X. — “Children” As Spoken of In Scripture.
THE subject we are about briefly to consider is of peculiar interest to two classes of our readers: those who are parents; and those who have not as yet left the parental roof. An attentive study of the subject as given last month, with a careful weighing of the numerous Scriptures referred to, will prove of great value to suchapter
In our present brief notes, however, we do not feel that we can do more than take up four points; two of which are of special interest to parents, and two to children.
The first is the Scripture quoted at the beginning of the subject, “Thou and thy house.” It is hardly needful for us to run through Scripture to show that both by promise and example God clearly spews that this is His designed order. The children of Christian parents are in a place of special blessing and privilege. Their parents have the above and other Scriptures to rest on, in faith that the same power which saved them will also save their children, it may be, from their earliest years. But the blessing must be waited for in prayer and faith, using all the means possible to set the truth as it is in Jesus before their “house.” These promises are not given to enable us to sit down and fold our hands and say, “Oh, we are Christians, and so our children are sure to be saved,” but to serve as a ground for confiding faith, and as a stimulus to earnest prayer. Moreover, our ways must not contradict our faith and our prayers. It is vain to be crying to God to fit our children for heaven when all our efforts are directed to mere worldly advantages, and tend to make them forget there is a heaven at all.
We must show to God that we are really in earnest about the matter by consulting His glory first in every step that we take for our children’s good. One other way yet remains to further the object we have at hears, and that is our own example. This too must be in keeping with our faith, our prayers, and our precepts. Children will not listen to parents speaking on a subject about which it is plain they care but little themselves, nor will they think much of heavenly blessings if they see their parents entirely absorbed by earthly ones. Children are quick to mark inconsistency in this.
But, on the other hand, those who would realize the promise of “thou and thy house” must remember the when and the how are all in God’s hands. Cramming the young mind with high doctrines, or cultivating a proficiency in discussing dogmas, are often anything but stepping stones to salvation, and in later years frequently bring on a fatal reaction. No harm however can be done by speaking loving words and by sheaving forth Christ Himself, letting His beauty and love find their way to the young heart, and leaving the doctrines to follow in due time.
But we must pass on to our second point, and that is the Scripture alluded to on p. 113—Matthew 18:10-14. This spews two things; first, that children are born lost, but are saved in virtue of Christ’s work. If this were all, then all the world would be saved. But then comes the second point, that too many alas! when old enough reject, instead of accepting, the Savior so freely provided. We are persuaded that there is a time when individual moral responsibility to God begins for every child, the age varying of course with the development.
Before this time they are safe if they die, on the ground of the death of Christ; after this time they are saved or lost according as they accept or reject for themselves the proffered Savior. It is well to remember this, and especially when teaching the very young, for it is clear that those who have never rejected Christ must be on a different ground from those who have.
The two points we would touch on, of interest to those of our readers who are still under the parental roof, are both also under the head of “Children generally.” We find here that children are “exhorted to obey their parents and to obey God.” But the question is often asked by those who have careless or unconverted parents, What am I to do when their commands are directly opposed to God’s? That there are such cases none can deny, but that they are not nearly as common as is supposed, we strongly affirm. The first thing is to see whether God has really commanded what the parent forbids. It will often be found that such is not the case, but the point pressed is merely a question of Christian privilege, which it would be more honoring to God cheerfully to forego than insist on. One point, however, is abundantly clear, that the general obedience of any child who feels obliged to go contrary to his or her parents’ wish, should be perfect, so that it may be evident to them that the disregard of their wishes arises from no spirit of opposition, but from a real exercise of conscience. The love of a truly christian child would also seek to show at such a time the pain felt in having thus to obey God rather than man. W e repeat however that such extreme cases are by no means common. Waiting and prayer will generally break down much opposition, especially if combined with the walk of 1 Peter 3. Unquestionably the first earthly duty of all christian children is obedience to their parent’s wishes. We have had many letters written in deep distress at a supposed necessity to disobey a parent’s wish; but in every case we have counseled patience and prayer, or pointed out that there was no command of God on the subject, and in several cases have been cheered by receiving letters expressing the good results following a truly humble waiting upon God, and increased consistency in general walk.
The last point we would allude to is in 2 Timothy 3:15, the advantage of knowing the Scriptures from a child. The younger our reader is the more earnestly would we press upon him to make scripture increasingly his study. It is a good foundation on which every good work afterward can be built. It is a safeguard against a thousand evils. And when the time of youth is once passed, the mind gradually loses its receptive and retentive capacity, and study of all sorts becomes increasingly difficult. Use then the present golden time to store your mind with good. Jesus has won your heart, that is well. The first thing undoubtedly is to have a full heart, but this is no reason why there should be a empty head; affection is not increased by ignorance, if the one loved be worth knowing, and with Christ this is pre-eminently true. The more we know of Him the more we love Him, and all scripture is full of Him. Let this thought then redouble the ardor and diligence of every member of the Bible Students’ Class, as well as every reader of these pages.