OPINION:
In a rapidly changing world where values and worldviews seem to shift like quicksand, it is becoming increasingly important for parents to teach their children and their future grandchildren the fundamental values of the Judeo-Christian worldview. In this day and age where current and modern trends are veering further and further away from truth, parents are challenged to preserve the truth of the Bible and instill it in their Children will living in a rapidly evolving society.
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The Bible is a timeless source of wisdom and truth that has not degraded in value since it was written. If parents and grandparents are to bring down the giant of moral relativism and theological promiscuity, there are five essential pillars they must fight to teach their kids amid a society indoctrinating the very opposite.
Identity
The first of these five pillars are identity. This perhaps is the most fundamental principle for believers to truly understand as it serves as the foundation for their life and their walk with Christ. However, because of its importance, this is also something the enemy has twisted throughout culture and has severely warped.
The world may try to emphasize that one’s identity is found in their sexual orientation, their relationships, their careers, their financial or societal status, and so on, yet, falling into this lie of self-identity only leads to emptiness and a longing for a higher purpose. That is why it is important, now more than ever, for parents to raise their children knowing the truth of their identity.
A child’s identity is preordained by God and discovered in the finished work of Christ. Ephesians 2:10 points to this truth “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
God has designed and defined us, while we were still in our mother’s womb, He knit us together and rooted our identity in Him. Because of this unshifting truth, nothing else in this fallen world can claim one’s identity.
Intimacy
Intimacy is the second pillar. God, the architect of the heavens and the earth, is inviting us to have an intimate relationship with Him.
God is not some distant powerful being that we cannot personally know, He is calling His children into a deep and intimate relationship with Him. When you look at creation, there is no doubt that it points to an intelligent designer, and that same designer has created us to walk in intimacy with Him and follow Him.
Integrity
Integrity is another essential pillar that defines the character of our children. It is imperative that we teach them that integrity means living in truth and with truth.
Parents must raise their kids to be the light in the midst of darkness by speaking truth. Today, there are countless opportunities to follow the desires of your flesh, but we must deny those desires and walk in integrity. We must do what is right even when faced with opposition or obstacles.
Today’s complacency is tomorrow’s captivity. This world is constantly fighting for our attention and trying to draw is in to what it says is right, but if we walk closely with God, then it cannot have a foothold over us or our children. When our integrity is greater than our influence, nothing can stop us.
Influence & Innovation
Influence and innovation are the final two pillars that we must teach our children and instill in them. How we find our identity, walk with integrity, and cultivate our intimate relationship with the Father, will dictate how we exert influence over others.
Christians are called to be positive influencers for the purpose of becoming a blessing to everyone we know and for the purpose of advancing righteousness and justice. The way one can become a positive influence is by innovation. One’s influence can spark content that leads to conversations and conversion experiences which ultimately leads to cultural reformation. Parents must equip cultural reformers to change the world around us. As parents, we are producing new wine skins that are influencing the ever-evolving world with unchanging truth.
The Goliath of lies and deception falls when parents continue instilling the truth of Scripture into their children so that they can lean on it to maintain their biblical worldview in a world that has rejected it. Identity, intimacy, integrity, influence, and innovation – these are the cornerstones that will guide the next generation and equip them to make an impact for the Heavenly Kingdom.
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Samuel Rodriguez Jr. is an Evangelical American Christian leader born to Puerto Rican parents in the United States. He is a pastor, movie producer, author, civil rights activist and television personality. He is the president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.
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