Parent’s Duty to Disciple and Why Our View of Children Should Be Elevated

Readers often challenge me with questions/comments that I need to ponder seriously.  They are questions that matter, I am thankful for them and they need to be answered.

“Kelly, you seem to elevate this topic over the others…”

“Kelly, why do you interfere in personal matters?”

“Kelly, why don’t you just live and not talk about these things, and let the Holy Spirit work as he wishes?”

The Lord providentially brought this message by Dr. Voddie Baucham into my hearing (without my looking for answers), and I could barely contain the outpouring of my soul about “why” indeed, I am compelled to talk about the things I do.  In his profound message lies the answer.

Just personal matters?

It’s interesting that all throughout Scripture, instruction was given to the people of God as a group–a body.   Suffice it to say, our personal choices profoundly affect the “body”.  We are not separate entities, no more than your arm is separate from the rest of your body.  And while it is true, each man will stand or fall before the Judge, as Christians, it would be naive to assume that the body will not suffer if its members have a skewed, biblical world-view.  This, I believe, is the reason that Paul so carefully instructed Titus to “teach sound doctrine”; specifically as it relates to personal, daily living.  It’s the reason God repeatedly sent messengers to instruct His people.  (We are all messengers now.  And I believe our lack of understanding of that has caused the church to indulge in error without check.  We no longer “admonish one another” or check each other–which is why I said I’m thankful for the above questions and challenges some readers are willing to make.)

Why do I seem to elevate some topics?

The topic of children has mainly been the brunt of this comment.  It is important to understand a few things…one, I don’t discuss matters of salvation much here–admittedly the most important topic–because my blog is directed toward believers.  Hopefully, we’re beyond the fundamentals.

Secondly, I think few people realize how profoundly important our view of children is to the Kingdom work of Christ.  I truly believe a wrong view of children is one of the foundational errors in the church and has had enormous implications for our evangelism and spreading of the gospel.  We like to think it’s an isolated issue of privacy, irrelevant to anything spiritual.  And as Dr. Baucham so passionately articulates in his message,  nothing could be farther from the truth.  God has written in our very bodies His will for us concerning children.  He didn’t even have to mention it in Scripture, yet He continued to reinforce the importance of a right view of children.  Forget the details! They are so often what create the controversy during these debates.  The details can, indeed, be left for individuals to make choices regarding their family’s circumstances.  But let’s get our over-arching view of children right, consistent with God’s view of children! After that, the details are going to work themselves out.  I’ll let Dr. Baucham “bring it home”

His message–if we could just get this one thing– would radically change the face of our culture.  It’s big, ladies, it’s big!!!  Perhaps the family could gather around and listen during family time, but whatever you do, make time for you and your husband to listen to this 20 minute message.  Then pass it on!  It is so passionate, so encouraging and it’ll make ya wanna shout!

Dr. Voddie Baucham’s message:

The Centrality of the Home in the Evangelism and Discipleship of the Next Generation

What Does the School Bus Have to Do With the Future of American Healthcare?

“One of the mantras we hear repeatedly these days is, “we don’t want socialism.”  While that sounds good (and conservative, and constitutional, and patriotic, etc.), it rings hollow when you consider the overwhelming majority of the people leading the charge have their children in what amounts to socialized education.  What’s the difference?  If you’re really against government-run, socialized programs, yank your kid off the yellow prison bus and just say no.”

Read the rest of  The Yellow Prison Bus and the Future of American Healthcare

Top 5 Reasons Not to Send Your Kids Back to Gov’t School: Baucham

Because I love God’s people…because I’m heart-broken over the constant news of God’s people losing their children, or raising spiritually impotent ones…because I believe there is clarity from Scripture about the responsibility of Christian parents….and because I would betray my conscience to refrain from speaking.

Voddie Baucham posted a poignant look at public school and the Christian’s responsibility…it’s worth clicking the link at the bottom to read in its entirety.

Please know that though this topic is sure to arouse anger and the accusations that I’m so accustomed to, I post in humility and love…love could be the only possible reason I would dare to subject myself to the persecution to come.

“Jesus made it quite clear when he said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Matthew 12:30 ESV)  I am amazed at how many Christians refuse to acknowledge this fact as it relates to the government school system.  Our education is either based on biblical truth, or some other truth.  There is no such thing as neutrality in this regard.  All education is religious in nature.  Since it is illegal for students in our government schools to be taught from a Christian perspective, then it follows that they must be taught from a non (or anti) Christian perspective….

According to the common refrain, “It doesn’t matter what educational choice you make… you just have to pray about it and do what the Lord leads your family to do.” However, I must confess I find this this concept disturbing on a number of fronts.  First, this kind of thinking denies the sufficiency of Scripture.  The Bible speaks either directly, or principally to every aspect of life.  There are no grey areas.  Sure, there are things that are difficult to discern, but education is not one of them.”    -Voddie Baucham

Top 5 Reasons Not to Send Your Kids Back to Gov’t School

True Grace Includes Brokenness: Voddie Baucham

I have loved this message by Voddie Baucham that our family listened to together again this morning (we are battling the stomach virus–I know, perfect timing, huh?)

I’m posting one of 6 clips…I highly recommend listening to the whole message–so very powerful.

I’ll preface this clip with the gist of Dr. Baucham’s message, so in need of hearing today…warning, it’s counter-”Christian”-culture:

He says in the first clip:

“There is a great tragedy afoot in our culture, and the great tragedy is this: we believe that all discomfort is problematic; that there is no room for it in our culture….we avoid brokenness, but it’s not just out there, it’s also in the church…there’s a new movement that says ‘When you come to Christ, there is no need for brokenness…in fact, there’s no need for brokenness before you come to Christ’.”

He reveals that the “new brand” of Christianity tells people that God doesn’t want them to feel bad (after all, “there is therefore now no condemnation to him who is in Christ Jesus”) over their sin. However, the Bible speaks volumes about the “appropriateness” of brokenness over our sin.  It is both needful and right for us to recognize how depraved we are without Christ (and no, we are now no longer condemned eternally), and to remember the stain that sin leaves.  God allows the scars of our sins to remain to cause us to continue to hate it and strive to avoid it.

David cried out, a whole year after his affair with Bathsheba,

“Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.”

“God breaks us in order to remake us“, Baucham said.  And when we buy this gospel of “God doesn’t want me to feel bad about my sin” we buy a word that is not of God.

Jesus Christ came to forgive sins; but He leaves their memory with us so that we never want to go back.

“We Despise Children”…Closing the Generation Gap–Dr. Voddie Baucham

Several years ago,  Amy from Humble Musings posted about a sermon Voddie Baucham preached to the Southern Baptist Convention.  (The link she had to the message didn’t take me to it–go HERE and click on “March–Voddie Baucham)

“All I can think to say is, I can’t believe he got away with it. If you are pressed for time, at least listen from 25 minutes until the end. He speaks on the state of the Church and how to close the generation gap.”  -Amy Scott

Of course you know how much I respect and admire the boldness and truth-speaking of Dr. Baucham, so I take any opportunity I find to point to him.  I’ve heard part of this message before and it just makes me want to shout.  Oh that more godly men would just speak the truth and not worry about its popularity…just as our Savior did.

“We despise children in the Southern Baptist Convention.” -Voddie Baucham

Oh dear sisters, call your husbands and children around and listen to this message.

Baucham: What’s Wrong With the World–The Supremacy of Christ