UNSAVED FAMILY
by Dr. W . Robert Smith
T here are m a n y grandparents who are rightly concerned about the families of their children. Re cently we received a letter asking, “Where adult children are not walk ing with the Lord and grandparents visit in the home (perhaps as ‘baby sitters’)» to what extent should they instruct the little ones in the things of the Lord?” This is a very pertinent point we should weigh very carefully. Some times young parents have forsaken the goodly and Godly paths of their mother and father. Unfortunately, this is all too prevalent. As a grand father myself, I feel we must always be kind, considerate and loving. It is really not our position always to be correcting and chastising. We made mistakes in our own home. There are some things, however, we can do constructively. If we go over board we can become obnoxious and not be welcome in the home. We ought to be very gracious and kind, not too free in making suggestions. On the other hand, there are many ways we can communicate our love for the Lord in the homes of our chil-
dren. The very manner in which we live is significant. Do you willingly play games and “chum” with the youngsters? They will soon be attracted to your loving and joyful manner. Don’t try to tell them everything. Communicate in such a way that they will want to ask you things. It will “open the door” for you. This only comes when you are living close to the Lord, and filled with the promised power of His Holy Spirit. Unless your children forbid you, you can tell your precious grand children Bible stories. Show them how to pray, and give them simple answers to how God has faithfully led you through the years. Talk about the things that are good in a positive way. Don’t tear down their mother and father. An e n t i r e l y different question comes from a woman who says, “My husband points out to me that he will be accountable for all decisions, ac cording to Scripture, in the final analysis. He is very strict in telling our teenagers what they should do. Now they are beginning to resent him. I do not like being belittled and usually try to explain why our chil dren should obey their father. We are trying to live consecrated lives’ for Christ. How can I change this situa tion so that I will not see my Chris tian teenagers go down the drain?” Your husband’s point o f view needs correcting. He will not be held ac countable for all family decisions. Every person is given a free moral choice. In Jewish law the father was responsible for the children’s direc tion, control and discipline, but not for all the mistakes they happened to make. The one paramount responsi bility he has is to give his children a godly and a Christ-like loving ex ample. He is to represent to the child the very nature of our heavenly Fa ther. The whole message of the Gospel
Biola's director of Stewardship is Mr. John Isaac, formerly an engineering executive with Douglas Aircraft before entering the Lord's service.
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