Huntington Church of Christ

Several years ago, when our eldest son was about seven years old, he missed a baseball game because it conflicted with our Wednesday evening Bible study. As a family, we determined to put God before all things, including baseball, school and social functions ("Seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness..." -- Matthew 6:33). At his next practice, one of his teammates inquired as to why he had missed the ball game. When Matt answered he had "gone to church" the youngster asked, "What's it like to go to church?" What a sad commentary to his father and mother.

As a nation, we are consumed with the physical and mental well being of our children. We police and regulate school administrators and teachers insisting that our children get a proper education. We are told to be vigilant and alert to report any signs of child abuse. Yet when it comes to the spiritual health of our children, we are a people who are grossly negligent. We have become passive and indifferent about the spiritual life of our youth. No wonder we suffer from the pangs of youngsters speaking and acting in offensive ways. No wonder our children have no respect for authority or elders. No wonder our children are having children. Why are we so shocked when young people do not respect the life of others? We have failed to raise our children according to God's Word, and we will be judged accordingly. We are reaping what we have sown as a nation.

Every child deserves the right to know what it is like to worship their creator and God! And every child should have the right to hear what God is saying to them through His Word! yet we deprive these little ones of the most important thing in the world. We can teach them well the lessons of the world: how to curse, drink, fornicate and neglect their duty to God and family. But introduce them to God? No, we let them flounder through life aimless.

God said, "These words which I command you...thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when t hou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

"Fathers...nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).

Parents please take not, TEACH YOUR CHILD GOD'S WORD!

Daniel S. Dow
Huntington Church of Christ