How Parents Can Keep the World From Taking Their Children Captive

Parents and caregivers have never had a more difficult job of keeping their children away from the world and the ways of the world.

Christ First

Parents and caregivers have never had a more difficult job of keeping their children away from the world and the ways of the world. In the first place, if you are not a Christian, then you cannot give them the best ways to keep them from the world and being conformed into the image of the world. We’d rather have them being shaped or molded into the image of Christ, but if we don’t live our lives much like Christ lived His, then we are being hypocritical. If we’re living like the world, then our children will be like the world and live that way. If we don’t put Jesus Christ first and make sure people know we are His disciples (John 13:34-35), then how can we expect our children to not live like the world? More is caught than taught and our children can’t hear what we’re saying because our actions are drowning out our words. If you believe, you will live what you believe, and others will see it; in the hopes that they too will believe.

Family Next

If we place God first and foremost in our lives, then our family must come next. Someone who wants to be a church leader and yet things are not going well at home, can’t expect the church to call him into a pastor, elder or deacon office. The Apostle Paul wrote that an elder “must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church” (1 Tim 3:4-5)? If things are disastrous at home, how could they possibly counsel someone who’s having issues with their marriage or with their children? That’s how important it is to have our children in submission at an early age…while they are pliable, but be the parent. Show up at their school events or games to show them they really are important to you.

Train up a child in the way he should go …

Immersed in the Word

In our home, we have Bible verses and quotes just about everywhere. These are to remind us about Who is in charge and Who has charge of us. When Children regularly hear the Word of God read, even more so when they read it themselves, they are more likely to have peace about things in the world and in their personal life. Getting children immersed into the Word will give them a large reservoir of God’s promises when they need them or Scriptures that tell them what they ought to do or what they shouldn’t do. Many families have a set of Bible verses that they pull out and read just before dinner and discuss the meaning of that verse while eating.

Regular Church Worship

No personal or family Bible study at home (or one a camping trip!) can replace the cooperate worship of the Body of Christ. As the day of Jesus’ return draws nearer, we will need one another even more (Heb 10:24-25). When Children attend Sunday school and worship services, they absorb more than you might think. I was preaching about lambs and how Jesus was the Lamb of God, a young boy went “Baaaa…baaa…,” so even the boy knew we were talking about sheep. It might have looked like he wasn’t paying attention, but he was listening.

Hearing the Word of God preached means unleashing the very power of God which is the gospel (Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 1:18). When the power that is within God’s Word is unleased. The Author of Hebrews wrote that “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12). We must let the children hear the Word of God regularly because the power of the Word of God will not return to God without having an effect on the hearer (Isaiah 55:11). Let that power of God’s Word do its work in their hearts, but it must first enter their ears!

Pray Without Ceasing

There is no doubt Satan wants our children and grandchildren, and it’s not just physical warfare we fight. Ours is a spiritual battle; one where the enemy is invisible, and yet powerfully influential. Satan is the god (little “g”) of this world. Just looking at the evening news or prime (slime) time television should be enough evidence to see that this is not our Father’s world. We must pray for our children and grandchildren and pray for those who will be around them and influence them when we’re not around. Let us “not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Cor 15:33). We tend to be like those we hang around with…for good or for bad. Make sure your children’s friends are true friends indeed.

Conclusion

Finally, it is my prayer that you have already put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, but, if that has not yet happened, you are in real danger of hell fire right now. Why do I say that? Like everyone else, you are one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. This is why today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2). Tomorrow is not guaranteed. If our Lord came today, read your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is all the more reason why I plead with you to repent today and put your trust in Jesus Christ. If not, you will face God’s judgment after you die (Heb 9:27), or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), whichever happens first.

Here is some related reading for you: How to Raise a Child in a Christian Home: 10 Important Tips

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Bible Verses, Children, Godly Children, parenting, parents