The pictures are compelling: gaunt faces dominated by hopeless eyes peer at us from the news photos. One can virtually read their thoughts, “Why doesn’t someone think of me?” They are the children, victimized while adults play out their tribal hatreds by ravaging cities and pillaging relief supplies. There are other pictures, too, of little ones trapped in a cycle of poverty, begging us to “adopt” them that they might survive to start a new way of life free from want and early death.
Save the children! They are the future; they are the ones whose minds can be molded to new ways. If they can be reached when young enough, their futures can be changed.
From the ordinary experience of life, the world knows these things to be true; and we know it too, in application to greater principles and a greater life. If you can teach a child early enough the right instruction, you can have great impact on the adult he eventually becomes.
Applying what the world knows
In this issue of the magazine, an article stresses the opportunity grandparents have to influence young minds in the way of eternal life. Following the article is a letter eulogizing parents and grandparents who used this opportunity to good advantage. In “Letters to the Editor,” a mother relates how her family eliminated television from the house to provide a more spiritual atmosphere in the home. The objective is that young minds might be guided so their future is devoted to obedience to God.
Saving our children
We need to take advantage of our God-given opportunity to mold the minds of our children that they might be saved — from sin and ultimate death.
In the end, of course, their salvation will depend on their own freewill choice to take advantage of God’s grace. But it is the Lord Himself who “appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them [His words] known to their children.” The objective of God’s command was that the children “might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments” (v.7). Clearly, God wants our children to be saved and He wants us to take advantage of our ability to influence the minds of our children to that end.
Some may feel that we should give our children a broad education, including a knowledge of scripture and, when they reach an age of responsibility, encourage them to make up their own minds. That may be an appropriate approach as to schooling, occupation, house or area to live, but it is not appropriate so far as the Truth is concerned. God appointed “a law” which “he commanded” Israel to keep with the specific objective in mind of converting her children to be servants of God, not sin.
Being aware of the facts
In recent months, Sis. Ellen and I have had the opportunity to meet many brothers and sisters from across the world — first at the Isolation League Gathering in Birmingham, UK and then at ecclesias in the UK and New Zealand. Many have discussed family issues with us and we have kept our own ears open seeking to confirm or disprove our own ideas about bringing up children in the way of God.
There is no doubt that many faithful parents have unfaithful children. There are numerous scriptural examples: wicked Manasseh came from faithful Hezekiah; Samuel and David both had serious problems with their sons. And the reverse is true with wicked Ahaz being followed by godly Hezekiah. Having unfaithful children does not cost the parent his own eternal life nor does raising a godly seed insure one’s own salvation.
Patterns are evident
Having said that, there are patterns which, in a statistically-minded world, we would be unwise to ignore. Consider two ecclesial areas which are virtually identical economically and culturally. If one has a baptism rate of 35% while the other’s is 85% of the children raised in Christadelphian families, we should look at what they are doing differently. We’d do that in business or social matters; we should do it in spiritual. This is especially so since we do want our children to be saved and we can have a significant impact on their eternal destiny.
For example, in these two ecclesial areas: Are different Sunday School programs in use? Is there a difference in children’s attendance at ecclesial functions? Is a family atmosphere created among the ecclesial family? If youth activities are present, how are they run? Is there a difference in level and format of Bible study? Any difference in preaching efforts or format of classes? If we were considering secular matters, we would never attribute such a statistical difference to chance. We’d say there must be a rational explanation.
And we do recognize that being baptized into the community is no guarantee of salvation. Yet it is certainly a giant step in the right direction.
In families as well as ecclesias
In traveling about, we have stayed in some homes where a family picture hung on the wall. From the very atmosphere of the home, we knew, without any fear of embarrassment, we could ask which meeting each member belonged to. One could tell all of the children would be in the Truth.
God cited the Rechabites as a faithful family in Israel. In the New Testament, the families of Zachaeus and Alphaeus supplied two apostles each and wives highly supportive of Christ. In fact, tradition has it that the two families were related. The only sensible thing for other families in Israel to do was to look to the Rechabites and others like them and try to determine the right principles they were implementing.
Obviously, there is no guaranteed formula or God would give it, but He has made it clear that we should be doing the best we can to bring our children up in His way. As with any other aspects of our discipleship, however, we should be wisely exercising God’s principles combined with our own spiritual commonsense to seek the results He desires.
A consistent factor
While no specific formula can be given, there is a consistent quality in those areas and those families having a high baptismal rate — the life of the whole family revolves around the ecclesia. The ecclesia is never “they” it is always “we.” If the ecclesia has a special effort on, “we” have one on.
As much as humanly possible, the whole family is at the meetings including the memorial service and midweek Bible class. Clearly, more noise must be tolerated at the memorial service and schoolwork does not get the same attention on Bible class night. But the dominating priority in these ecclesias and families is that we want our children to fear the Lord and keep His commandments.
From our own recent exposure to many parts of the brotherhood, we are more convinced than ever that we have a great responsibility and a great opportunity to save the children.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One