymns and lullabies about Jesus, sung by the sweet, angel-like voice of a devout mother, they will most likely follow Jesus. But if they are put to bed in fear, dread, anxieties and tears by words and shouts of anger, strife, lust, threats and profanity from the lips of their father, they will most likely serve Satan. Lives of fathers and mothers, lived in a “quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” and “soberly, righteously and godly in this present world” will result in the children “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts” (1 Tim. 2:12; Tit. 2:11-12). If the parents sincerely and consistently do not “love the world, neither the things that are in the world . . . the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 Jn. 2:1517), the possibilities are greatly increased and enhanced that the children will not do so.

We must try to save the children by our right standards of conduct and behavior. We should not neglectfully and willingly forfeit the fives and souls of our children to the devil and to hell. We can still rear a Timothy, a Titus, a David, an Abraham, an Isaac, a Jacob, a Samuel, a Joshua, a Caleb, a Paul, a Noah, a Moses. God has uses for all our children. They are his children! If we do not try diligently while they are small and while we can, chances are we will raise up a Ham, a Cain, a Hophni and Phinehas, an Esau, an Absalom, a Rehoboam, a Manasseh, or a Judas!

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 12, pp. 386-388
June 15, 1989

By Hoyt H. Houchen

Question: Please explain Isaiah 14.12-20. Give me what information you can in regard to “Lucifer. ” Who is he?

Reply: Isaiah 13-23 is a section of the book in which oracles of judgment are pronounced against individual nations. Chapter 13 and most of chapter 14 describe the fall of Babylon.

We consider Isaiah 14:12. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star (“Lucifer” KJV), son of the morning!” “Lucifer” is from a Latin word meaning “light-bearer” and refers to the planet Venus appearing in the evening and the morning, which is the brightest object in the sky except for the sun and moon (Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol. 2, p. 1360). The Hebrew expression was apparently first applied to Satan by Tertullian and Origen. The one who popularized “Lucifer” as a name for Satan was probably John Milton in Paradise Lost.

As Babylon was an astrological nation, it would be appropriate that the morning star (“Lucifer”) would be used as a symbol of her power, and would be applied to her king. However, some ignore this context and interpret this passage to mean the fail of Satan and his angels from heaven, connecting it with Luke 10:18 and Revelation 12:7-13.

Considering Luke 10: 18, Jesus had sent out seventy of his disciples to preach. They returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name” (v. 17), “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven” (v. 18). Jesus foresaw his victory over Satan. The verse does not say that Satan fell from heaven, but it says that Jesus saw Satan fallen “as lightning from heaven.” Because the demons were subject to the seventy in Christ’s name, Jesus could see the defeat of Satan. It would be “as lightning from heaven” – sudden and fast (see Heb. 2:14). If Satan had been cast out of heaven at some time in the past, this verse does not teach it. Jesus was referring to the future and he was not relating to the past in Luke 10:18.

In Revelation 12:7-9 we are told: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon, and the dragon warred and his angels; and they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him” (ASV). The 13th verse reads: “And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man child.” This language is obviously symbolical and is therefore not to be interpreted literally. Albertus Pieters correctly comments upon these verses (7-9): “Let us settle it firmly in our hearts, and stick to it consistently, that the Apocalypse is a book of spiritual cartoons, the pictures not in any case to be mistaken for the reality, no matter how vividly drawn. As already pointed out, the rest of, this chapter concerning the Radiant Woman, the Red Dragon and their adventures, is clearly seen by all interpreters to be symbolic; although they do not agree on what is symbolized. Is it not, then, to introduce confusion into the interpretation to suppose that the apostle suddenly shifts from symbolism to reality when he tells of the war in heaven?” (The Lamb, the Woman and the Dragon, pp. 172-173) The Revelation passage portrays a spiritual conflict in which Satan is defeated, climaxed by Christ’s victory over him. It is not denied that Satan may have, at sometime in the past been cast down from heaven, thus accounting for his origin; but the passages considered above do not so teach.

The whole context of Isaiah 14:12-20 depicts the overthrow of Babylon. The king of Babylon is pictured symbolically as a predominant bright star (“Lucifer” KJV, v. 12). But he is to be destroyed. The king’s boastful words are revealed in verses 13 and 14. “Thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. . . . I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.” In contrast to the king’s vision of grandeur, he is to be cast down to Sheol, the lowest depths (v. 15). Men will look at the dead body of this once mighty conqueror. Here lies the slain soldier who had made the earth to tremble, who had shaken the kingdoms and who had overthrown their cities. He had taken prisoners, carrying them to lands far from their home – “that let not loose his prisoners to their home” (vv. 16,17). In contrast to kings who die and rest in their tombs, the king of Babylon would be cast aside from his sepulcher. His body lies dishonored and unburied, as a dead body trodden under foot (vv. 18,19). The cause of him not being united with the rest of the dead in burial is seen in the statement of verse 20: “because thou hast destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people.” The dynasty of this wicked king is brought to an end. Babylon would be completely overthrown never to rise again. “It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation” (Isa. 13:20).

The context of Isaiah 14:12-20 shows clearly that it is the king of Babylon who is addressed as “Lucifer,” and not the devil.

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 13, p. 397
July 6, 1989