Christian churches are losing the children that grow up in them to a world of smoke of mirrors. What our children see is a world filled with pleasures but so many of those pleasures turn out to be traps. Ours is a world filled with violence, pornography and meaningless lives. There are forces capable of saving our children from the world but many are failing for lack of knowledge. Churches have failed for the most part, but churches are built on the foundation of solid familes. The greatest influence in a childs life are are his or her parents. Below are recommendations dedicated to those whose job is to raise the children of God....the parents who love their children.
1. Set them the right example of a man or woman of faith. Don't tell them one thing and do something else. Even at a very young age they will be watching you as parents. They will be learning how to be a man or woman and how men and women interact from you. Let them see how the Holy Spirit works in your life to change who you are...
2. Be honest and straight with them. Let them know what you believe and why. Don't try to hide the realities of life from them. This is especially important in matters of money, sex, drugs, alcohol, tobacco...etc. Don't put your own head in the sand! If they don't learn them from you...they will from someone else.
3. Get involved with your children's lives. Go to their sporting events and school shows. Show them you care. Know who their friends are...(That is very important!) Eat dinner with your children and talk about your day.
4. Let your children know you believe in them. Let them know their ideas and opinions are important to you...that they matter. If they don't know you believe in them...they will find someone who does, and that will make them susceptible to being manipulated.
5. As they grow older, let them make more and more decisions for themselves. They need the experience of making their own decisions to become responsible adults. You'll show them you respect them as responsible and you'll build a bond of trust with them.
6. When you have to correct them, make the punishment fit the crime. First, make sure they know what you expect of them. Only then will you be justified in any punishment. Ask them how they should be punished. Many times they will be harder on themselves than you would have been. (Only an openly rebellious spirit should merit corporal punishment.)
7. Pick your battles with them...don't fight over every little point.
8. Establish a merit system for them. Don't just punish bad behavior, reward good behavior and encourage it. Let them know when they've done something that makes you proud or happy.
9. Be as concerned with what goes into your children's minds as what goes into their bodies. The Internet is an ocean filled with reefs of pornographic and violent images. Television is little better. Know what is going into their minds from these sources and from their school.
10. Limit their use of video games and other modern electronic devices. There is an element of addiction that is only beginning to be understood about using new technologies. There is also a link between Attention Deficit Disorder and computer use that is only beginning to be explored.
11. Pray with your children. Let them see you are honest with God during your prayers
12. Institute a family night once a week. Turn off the TV and the video games. Play board games. Talk to each other. Make it a fun time that they look forward to...not a burden to bear.
13. Get the men and women, and their families, in the local churches involved with preaching the Gospel and carrying it on. Set up a system for older members to visit newer families once a month to teach and discuss church doctrines. (This will be the equivalent of a family night for your spiritual family.)
14. Get them involved with the church. Youth programs are great but unfeasible in every church. Institute a kind of mini-missionary program where the children are involved with carrying out the great commission. Use your imagination!!
15. Always...ask for Gods guidance.
