There are few things that really have me up late at night, but last night one of those things had me up to past midnight. This one thing is the salvation of my boys (and any future children). I believe sometimes we think because we take them to church and teach them bible stories and they go to Christian schools or even Home Schools that this somehow guarantees salvation. Or maybe even worse, we think because we are believers so will our children. Nothing is as far away from the truth as this pipedream. As I stared at the ceiling I cried out to God “save my boys, Lord”. This has been my prayer for the last 3 or 4 years with my oldest and since my little one became a bulge in his mommy’s stomach. I believe there are a few hindrances of our children coming to know the Lord.
I. Making Moral Children versus Children with a New Heart
One of the greatest disservices we can do to our children is to make them moral agents. I see this so much and in so many circles. We teach our children morality. Christianity becomes about things I abstain from and not about what actually do. For example, a kid thinks Him and God is good, because he abstains from sex during High School. Now this is a wonderful accomplishment, especially in our sex crazed world, especially if you are black (had to go there). To make it out of High School without kids was a great accomplishment where I was from. Every single R&B song on the Top 10 has a sexual reference in it and you can’t even watch a Shampoo commercial without orgasmic sounds being made. There is only one problem, abstaining from intercourse doesn’t make you more of a Christian than Charles Darwin. You will see the same kid being one of the most judgmental, self-righteous and envious people on the planet. He has just substituted one sin for the other. We teach our kids, don’t watch this, don’t wear that, don’t listen to this, don’t go there, and don’t hang out with them! So the kid doesn’t watch movies, his pants is on his waste, a 50 Cent lyric has never touched his ears and his lips have never even bumped a girl. However, you ask this kid about his salvation and what he gives you is a resume about what he doesn’t do. He has no more a clue about his being born wicked and his need for a savior than the worst of sinners. (more…)
