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College is Troubling Many of our Young Adults

4/29/2017

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The college and university campuses of America are harming many young adults in an alarming fashion.  I really urge you to read this article on the subject.

If you are contemplating a four year experience on the campus of a state run school I would advise you to drop the idea completely.  I would urge you to attend a Christian college if at all possible, especially if you are only 18.  Perhaps an older adult (23 or older) could manage if they are NOT living on campus.

However, under any circumstance the current culture of our universities and colleges will chew you up and spit you out spiritually if there is no real substance to your faith.  My advice is to focus on training in the Christian faith first with as much career preparation as possible at a Christian college, then with a bit more maturity under your belt if additional training is necessary at a state school you will be prepared.

This is a serious matter.  Inviting the ungodly to "train" our Christian youth in philosophy is NOT biblical!  Education that does not honor the Lord, that does not teach the fear of the Lord, and which is not centered upon the Lord Jesus Christ is NOT acceptable for Christian youth of any age.

When we couple together a godless K-12 experience with four or more years of additional godless instruction that at the college level makes no pretense of hiding animosity toward Christianity the fruit is exactly what we find discussed in this eye opening
article.
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How to Develop a Biblical Worldview in the Heart and Mind of Your Children

4/8/2017

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All the research coming across my desk indicates that the church in America has a unique problem that other generations did not face in the same way.

While the necessity of evangelism has always existed past generations of Americans generally possessed a basic biblical worldview formed by their common Christian experiences at home, church, and in the schools.

But all of that has changed radically the past 50 years in America.  The sore neglect of Christian education in our homes, churches, and especially our schools is now becoming quite apparent.

Please review this article to get a taste of exactly what is going on in our younger generations.  It is alarming.  If these trends continue in America this nation will be just as secularized as Great Britain in not more than the next 50 years!

Just exactly what can be done about it?  I make no apology for this statement:  the only thing that can be done about it is for millions of professed Christians to separate their children unto the Lord and see to it that they actually develop a Biblical worldview!

To counter this trend the Christian community must make it their business to evangelize their own children!  Millions of Christian youth CAN be raised to fear the Lord and they CAN develop a Biblical worldview that will function as a counter cultural influence that stops America's downward spiral into a tyrannical secular state.

But it must be done one family at a time.  Here is a brief outline on how you can develop a Biblical worldview in the heart and mind of your own children:

​- Put Christ in your home life!  How?  Home life should include a meaningful church life.  Raise them in a Bible believing church which you actually attend faithfully.  Next, conduct actual family devotions and READ the Bible aloud together.  Next, pray together as a family.  Next, strive for consistency on each of these points.

- Separate your children from the world!  How?  This does not mean isolation from interaction, but it does mean separation from undo influence.  Control the outside influences that come into your home like entertainment and technology.  Pursue godly standards in what your children consume.  

Next, guide your children into good books and good music.  Godliness in both must be pursued.

Next, immerse your children in a godly educational atmosphere by home schooling or in a private, Christian school assuming one is available.  Remember, your school choice is a 15,000 hour decision!  Instructional time at a government school dwarfs both the home and the church combined.  Shall we continue to hand off the formative years of our child's heart and mind to an ungodly system?  Why lose the opportunity to develop a Christian mindset?

The battle for the hearts and minds of our youth is real and always has been.  Certainly, America has never seen 100% of its citizens embrace Christianity.  However, at one time America was definitely governed by those possessing a Biblical worldview.  That was back in the day when the Christian community would not stand for no prayer, no Bible reading, and no Christianity in the school room.  

Perhaps we will yet see a revival in the professing church that is deep enough to compel those flying under the banner of Christianity to actually live like Christians.  In the mean time, take care of your own house!  Come out from among the world and focus on the only thing that really matters--the salvation of our own children.


 
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Pastor to Parent:  Music Matters

4/1/2017

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Music has power.

It has the power to teach.  It has the power to shape.  It has the power to communicate the values of an entire subculture that exists within a nation.

Do you allow the world's music to teach, shape, and communicate an ungodly worldview to the heart and mind of your children?

​This is an important question.  I believe strongly that parents should raise their children exclusively on Christian music.  Make it your business to develop in them the habit of listening to Christian music and simply do not allow them to listen to secular artists.

Now for sure your children are going to know plenty about pop artists pretty much by default.  They see news in one way or the other.  However, they do not need to be familiar with the world's music by virtue of buying it, downloading it, or consuming videos of it on a consistent, regular basis.

Here are a few things to keep in mind from Scripture:

Evil companionship corrupts good manners (1 Cor. 15:33).  Music has the power to "undo" the spiritual training you are investing in your children.  See to it that they have the right influences in their life.  Ungodly artists will not lead our children in the right direction.

Music should contain pure themes (Phil. 4:8).  Teach your children this principle and maintain the expectation that they conform to it in their music choices.  GUIDE THEM PLEASE!

Music should glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31).  The lyrics and content of various songs should focus on the love of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, Biblical love between a man and woman, etc.  This principle should serve as guidance for both adults and youth in the selection of music.

Purchase, promote, and use Christian music in your home life.  Parents have the power to absolutely set the tone and direction of their family life.  So fill your home with music that exalts the Lord and raise your children on it.

Simultaneously, guard your home and resist the temptation to allow the influence of ungodly music to drift into the life of your children.  Diligence on this point will reward you with one of the great resources that can help you win and train your children in the Christian faith.

I must say that the body of Christ is quite gifted and is truly exalting the Lord in a variety of music genres.  God's people are creating music that is second to none and it is speaking to the issues of life from the power of God's Word. There is really no excuse for Christians young or old to have their mind and heart buried in the world's music.  

So I leave you with this thought connected to the subject of music:  "Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you, And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Cor. 6:17-18).

For one powerful example of new music that can bless your family check out Selah's newest song by clicking here:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9UdI0CXbm0

Keep directing the heart toward the Lord through the power of Christian/gospel music!


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