Thursday, November 4, 2010

Training for a Biblical World View


Last time, we discussed the necessity of training our children as opposed to simply teaching them. While teaching (passing along the right information) is necessary and profitable according to 2 Timothy 3:16, we must do more in order to fully train them so we can release them into the world to do exploits for God's Kingdom. The afore mentioned Scripture states: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable, for doctrine (teaching), for reproof (conviction), for correction (making right what is wrong), and instruction in righteousness (fully training them to stay in the right path)."


We must fully instruct them in righteousness so that as they are growing old, they won't depart from it. In order to accomplish this task, we as parents should set as a goal to train toward a Biblical worldview. What do you mean by this? You might be wondering. I mean training them with the Scriptures so that they develop a biblical worldview (outlook on and in life). There are basically 2 worldviews competing for the hearts and minds of our children. There is the secular humanist worldview and the biblical worldview.


It is interesting to note that as I watched the O'reilly Factor on Fox News last night, O'reilly was interviewing George Stephanaupolis and asked him the question, "Why do you think that the Northeast and the West Coast voted so overwhelmingly different from the rest of the country?" The answer was very telling. Stephanaupolis said, "I think that those regions tend to be more secular and less religious than the rest of the country." In other words, "The rest of the country is more in line with a Judeo-Christian worldview and they are in line with the secular-humanist worldview."


So, what definition can be given to help us better understand the 2 worldviews? I would like us to consider how they would apply to morality. The Secular Humanist Worldview would say that right and wrong are determined by what the individual feels is right or wrong for himself/herself. The Biblical Worldview, on the other hand, would argue that right and wrong are determined by the Word of God, regardless of how one feels. This is so critical to instill while our children are young, so that when they begin to deal with the bigger issues of life (sexuality, marriage, work, etc.) they will have already done as Daniel did in Daniel 1:8 and "purposed in their hearts not to defile themselves."


How can this be accomplished? Begin by training them to think biblically about each issue. If you ask them to clean their room, and they say, "I don't feel like it." You can reply, "I'm sorry you don't feel like it, but the Bible says in Ephesians 6:1, 'Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.' The Bible is God's Word, so in light of what God has said what do you think is the good and right thing to do? (Obey and clean my room) OK, we are also told in James, 'To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.' So, what does God say it would be for you to not clean your room? (Sin)" This will help them understand that their action is not against you but against God and His word. It will teach them that God's Word is the final standard of what is proper, right and wrong. They will begin to have God's standard forever stamped upon their hearts; God's Spirit will use it to bring conviction, and they will be brought closer to God and His saving knowledge. It will also begin to instill in them a Biblical worldview, which will help them stay faithful to God and His Word in the midst of an increasingly secular society. God bless you as you continue to "Train up a child in the way he should go!"

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Awesome article. I would add that the secular humanist view is that there is no such thing as objective (absolute) moral values. Because of this, right and wrong are merely whatever our opinion is. However, this would mean that if the Nazi's had won world war 2 and succeeded in exterminating or brainwashing everyone that disagreed with the holocaust, from that point on in to the foreseeable future, genocide of a certain kind would have been a moral action. we are seeing the same thing happen today with respect to homosexuality and abortion. We must recognize the objectivity of moral values. They come from God. And like others have said, "if you don't believe that it is absolutely wrong to torture children or hold a holocaust, then you don't need someone to convince you, you need therapy!"

Nathan Wilkerson said...

Absolutely Christopher. We are living in a Day of Deception, where people are ever learning yet never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Therefore, they will believe and embrace anything but the truth, no matter how insane that non-truth might be. It is of utmost imperative that we as Christian parents train our children in the proper worldview in order to shine as lights in a dark world. God Bless!