Spiritual Champions
So, what are we all doing here tonight? why did you give up a night with your husband on the couch watching the latest episode of Chuck or 24? Maybe you gave up a night of soaking in a tub or a night to tie up loose ends around the house, like laundry or paying the bills. I believe I know why you are here, and it is because you believe that what you do as a mom is important in the life of your child. You're here because you know the odds are against the American family and you'd like to beat those odds. You're here because of all those things you could be doing tonight, you know that there is a good possibility something at this gathering has the potential of positively affecting you and your family. you're here to put your family first. You're here because you know that church programs and private Christian schools, while wonderful places for growth and learning, won't be enough on their own to impact your children in their personal relationship with Christ. SO? Way to go Moms and those Dads at home babysitting. It is truly wonderful that you have taken initiative to attend this mom's group. Certainly this isn't the only mom's group out there, or the best for that matter. And wether you choose to come back or try something else, I encourage you to continue to seek out biblical wisdom and teaching in your role as a parent It is the responsibility that has come with your beautiful blessing!
Jesus says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the 1st and greatest commandment. A second is like it, Love you neighbor as yourself." Matt 22:37-39
I would suggest to you that this is our Biblical definition of a Spiritual Champion. Tonight we are talking about how to raise Spiritual Champions. In his book Revolutionary Parenting, George Barna defines a Spiritual Champion this way, "Individuals who have embraced Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord; accept the Bible as truth and the guide for their life; and seek to live in obedience to its principles and in search of ways to continually deepen their relationship with God." Whether you use the words of Jesus or George Barna to define a Spiritual Champion, I think you'd agree, we parents face quite a challenge to raise people to this ideal.
Do you remember the passage in Deut. 6? I believe this is what raising a Spiritual Champion looks like, "You (mom and dad) must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves to these commands I am giving to you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again. Tie them to your hands as a reminder and wear them on your forehead. Write them on your door posts of your house and on your gates."
Over the holiday break I was able to pick up and read a couple of parenting books. Most of tonight's material is from one of those books. Revolutionary Parenting, by George Barna is the primary source tonight.
So lets dive in: So then, how do we go about raising Spiritual Champions?
As parents we are called to have a heart of thanksgiving. Often we thank God for our healthy and happy and smart and athletic and beautiful kids, but we need to remember to thank God for their existence. Their presence alone is a real blessing to us parents. Genesis 28:3 tells us that our children are a blessing to parents and eventually to the world. Recognize that YOU are blessed. Our children are a reason to praise God. Children bring parents together though procreation, parenting teamwork and operating in life with unity of purpose and process. Malachi 2:15 says, "Didn't God make you one with your wife? And what does he want? Godly children from your union." Generally we think of the children as the sweet little people that take so much time and energy away from the marriage. But this passage from Malachi suggests children should bring parents together.
We have a specific job description as parents. Our job includes, having hope, administering discipline, teaching obedience, protecting life, preparing kids for life, creating a positive family environment, and shaping spirituality.
Let's talk about Having Hope. Luke 9:37-43 retells the story of a man who brings his demon possessed son to Jesus for healing. Although we don't know all that was spoken by the crowd or friends of the family, it was clear that only the father had kept hope alive, and believe his son would be healed. Jesus rewards this man for his faith. We are to never give up hope for the well being of our children. You have been called to Faith because you are a parent.
Fortunately or Unfortunately laying down the ground rules is part of our job as parents. It is how God has fashioned our lives, with discipline. Deut. 8:5 says, "So you should realize that just as a parent disciplines a child, so the Lord your God disciplines you to help you. This discipline will help our children in life.
Along with discipline comes obedience. Deut 28:1-4 says that obedience will lead to blessing. "If you obey the Lord your God by keeping all the commands I am giving you today, the Lord your God will exalt you above all the nations of the world You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God. You will be blessed in your towns and in the country. You will be blessed with many children and productive fields. you will be blessed with fertile herds and flocks." Who would not want their child to be blessed in this way? Think about this as you teach obedience to your little ones!
Another job is to Protect Life. Think about the example of Moses' mother. In Ex. 2:1-10 the story is told of how she protected her son from death. We are to protect our children physically, spiritually, morally, emotionally, and intellectually. Giving that safety is a blessing to them. In Eph. 6:4, fathers are reminded not to exasperate their children. This verse is simply a command towards parents to protect their children emotionally.
Our job requires that we prepare our kids for life. Part of this prep is with discipline and obedience. From those two tools alone our children will gain wisdom (Prov 1:8, Prov 13:1), grace (Prov. 1:8), the will and capacity to resist sin, proof of our love (prov 3:12), legitimacy of being our children (Prov 3:12, Heb 12: 7-8), and respect for others. Preparation for life will include giving advice, teaching discernment, instilling respect, and helping them choose friends.
The job list continues, with Creating a positive family environment. Parenting is a partnership, you need to parent WITH your husband. I realize that we have talked about this at another YM meeting, but I want to reinforce the idea here. We all know the affects a broken parental relationship has on a child. Going beyond this though is also a positive relationship within a community. You will have to pay attention to and create a positive environment for you child to grow in. If you attended the services in January at Willow entitled Families at their best, you will remember Bill's plan B. Plan B is to use the offerings at the church for children/youth and else where, such as school, to enhance that which you are teaching at home. Another point to creating a positive family environment will be to develop individual relationships with your children. To know that they are uniquely part of a family and individually loved by you is a tremendous thing. You also need to provide a home that is a safe haven, meet their basic needs for food, shelter, healthcare, clothing, spiritual experiences, community and physical activity. Introduce your children to the value of hard work. Eph 6:1-3 says, "Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. Honor your father and mother. This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, you will live a long life, full of blessing." Finally, provide your children with a blessing. The scripture isn't clear whether this is a monetary thing or something else, but the idea here is that blessing a child is a gift to them and benefit them in life.
Finally we are called to shape spirituality. we need to facilitate the understanding of spiritual things. You can do this by reading the bible, repeating God's commands consistently, and by relating Biblical truth to everyday life (which leads to a healthy faith and praise and worship to God). When we shape their spirituality we teach them that the Christian Faith is not about how they are benefited by it, but how it glorifies God. We also teach them the development of Character and advance their relationship with God.
Spiritual Champions have a biblical world view. They believe in moral absolutes. They know they are created by God to serve. They believe in the reality of spiritual warfare, they live lives that reflect God's Character. They donate unusual amounts of time and money to spiritual causes. They screen the media. They change the world.
We will continue to talk about how to Raise Spiritual Champions next month. We will discuss some objectives, some obstacles and some guidelines as we raise our children with a Spiritual Champion goal in mind.
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