Parenting and Religion

Yesterday I was talking to my mom, and we talked a little about churches softening the Gospel message for people who are new Christians and don’t want to hear the whole truth yet…it might convict them of their lifestyle, or of things they enjoy doing.
It reminded me of my husband’s message on Sunday morning.
He made the point that just because sin is abounding in the world, doesn’t mean we have to grow accustumed to it, or accepting of it as “normal” living. We should be telling our kids what is right and what is wrong according to what the Bible teaches us, not according to what the trends of the day are.

Deuteronomy 4:8-10 (Amplified Bible)

8And what large and important nation has statutes and ordinances so upright and just as all this law which I set before you today?

9Only take heed, and guard your life diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen and lest they depart from your [mind and] heart all the days of your life. Teach them to your children and your children’s children–

10Especially how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, the Lord said to me, Gather the people together to Me and I will make them hear My words, that they may learn [reverently] to fear Me all the days they live upon the earth and that they may teach their children.

We are instructed to teach our children right from wrong. We are told to remind them of the good we have seen God do, and that He is the author of salvation.
We are not to raise our kids thinking that anything they or anyone else decides to do, or any way they decide to live is ok.
It isn’t!
As Christians, it is our job to point out and call sin what it is- sin.
If we are to teach our children these things, then how much more are we to be honest and up front about the Gospel message in our churches?
Yes there is sin.
Yes, people who go to church sin.
Yes, I sin.
But there is also grace and forgiveness available when there is true repentence.
Repentence is doing a complete turn-around, admittiing we have sinned, and accepting the forgiveness offered to us by God, through Jesus Christ. This is also a part of the Gospel message, and needs to be taught inour churches.
How can we sit back and let people continue to think they are ok, when they are really not?
It is time to raise up the standard that God set before us, and say it like it is…sin is sin!
It is time to not be ashamed…IN OUR CHURCHES… and tell the truth.
It is also time to teach our kids God’s heart on sin. You can find it in your Bible, on more than one page.
The same pages will show the way out of sin, and the way to our Savior.
Remember, God didn’t send Jesus to take away our fun, but to take away our pain.

sin, church, preach, gospel, forgiveness, pain, teach children, repent, grace, forgiveness