Last night my wife and I conducted a family huddle as a time of reflection on some important issues. What drove the need for such a meeting was a conversation that took place at church, specifically a topic that as of today has vaulted yet again to the top of the news headlines – homosexuality and same-sex marriage. I am quite thankful that the youth pastor chose to discuss this with the middle school kids so many kudos to him for having the courage and foresight to explain to these impressionable young minds what God has to say about that particular topic.
It was the response provided by our daughter and her questions about homosexuality and why it is even a big deal worthy of discussion that resulted in the need to have our little family huddle last night. As believers, we have made the declaration that we are on God’s team. Making such a declaration has some major ramifications regarding how we view life and the world we live in. The playbook if you will that believers must follow, if they truly are on God’s team is of course the Bible. In Scripture, God has provided us the rules for life. We are to play by those rules and only by those rules.
When it comes to an issue such as homosexuality, our daughter inquired why it was so wrong given those people love each other. This was an honest question that deserved an equally honest answer. The world operates by a playbook that has a completely different definition of love from that which is noted in God’s playbook (Scripture). In relation to love within a relationship, the expression of love, especially when it comes to matters of a sexual nature is to be experienced and demonstrated only within the confines of the covenant of marriage and only between a man and a woman. Anything outside of that framework is not an activity that is aligned with God’s playbook. Actions not in keeping with God’s playbook are considered sin and thus are an abomination in the sight of God.
We live in a society that increasingly embraces actions that are an abomination to God. Our world is one that repeatedly thumbs their nose at God’s playbook. Holiness is a product of a by-gone era that has been replaced by everyone doing what is right in their own eyes. The influence on our youth in particular of this do whatever you want and whatever makes you happy is tremendous. It can be observed in music, clothing, movies, books, all throughout social media, on the back of the bus, and the list goes on and on and on.
As a parent, I am keenly aware of these influences. It is becoming increasingly important to have these regular family huddles as it seems each and every day there is something that needs to be discussed. These teaching points and opportunities are highly important and cannot be ignored. We are commanded in Scripture to do the following:
“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons 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.” (Deut. 6:6-7)
What are these words God is talking about? “These words” refers to God’s playbook – His word. Parents are to teach God’s playbook to their children diligently. This of course requires that parents are themselves familiar with God’s Word in order to effectively speak to their children of what God has said in His Word. To speak with your children about a matter such as why homosexuality is wrong without spending time in God’s Word understanding why God says it is wrong is akin to thinking you can pick up a football for the first time ever in your life and throw a winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. It just does not work that way. Teaching your children diligently about God’s Word requires you to be in God’s Word diligently. The two go hand in hand.
If we claim to be on God’s team we must follow His playbook. This will become increasingly difficult as the world around us continues to spiral out of control and down a path that is farther and farther away from the straight and narrow path of righteousness. The allure of sin is subtle and deadly, both for us as adults and even more so for our children. If you are a parent and you have been sitting on the sidelines of late and not spending dedicated time with your children teaching them God’s playbook, the time for you to get in the game is now. The world is in a full court press and the enemy is launching a full out blitz on our children. If we are not grounded in God’s playbook and if we are not teaching our children how to be grounded in God’s playbook, we will have no foundation upon which to weather the storm of the world’s attacks. If we are not donning the full armor of God and not teaching our children how to put on this armor, we will quite frankly be in serious trouble.
Parents – get in the game I beg you. Trust me that I am speaking to myself. Our children will not learn God’s playbook by osmosis and simply attending youth group once or twice a week is not enough for their spiritual growth. Praise God for the godly youth pastors who have dedicated their lives to investing in our youth. With that said, the true responsibility for raising children rests with the parents. If you claim to be on God’s team parents, you must recognize that God calls and demands parents to teach their children God’s playbook. Do not shirk that responsibility.
It might be time for you to have your own family huddle. Break out the whiteboard, a sheet of paper, or simply have a conversation about what is going on in the world or what is going on in the life of your child. Have an open, honest, and frank discussion with your children. Most importantly, share with them from the pages of God’s playbook the winning plays of holiness, righteousness, and godly living. Make it a point to show the vast differences between how the world operates (i.e. their playbook) and what God desires. Pray with your children and for your children. Parenting is not easy, a truth I am realizing more and more in recent weeks. However, it is a responsibility we must take on with every fiber of our being through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The recent Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage might be a good place to start regarding explaining to your children what God’s playbook says concerning proper male/female relationships. The world is celebrating this decision and there is no doubt your child, especially if they are connected to social media is seeing post after post or tweet after tweet glorifying this decision as a win for marriage equality. Use this opportunity to talk with your children about this issue, why the world’s celebration and glorification of same-sex marriage is wrong and why God’s way is the best way.
Parents – get in the game! Your children deserve it and God commands it.