Instructing the Children

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="054fd5a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Tyler - Longview Christadelphian Ecclesia</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tyler Longview Christadelphian Ecclesia"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who We Are">Who We Are</A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News and Events">News and Events</A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ecclesial Statements">Ecclesial Statements</A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daily Bible Readings">Daily Bible Readings</A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Symbol" >   · 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valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B>Instructing the Children</B></div> <bR> <div> The instruction of children forms an important element in the duty of saints.</div> <div> In terms, when the appearing of the Lord was yet remote,</div> <div>  it made them fitter and more ready recipient of the word of life when arrived at maturity,</div> <div> than had they been left to grow up in rankness and stupidity </div> <div> of the natural man. </div> <div> It was culture commended by Paul,</div> <div> by whom the early Christians were exhorted to -</div> <div> "bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."</div> <div> Brother Robert Roberts</div> <bR> <div> ~</div> <bR> <div> Obedience to parents is a very unpopular virtue in our day.</div> <div> It had become so in the days of Jesus,</div> <div> who had condemned the Rabbinical traditions by which a man</div> <div> was absolved from all obligations towards his parents</div> <div> on the payment of a sum to the temple.</div> <div> It remains the fact</div> <div>  (however men may disregard, or may have forgotten that fact)</div> <div> that to the Lord God of Israel,</div> <div> Who is the Creator, Upholder and Proprietor</div> <div>  of all things, </div> <div> it is well pleasing, and a matter of command from Him to us,</div> <div> that "the children obey their parents" - and honor the hoary head,</div> <div> and be respectful and merciful to the aged and infirm-</div> <div>  Brother Robert Roberts</div> <bR> <div> ~</div> <bR> <div> The Most Influential</div> <div>  of all educational factors is the conversation in a child's home.</div> <div> The Christadelphian 1956</div> <bR> <div> ~</div> <bR> <div> When parental discipline destroys filial love, it is bad.</div> <div> Veneration is a mixture of fear and love,</div> <div> and is created in every well-organized child</div> <div> by strict discipline and kindness on the part of the parent.</div> <div> But a parent who is always beating, always frowning, scolding and commanding,</div> <div> and never coaxing and caressing a child,</div> <div> can only be feared, and ultimately disliked.</div> <div> Children can never be beaten into goodness,</div> <div> any more than nations can be persecuted into orthodoxy.</div> <div> They generally love their mothers best,</div> <div> because they are most indulgent; but at last they find that indulgence is weakness,</div> <div> and then they learn to disobey the old lady, as they call her.</div> <div> They fear the father, because he is stern and severe; and at last</div> <div> they dislike him, and avoid his society</div> <div> for his want of sympathy.</div> <div> Were the weakness of both parents combined in one,</div> <div> they would make a virtue.</div> <div> The joint and cooperation of the two sexes</div> <div> make the best discipline for children;</div> <div> but we are sorry to say,</div> <div> that there is very little of that cooperation to be found.</div> <div> The mother is generally a shield from the father,</div> <div> and her opposition always increases his severity,</div> <div> whilst his severity increases her indulgence.</div> <div> Children cannot be well reared unless</div> <div> parents are well married.</div> <div> Brother John Thomas</div> <bR> <div> ~</div> <bR> <div> "Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thy house:</div> <div> Thy children like olive plants round about thy table..."</div> <div> The faithful, throughout the ages,</div> <div> have valued their children as blessings from Yahweh,</div> <div> to complement their own lives,</div> <div> and provide a continuing testimony to Yahweh's Truth</div> <div> from one generation to another.</div> <div> Jacob touchingly referred to his offspring as</div> <div> "the children which God hath graciously given thy servant."</div> <div> Let us emulate his example.</div> <div> Our children need our warm love,</div> <div> as well as the disciplinary education in the Truth.</div> <div> By this means, the happy state in Psalm 128</div> <div> will be manifested within our homes.</div> <div> "...Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel."</div> <div> John Ullman</div> <bR> <div> ~</div> <bR> <div> The young are quick to observe and are very imitative; they pin their faith to what father and mother do. </div> <div> How many are the examples of good and bad parentage recorded in God's Word for our leaning. </div> <div> Let us heed our obligations in this matter. </div> <div> Logos </div> <div> November 1969 pg 60</div> <bR> <div> ~</div> <bR> <div> "Suffer Little Children to Come unto Me and Forbid them Not... What does that mean? It means just what the words express in connection with the times, place, and circumstances under which they were spoken. Jesus was in Judea beyond Jordan surrounded by his disciples, and multitudes of the people.  In the crowd were many women, in whom the organ of philoprogenitiveness was as large then as it is now. That is, to say, the flesh had great power over them; so that their children were dearer to them than their own lives.  A very wholesome condition when properly regulated; and one to which we are all deeply indebted in the days of our helplessness: but a fatal instinct when abandoned to its native blindness."</div> <div> Brother John Thomas</div> <div> p. 38 Herald 1858</div> <bR> <div> ~</div> <bR> <div> In a family where law is maintained, you have discipline and tears,</div> <div> but then you have also the sunshine after the rain-</div> <div> the beautiful spectacle of obedient, intelligent, cheerful children, </div> <div> whose society is not a nuisance.</div> <div>  Brother Robert Roberts</div> <bR> <div> ~</div> <bR> <div> Shower your child with love, confidence, </div> <div> godly guidance, a sound education in the things of the spirit, and a vision of our Hope.</div> <div> He will develop true wisdom, deep sensitivity, and a godly character.</div> <div> These things cannot be purchased with money -</div> <div> they can only be purchased with your time, prayer and self sacrifice.</div> <div> The value is eternal.</div> <div> Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king,</div> <div>  who will no more be admonished</div> <div> Eccl 4:13</div> <bR> <div> ~</div> <bR> <div> The grand and lofty purpose in marriage </div> <div> (has) always been that of God manifestation in the flesh.</div> <div> God desired that a multitude of men and women might be produced, generation after generation,</div> <div> whom He would recognize as a "godly seed".</div> <div> Such people would learn to reflect the likeness of the divine character</div> <div> and would inculcate these principles in the lives of their children.</div> <div> Malachi was stressing the tremendous responsibility which rest upon parents in the truth.</div> <div> They are accountable for the spiritual growth and development of their children.</div> <div> This is a duty which must be undertaken in three ways -</div> <div> Children must learn the principles of:</div> <bR> <div> *education</div> <div> *separation</div> <div> *dedication</div> <bR> <div> Parents much teach their children to be students of God's Word,</div> <div> with the objective of learning to think in harmony with the divine mind...</div> <bR> <div> Children must learn that it is necessary to separate from that which is evil in God's eyes,</div> <div> and that the Truth must be manifested in a holy way of life.</div> <div> Of Christ's character it was written:</div> <div> "Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness..."</div> <bR> <div> Upon the basis of education and separation,</div> <div> children must be taught to LOVE Yahweh and His Word and His Ways</div> <div> and thereby they will learn to dedicate their lives to His service and His purpose...</div> <bR> <div> <I>Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. Matt. 22: 37</I></div> <div> Brother John Ullman</div> <div> "Who may abide the day of His coming?"</div> <div> study notes on Malachi</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>