photo by frozenchipmunk
My husband shared his testimony with me early in our relationship, which was a good thing since I had a checklist going in my head of what I was looking for in a husband (dependable: check; smart: check; God-fearing, Jesus-loving Christian: check). It’s a fascinating witness, especially as it relates to how we teach our children and who we turn to for biblical knowledge.
My husband grew up in what by any definition was a dysfunctional home. Suffice it to say it was ugly. He took great notice, however, that in spite of the horrific behavior going on at home, everyone went to church on Sunday. They were in the bar on Sunday afternoon, but Sunday morning found them genuflecting and singing from the hymnbooks.
As a child, my husband had lots of questions. Why does the Bible say this? Why shouldn’t we do that? Is this really what happened? How do we know?
Unfortunately, no one in his family could answer any of his questions, except to say, “You just gotta believe.” And he continued to see the paradox between what they said and how they lived. So he turned to the one person he knew would have the answers. A man of the cloth.
He remembers sitting outside on the rectory steps, pumping the clergyman for answers to his questions. Why does the Bible say this? Why shouldn’t we do that? Is this really what happened? How do we know? The clergyman’s answer? “Son, you just gotta believe.”
My husband’s response to that was to spend the next few decades living in atheism, with all the trophies that come with that. Obviously, in his mind, he didn’t have to “just gotta believe”.
And neither do our children.
We are called to faith, but not a blind faith. Hebrews 11 defines faith as being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. If we’re new to being missionaries in our own homes but our hearts are set on following God, then we need to seek out clergy and elders who are passionate about knowing God through His Word. “You just gotta believe” should never suffice for how we teach our children.
The apostle Peter implores us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). We must be able to share that reason with our children. If we are learning right along with them, then we must place ourselves under the caring discipleship of a discerning pastor or elder. We must not cheat our children out of a real faith.
My husband grew up in what by any definition was a dysfunctional home. Suffice it to say it was ugly. He took great notice, however, that in spite of the horrific behavior going on at home, everyone went to church on Sunday. They were in the bar on Sunday afternoon, but Sunday morning found them genuflecting and singing from the hymnbooks.
As a child, my husband had lots of questions. Why does the Bible say this? Why shouldn’t we do that? Is this really what happened? How do we know?
Unfortunately, no one in his family could answer any of his questions, except to say, “You just gotta believe.” And he continued to see the paradox between what they said and how they lived. So he turned to the one person he knew would have the answers. A man of the cloth.
He remembers sitting outside on the rectory steps, pumping the clergyman for answers to his questions. Why does the Bible say this? Why shouldn’t we do that? Is this really what happened? How do we know? The clergyman’s answer? “Son, you just gotta believe.”
My husband’s response to that was to spend the next few decades living in atheism, with all the trophies that come with that. Obviously, in his mind, he didn’t have to “just gotta believe”.
And neither do our children.
We are called to faith, but not a blind faith. Hebrews 11 defines faith as being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. If we’re new to being missionaries in our own homes but our hearts are set on following God, then we need to seek out clergy and elders who are passionate about knowing God through His Word. “You just gotta believe” should never suffice for how we teach our children.
The apostle Peter implores us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). We must be able to share that reason with our children. If we are learning right along with them, then we must place ourselves under the caring discipleship of a discerning pastor or elder. We must not cheat our children out of a real faith.
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