XTC: "No Thugs in Our House"

This New Wave band from England weren't very famous out of their own country but they did have a few North American hits. Some of them were quite thought provoking. Hear one of that kind here.

Unlike those parents in the song who figured their boy could do no wrong, God expects parents to be critically involved with their children. As Proverbs 22:6 (Bible in Basic English) reminds us, "If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it."

Teaching youngsters the ways of God must be a constant effort. As Deuteronomy 6:6 and 7 (BBE) also reminds us, "Keep these words, which I say to you this day, deep in your hearts; Teaching them to your children with all care, talking of them when you are at rest in your house or walking by the way, when you go to sleep and when you get up."

And unlike the prevailing attitude of people today, Psalm 127:3 and 4 (BBE) says, "See, sons are a heritage from the Lord; the fruit of the body is his reward. Like arrows in the hand of a man of war, are the children of the young."

And to keep them from going astray, parents need to discipline children. As Proverbs 20:15 (BBE) says, "Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him."

To modern people, this sounds cruel. Even so, Proverbs 29:15 (BBE) tells us why children need correction. "The rod and sharp words give wisdom: but a child who is not guided is a cause of shame to his mother."

Likewise, spiritual children also need the example of godly parents, as 1 Timothy 3:14 and 15 (BBE) demonstrates. "But see that you keep to the teaching you have been given and the things of which you are certain, conscious of who has been your teacher; And that from the time when you were a child, you have had knowledge of the holy Writings, which are able to make you wise to salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus."

If Christ hasn't come for us by New Year's Eve, I hope to have a post published about the future and who is in charge of it.

Social Distortion: "Mommy's Little Monster"

This punk rock band made a lot of sense with this song. Some children do grow up wild and flout authority. If you're not afraid, listen to this live performance here.

These rebellious children are aptly described in Romans 1:28-32 (Bible in Basic English). "And because they had not the mind to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them up to an evil mind, to do those things which are not right; Being full of all wrongdoing, evil, desire for the goods of others, hate, envy, putting to death, fighting, deceit, cruel ways, evil talk, and false statements about others; Hated by God, full of pride, without respect, full of loud talk, given to evil inventions, not honouring father or mother, Without knowledge, not true to their undertakings, unkind, having no mercy: Who, though they have knowledge of the law of God, that the fate of those who do these things is death, not only go on doing these things themselves, but give approval to those who do them."

This might sound harsh to our modern ears but the type of kids mentioned in the song would have been put to death in Moses' time. Deuteronomy 21:18 (BBE) explains how seriously the Lord took rebellion. "If a man has a son who is hard-hearted and uncontrolled, who gives no attention to the voice of his father and mother, and will not be ruled by them, though they give him punishment: Then let his father and mother take him to the responsible men of the town, to the public place; And say to them, 'This son of ours is hard-hearted and uncontrolled, he will not give attention to us; he gives himself up to pleasure and strong drink.' Then he is to be stoned to death by all the men of the town: so you are to put away the evil from among you; and all Israel, hearing of it, will be full of fear."

I know that not all children grow up to be responsible adults. Even so, what Solomon said in Proverbs 22:6 (BBE) is generally true. "If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it."

Often times, these wild children need to suffer their consequences. In what people call the story of the prodigal son, Luke 15:17-19 (BBE) reads, "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'What numbers of my father's servants have bread enough, and more, while I am near to death here through need of food! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have done wrong, against heaven and in your eyes: I am no longer good enough to be named your son: make me like one of your servants."'"

If Christ hasn't returned for his sometimes-prodigal children by Thursday, I hope to publish about a rock 'n' roll revivalist and our temporary bodies.

Harry Chapin, Cat's in the Cradle

This song is about parental modeling. Like it or not, children copy their parents. Harry Chapin tells the story of a man whose boy grew up just like his absent father. Check it out here.

Though some children don't grow up to copy their parents, Proverbs 22:6 (Bible in Basic English) is generally true. "If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it."

It seems to me also that it's easier to go astray than to stick to good examples which our parents teach us. Eli's two sons were one example, as 1 Samuel 2:12-14 (BBE) shows us. "Now the sons of Eli were evil and good-for-nothing men, having no knowledge of the Lord. And the priests' way with the people was this: when any man made an offering, the priest's servant came while the flesh was being cooked, having in his hand a meat-hook with three teeth; This he put into the pot, and everything which came up on the hook the priest took for himself. This they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there."

If Ely had removed his wicked sons from being priests, 1 Samuel 4:10 and 11 (BBE) might never have happened. "So the Philistines went to the fight, and Israel was overcome, and every man went in flight to his tent: and great was the destruction, for thirty thousand footmen of Israel were put to the sword. And the ark of God was taken; and Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were put to the sword." Ponder that!

David is another biblical example of poor parenting. With his many wives and his rape of Bathsheba, it's no wonder his family had so many troubles. It would take too long to list them all here.

Even Abram had difficulties when he tried to rush God's plan through getting Hagar pregnant. As Genesis 21:12 and 13 (BBE) shows, it caused him grief but God blessed Ishmael anyway. "But God said, 'Let it not be a grief to you because of the boy and Hagar his mother; give ear to whatever Sarah says to you, because it is from Isaac that your seed will take its name. And I will make a nation of the son of your servant-woman, because he is your seed.'"

So if our heavenly Father, whose example we must follow, hasn't sent Jesus by Saturday, I hope to post about angry people head-butting their way through life.

Raising Children is a Ministry

Another problem evangelicals have is the misunderstanding about what ministry is. We often elevate missionaries to a special class while considering staying home and raising children to be less important. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Holy Scripture is filled with admonitions regarding the value of family in shaping future citizens. Psalms 128:3 and 4 (BBE) is one of these passages showing how godly families will be blessed. "Your wife will be like a fertile vine in the inmost parts of your house: your children will be like olive plants round your table. See! this is the blessing of the worshipper of the Lord."

And as we read in Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) godly parenting generally results in godly adults. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

We also understand how beneficial it is to be a law-abiding person. Proverbs 28:7 (BBE) tells us, "He who keeps the law is a wise son, but he who keeps company with feasters puts shame on his father."

Teaching children to be industrious also produces hard-working adults. As Proverbs 10:5 (BBE) reminds us, "He who in summer gets together his store is a son who does wisely; but he who takes his rest when the grain is being cut is a son causing shame."

Training children how to read the Bible also helps them prosper. Though Joshua 1:8 (BBE) was given to the Israelites, we also benefit by heeding its command. "Let this book of the law be ever on your lips and in your thoughts day and night, so that you may keep with care everything in it; then a blessing will be on all your way, and you will do well."

Paul also pointed out how a godly lineage gave his son-in-the-faith his ready acceptance of God's Word. We read in 2 Timothy 1:5 and 6 (BBE) that, "Having in mind your true faith, which first was in your mother's mother Lois, and in your mother Eunice, and, I am certain, is now in you. For this reason I say to you, Let that grace of God which is in you, given to you by my hands, have living power."

I could point out more verses showing how being a mere parent, as some folks think, is an important ministry. Parents needn't feel inferior to missionaries because they aren't in some far-flung land. They have a captive audience to evangelize.

On Saturday, I'll post about small town life and how these places are dying out in North America.