Do Your Children Understand God?
By David Posey

“God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.” Psa 53:2

Where are you on your own spiritual journey? Have you given much thought to where your example is leading your children? Will they be likely to be faithful Christians because of what they see in you?

Many children grow today without a clear concept of who God is and what He expects from us. The writer of Proverbs said, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (22:6). Many parents stumble along, inconsistent in faith, never giving their children a solid view of what it means to be faithful. Then the children, when grown, depart from the Lord, and those parents, who have since become more faithful, are heart-broken and full of guilt. Perhaps the children would have chosen a life apart from the Lord anyway-Proverbs 22:6 is a proverb, a general rule, not an absolute promise, but if the parents failed to do their part they'll never know and the proverb will come back to haunt them many times.

What can you do to avoid this dreadful guilt? You can start today by thinking about the spiritual opportunities you are giving your children.

If you make sure they attend Bible class and each service of the church, you are exposing them to spiritual training that will permit them to make an informed decision when they grow up. If you are inconsistent in this, the child will come to believe that the things of God are not really of first importance, at least not to you. And if it is not important to you, why should it be important to him?

Think for a moment about the values the world is preaching to your children. A child is exposed to the training of the world every single day. It is nearly impossible for him to get spiritual uplifting experiences without specific input from his parents. Besides attendance at services, a daily dose of Bible reading, prayer and story telling, using stories with strong moral themes, based on Biblical principles one should be a good example to their children. These are essential steps if you wish to help your child get in touch with the eternity God has put in their hearts (Eccl 3:11). We owe our children at least this, don't we?

Our aim is to develop wisdom in our children. Of wisdom, the writer of Proverbs said, "For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD” (8:35). We certainly want "life" for the precious children that God has given us. We can help them develop wisdom by giving them an example of faithfulness and by exposing them to spiritual things. But the proverb challenges parents to ask another question:

"Am I wise?" An essential aspect of wisdom is ability to look down the corridor of time and ask, "how will my actions today affect my child tomorrow?" If you cannot confidently say that you are training him up in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph 6:4), won't you begin today? Don't be compelled to say to God, in your old age, "I'm sorry, Lord, I didn't train him up in the way that he should go, and he has departed from You."

CHURCH HISTORY: A BIBLICAL VIEW
Part VI - No. 39 Compiled and written by Gary Eubanks

The American groundswell of religious fervor known as "the Great Awakening," which began in 1726, was dissipated by the distractions of the American Revolution. Men's minds were on politics and patriotism rather than religion. However, the American Revolution had more than a negative impact upon American denominationalism. Almost since its beginning several forces had merged in America to make it a country of greater religious liberty and independence than had been known in Europe. Chief among these forces, perhaps, was the very multiplicity of faiths. This prevented one church from gaining a national majority and asserting the upper hand. For this and other practical reasons it was easier to practice religious toleration. However, there were some groups which advocated religious freedom as a matter of religious principle. The Deistic persuasions of many of the young country's leaders also inclined America toward religious freedom on a political and legal level. To be sure, some regions of the country had been under the domination of a particular religious faith (as Puritanism in New England) and some groups, such as the Quakers, had been singled out for persecution, but the general movement of the country was toward religious freedom, and that movement gathered momentum as independence dawned. Finally, the First Amendment to the Constitution, adopted in 1791, provided that Congress should make no law respecting religious establishments or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

Geographical separation from European mother countries and churches also made for ecclesiastical separation. More importantly, with the advent of the American Revolution continuance of organizational ties with European churches seemed even more undesirable. Such ties seemed unpatriotic. The Church of England in America especially suffered from the war. Following the war the old name was dropped and the name, "Protestant Episcopal Church," was adopted. An independent organizational structure was also devised and American candidates applied for, and eventually received in 1787, consecration as bishops from the English bishops.

The Methodist Church in America followed suit. At Baltimore in late 1784 the Methodist Episcopal Church was formed, and Francis Asbury was appointed deacon, elder, and superintendent. Though John Wesley had ordained Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury as superintendents, he was much chagrined when they were made "bishops." Other American denominations, such as the Dutch and German Reformed Churches, Quakers, Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Lutherans, had almost or altogether established their autonomy by the outbreak of the Revolution. The Revolution hastened completion of the process or prompted reorganization. American Catholics, of course, never established independence from Rome, but in 1808 Baltimore was made the seat of an archbishopric under John Carroll.

The Revolutionary period also witnessed the evolution in America of a new religious body - the Universalists. As the name suggests, Universalists believed that all men would be saved. John Murray (1741-1815), the father of organized Universalism, believed that Christ had made full payment for all men and that at the judgment all unbelief in God's mercy would vanish and immediate blessedness would there begin for all. That blessedness begins now for those who fully believe. Another Universalist advocate, Elhanan Winchester, asserted that all would be saved by ultimate "free" submission to God. However, unrepentant men would be purified by protracted, not eternal, suffering (Matt. 25:41,45; Mk. 9:47,48; II Thess. 1:8,9; Jude 7; Rev. 14:11). Yet another Universalist of great influence was Hosea Ballou, who asserted that Christ's atonement was moral; that is, it was not intended as a legal payment for sin but merely as a demonstration of God's love to draw men unto Him (Matt. 26:28). Additionally, he believed men would be punished for sin, here or hereafter, until they turned from it. Ballou also was unitarian in his views, and Universalists followed him in denying the divinity of Christ. Universalists became increasingly liberal through the years until almost any religious, or even irreligious, person could join their fellowship. In 1961 a union was effected between Unitarians and Universalists.

The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement which emphasized the power of human reason to discover the avenues to man's freedom, progress, and happiness. Therefore, its emphasis was upon natural religion and its goal was improvement, or even perfection, of men in their earthly life rather than salvation from sin. Whatever in religion seemed contributory to such a goal was accepted and used; all other religion was rejected. The movement was brought on by Deism and rationalism and had its heyday during the Eighteenth Century.

Gotthold Lessing (1729-1781), an eminent German writer, set forth the idea that the human race, like the individual, passes through successive stages of development as it matures and the Scriptures had been given by God to meet the varying needs of each stage. Thus, the Old Testament was supposedly given for mankind's childhood and the New Testament for its youth, but in its adulthood mankind should be motivated by its sense of duty and ruled by its reason. Thus, the gospel of Christ was made to appear to be an inferior system of the past. Others involved in the Enlightenment subjected the Bible to textual and historical criticism, one effect of which was the assertion of composite authorship for Genesis. Adherents of this movement were not reluctant to criticize and reject any Scripture or teaching which to them seemed unreasonable. The supernatural elements of the Scriptures, including the deity of Christ, were particularly rejected. Jesus was viewed simply as a great moral teacher. At best, the Bible was merely the handmaid of the natural religion and morality which were discoverable by man's own reasoning.

Key Expressions Which Relate to Our Giving
By Mel Martin

God giveth to all men liberally.

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

A willing mind.

According to that a man hath.

Not according to that he hath not.

She hath done what she could.

He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly.

He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

According as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give.

Not grudgingly.

Or of necessity (being forced to).

God loveth a cheerful giver.

Upon the first day of the week.

Lay by him in store.

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief.

Freely ye have received, freely give.

First gave of their own selves.

Beware of covetousness.

Man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things he possesseth.

WHAT DO VISITORS SEE IN ME?
Larry Ray Hafley

When we are assembled to worship the Lord, to study the Bible, to remember and show the Lord's death, what do our visitors see in me?

Do they see someone who is totally bored and uninterested in what is going on? If so, what is likely to be the level of their interest? At the very least, my apathetic attitude is likely to have a negative impact on their concept of the cause of Christ. Therefore, I must take heed to myself. I must strive to be a good listener. I must pay attention and not allow myself to become distracted.

Do they see someone who is sleeping through services? What does it tell a visitor about the seriousness of our assembly if some adults sleep through services? Age (both the very young and the elderly) and medicine may make one susceptible to sleep. So also may those faithful ones who work all night and then, with dogged determination, come on to services and try their best to concentrate on spiritual matters. We can excuse such folks, believing that the Lord does, too. However, do some of our people, especially older children, sleep during worship because they have stayed up too late on Saturday night? Parents, if we make our children go to bed earlier during the week because "it's a school night," why not see that they get their rest on Saturday because it is a "church night"?

Do they see someone laughing, whispering, passing notes, or playing with babies seated nearby? Our little ones, especially our grandchildren, are almost irresistible! At times, they demand our attention and care, even during worship. May God bless young parents, especially our devoted young mothers, who are during their best to worship while attempting to "subdue" a restless child and train a soul for heaven! Those things we understand.

But, do visitors see me focused on everything except God and his word? Do they see me distracting others? Do they see me not paying attention to the gospel, but idly looking around at every other person in the auditorium? If so, what impression does this make on their soul? It cannot be a good one.

Do they see young folks getting up, walking around, going to the drinking fountain, and the bathroom? Obviously, we know there are times when one must exit during a service. Aging joints and aching backs force some to get up and move around. Again, the Lord knows and patient brethren understand.

However, at an early age, youngsters need to be taught to get a drink and go to the rest room during the break between services. Unless there is a particular health problem, most youngsters can sit for an hour without a drink and without having to get up and go to the bath room. They need to be trained to do so.

Our young mothers do not disturb services when they take their little children out. Indeed, they may do so if they do not! So, we are not discussing little ones who need to be disciplined or who need extra care.

We are speaking of those who wander in and out of services because they have not been taught to sit up, pay attention, and act like a young lady or a young man. Are children allowed to get up and get a drink and go to the bath room during a wedding or a funeral service? No, because we know it is not polite and that it will disturb the ceremony. Then, why not have the same respect for the worship of our Lord and for the study of his word?

We hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study.

2 Sam 22:31
 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. NKJV

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