It Doesn't Take A Village
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when
he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
There is a philosophy that is really popular right now that really upsets and even frightens me. It is the idea that "It Takes A Village" to properly raise a child in today's world.
This idea was introduced in a book by that name by former First Lady Hillary Clinton, who also gave us the Whitewater scandal, and the Rose Law Firm lost papers
scandal, and the Travelgate scandal, and the Savings & Loan Bankruptcy scandal, and the Benghazi scandal, and the Russian hoax scandal.... the list goes on and on. Now,
that's not exactly someone whose advice I'd really value when it comes to teaching children issues such as decency, honesty, and morality! In fact, during her Presidential campaign, she said, and I quote
"And deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.” She believes that Americans must change their religious beliefs to suit her
own moral beliefs - or lack therof!
The general idea is, parents alone cannot adequately rear their own children. Today there are so many single mothers, and so many working mothers, and so many
irresponsible and absentee fathers, and fewer and fewer extended families (grandparents, aunts & uncles) that it IS harder for parents. Like so many other terrible
things, this one seems, at least on the face of it, to be a great, helpful idea. But just like sin, which often presents itself as
both good and good for you, there is wickedness hidden underneath. The proponents of this philosophy feel that the "village" (a.k.a. = the government) should "help"
us raise our children; the problem is, they believe that this gives them the right to
determine what and how our children are taught, and what moral and religious training, if any, they should receive. And if the parents do not get on board with what the village determines is best,
they believe the "village" has the right to over-rule the authority and decisions of the parents.
We have already seen the destructive results when we allow the "village" to determine what our children are taught. Everything from drag queen story hours for pre-schooloers
to encouraging children that they can be any gender they want, or no gender at all.
It is not the responsibility of the "village" to rear our children--- it is ours, plain and simple. The very best environment for any child is a home with two loving parents - a
man and a woman. Children need both the male and the female influence in their lives in order for them to mature properly. Each has a role in how to shape and
mold the child and has different things the child needs to learn to become stable, well-functioning adults.
It is our responsibility - and privilege - to raise our own children according to God's own plan. He gives us clear instructions in His word how
parents are to do that.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when
he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger,
lest they be discouraged. (Collosians 3:21)
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to
wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
And these words, which I command you this day,
shall be in your heart: And you shall teach them
diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house, and when you walk by
the way, and when you lie down, and when you
rise up. ( Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
And all your children shall be taught of the LORD; and
great shall be the peace of your children. (Isaiah 54:1)
There are lots of others verses instructing parents regarding how to bring up their children, but you get the idea. It is a tremendous responsibility, one that we
cannot abdicate to others. Whether we planned them or not,
whatever the circumstances of their birth, our children are a heritage from God, and it is both our privilege and our responsibility to rear them.
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the
fruit of the womb is His reward. (Psalm 127:3)
The worst problem with others helping to rear our children is, WHOSE values are being taught? You can bet that the values Mrs. Clinton and other like-minded
liberals would teach are vastly different that those I would teach my own children. Do I want schools and teachers and groups with a liberal agenda teaching my children right and
wrong? Oh, wait --- According to these liberals, there is no absolute right or wrong, everything is relative! To them, morality depends on your own personal code of
ethics.
That is exactly why today, our sons and daughters can be given forms of birth control in public schools, without the knowledge or consent of the parents.
That is why our daughters can be given abortions,
again without our knowledge and consent. They can be given this terrible surgical procedure with long-term physical and psychological effects, even when they
cannot be given an aspirin without the parent's consent. That is why our children are being taught that homosexuality is not only acceptable, but even
desirable, even though the Almighty God calls it "an abomination". They are taught that God's word is outdated, irrevelent, and contradictory. They are taught
that every person determines right and wrong for themselves, that there are no moral absolutes. Anyone whose moral standards disagree with theirs has to, in
Mrs. Clinton's words, change their deeply seated religious beliefs.
Our children are even being taught in their schools that they can "choose" their own gender - and
teachers and school officials can conspire to keep it secret from the parents. Those parents who disagree and will not fall in line with this insanity are considered
guilty of "child abuse"! We are told we have to allow them to be given dangerous hormones and allow them to undergo hideous surgeries that permanently
mutilate their precious bodies. In some states, the state can remove a minor from the parent's custody in order to allow such atrocities!
This is happening right now in our sad society.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes,
and prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:20-21)
Let's be courageous enough to face the truth: There IS an absolute standard of right and wrong. God set forth HIS standards of
morality in His book. Whether we choose to believe it or not, His words are true, and will stand forever.
So, given that there truly is an absolute standard of right and wrong, why on earth would anyone want to teach their children something else? There is an
underlying purpose for pushing such a false and damaging perversion of truth. They will not be happy until they have disposed of every shred of morality. Then their own wickedness will
not be so evident, if everyone else is wicked also. Evil loves more evil.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things
which are not proper; Being filled with all unrighteousness,
fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full
of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters,
inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without
understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God,
that they who commit such things are worthy of death, not
only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
(Romans 1:28-32)
That is really the heart of the problem: society in general has fallen away from God's word. They call evil good, and good evil.
These people not only commit such sins, they also take great pleasure when others sin also. Especially children. If we fail to teach our children to heed God's words,
our grandchildren probably will never even know of them! As a famous preacher once said, we are never more than one generation away from total apostacy.
The Bible is very clear about children, and about how to
bring them up.We cannot trust the state to teach our children! It does not take a village to bring up a child; it takes loving parents who takes God's word seriously.
We cannot go too far wrong if we live by the standards God sets forth in
His word, and we MUST teach them to our children.
You will therefore keep His statutes, and his commandments,
which I command you this day, that it may go well with you,
and with your children after you, and that you may prolong
your days upon the earth, which the LORD your God gave
you, for ever. (Deuteronomy 4:40)
That seems pretty plain to me. We don't have to be Rhodes scholars to understand God's words. They are very plain and to the point. The Bible says if we keep His
statutes and commandments, things will go well with us, and with our children. That doesn't mean we won't ever have any problems; it's simply saying things always
go better when we do them God's way!
The Bible also instructs us to teach our children - not to rely on the "village" to teach them, but to do it ourselves, do it daily, and do it diligently. Taking them to church is good, but it is not
enough. All training begins in the home, with the parents.
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these
words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart:
And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and
shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when
you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when
you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
So, we as parents are to keep His statutes and commands ourselves, and teach them diligently to our children. We are to realize that our children are precious gifts
from God, not burdens, mistakes, or accidents. And then God has even more advice for rearing our children properly.
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when
he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
It is very important to lay the groundwork while they are very young. We can't wait until a child is facing all the things our public schools will throw at them.
We have to begin in their earliest years, laying a firm foundation for them to build on. We cannot, as so many parents say these days, leave it up to them to make
their own spiritual decisions. We not only abdicate the responsibilities God has given us, we make a terrible and costly mistake that can send our precious children
on a downhill path straight to hell. Yes, it IS that serious! If we neglect to teach them Godliness at home in their formative years, chances are, they will never come to
the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The "village" will see to that.
And while we're on the subject of rearing our children, the Bible also plainly tells us that discipline is very necessary in bringing up children. Discipline is
not abuse. It is not mean, or spiteful; true, Godly discipline is aimed at correction,
not punishment. God disciplines His children, and instructs us to do the same with ours.
Chasten your son while there is hope, and let
not your soul spare for his crying. (Prov. 19:18)
Correct your son, and he shall give you rest; yea,
he shall give delight to your soul. (Prov. 29:17)
He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that
loves him chastens him at times. (Prov. 13:24)
At the same time, the Bible also protects children, warning parents against being harsh dictators, rather than living examples and loving teachers.
"And you fathers, do not provoke your children
to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the LORD." (Ephesians 6:4)
It does not take a village to bring up our children. In fact, if we neglect our parental responsibilities and fail to teach our children Godliness, the village will teach them
ungodliness. We need to be very careful what kind of parents we are. We will, each and every one of us, answer to Him one day. He will not ask how how well the "village"
reared our children; rather, He will ask, did we do our best to "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD". What is your answer going to be?
.....Choose you this day whom ye will
serve.....but as for me and my house,
we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15)
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