TALKING IT OVER with Dr, Clyde M, Narramore
W H A T RELIGION IS RIGHT? Q. As parents, how can we guide our teenage hoys who are wondering what religion is right? A . This question looms large in the minds o f many people, especially teenagers. Even Christian boys and girls sometimes begin to wonder if Christianity is the only “ right” re ligion. In handling this question, I sug gest several factors: 1. Make sure that your son knows Christ as his personal Saviour. If a young person is unsaved, Satan will continually bother him with this question. But if he is truly born again, God will witness to his spirit about the validity of the Christian life. “ The Spirit Himself (thus) testi fies together with our own spirit, (assuring us) that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16 — Amplified Bible). 2. Reason with your boy or girl on the basis of God’s Word, the Bible, which says of itself, in He brews 4:12: “ For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power — making it active, operative, energizing and ef fective; it is sharper than any two- edged sword, penetrating to t h e dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and (the immortal) spirit, and of joints and marrow (that is, of the deepest parts o f our nature) exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart” (Amplified Bible). Since this is the nature of God’s Word, we can use it with confidence in talking to our boys and girls. As we bring appropriate portions to their attention, the Holy Spirit will use it to bring assurance and convic tion to their hearts. 3. Point out the fact that only Christ arose from the dead. Indicate that all other religious leaders have lived and died, but that it is a his torical fact that Christ arose from the dead, and was seen of many after His resurrection. Indeed He was the Son of God! 4. If your teenagers are saved, get them busy working for the Lord. Take them with you as you lead oth-
Dr. Narramore, graduate of Columbia University, Now York City, is a nationally known psychologist. Ho is the director of one of America's
largest psychological clinics— The Christian Counseling center in Rosemead, California.
ers to Christ. Encourage them to give the plan of salvation to others. When they see the Word of God and conversion working in the lives of others, they will know for certain that Christianity is real and power ful. It is sometimes difficult to con vince a young person about the Christian life until he sees it at work in others. 5. Place Christ-centered litera ture where your sons and daughters can pick it up and read it. A good book on Evidence of Inspiration would be very helpful, as well as a booklet comparing different religions in the light of God’s Word, such as “ The Spirit of Truth vs. the Spirit of Error,” by Keith L. Brooks. This would fortify him with answers for anyone who might challenge his faith. Finally, be much in prayer for your young people. As you daily search the Scriptures yourself, you will be guided by the Lord in deal ing with the questions they may ask. “ (Not in your own strength) for it is God who is all the while effec tually at work in you — energizing and creating in you the power and desire — both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight’ (Phil. 2:13 — Amplified Bible). HUSBAND AND WIFE BOTH W A N T TO BE "TOP M A N " Q. My husband and I are constantly fighting to he “ top man.” I realize this is wrong, hut it doesn’t correct it. What is the answer? A . Whenever we go contrary to Scripture in defiance of the Lord- ship of Christ, we reap the conse quences of our folly. We cannot take exception to His Word and reverse the order of things without trouble.
Man was created first, and God saw that it was not good for him to be alone so He made a helper for him . . . not an executor, a manager, or a boss. Yes, the leadership of man is well established in Scripture, but also the responsibility of the leader is also clear. It should be a benevo lent leadership, one marked with love and tenderness. A woman is not man’s slave, to be used of him . . . nor his superior to be over him. They are to be a team for God to be guided through life by Him, and to be tenderly af fectionate one toward the other. In all teamwork, there must be a pull ing together, but authority is vested in one. God has used this principle in His creation of man and woman. “ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let wives be subject to their own husbands in everything” (Eph. 5:23, 24). This does not give him the right to be a dictator or a taskmaster. This is surely embodied in the following verses of the same chapter: “ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; . . . So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church” (Eph. 5:25, 28). Every man is ultimately responsi ble to God for the way in which he rules his home. Every woman is re sponsible to God for the way in which she accepts her role of wife and mother. For the blessings of God upon the home, keep His pre scribed order. He does not ask what He will not give the enabling power to perform.
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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