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It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that no family member turns away from the Lord.
TO BE PLACED as a leader—whether of a country, a company, or a small organization—is indeed a great honor. However, with this blessing and trust comes something even greater: the responsibility to not only take care of, protect, and provide for the needs of that group but also to guide them towards the realization of that group’s goals and objectives, which include those pertaining to every individual member.
One of the objectives given by God to His servant Moses as the leader of ancient Israel, in addition to teaching them His words, was to “Make sure there is no man, woman, family, or tribe … who turns from … God” (Deut. 29:18 God’s Word).
In God’s nation today, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ), Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, the Executive Minister, is doing his absolute best to ensure that this commandment of God for all individuals and families to never turn away from Him be carried out. Through the worship service lessons he outlines and even personally preaches on a regular basis, he constantly exhorts us to hold firmly on our divine election and the promised salvation. By assigning ministers, ministerial workers, and officers in every local congregation throughout the world, he ensures that there are those who ably guide and advise all of us. In addition, our Executive Minister launches initiatives to keep us engaged in our services to God through the Christian Family Organizations (CFO) office, which, for 15 years now, has been under the stewardship of the CFO Coordinator, Brother Angelo Eraño V. Manalo.
However, it is not the responsibility, solely, of the Church Administration to ensure that all members and families never turn away from God. That responsibility also rests upon the parents or heads of families (Eph. 6:4).
Parents must be the first to have that unwavering conviction to serve God and to lead the members of their family in doing the same, just as Joshua declared:
“But if you don’t want to worship the Lord, then choose right now! Will you worship the same idols your ancestors did? Or since you’re living on land that once belonged to the Amorites, maybe you’ll worship their gods. I won’t. My family and I are going to worship and obey the Lord!” (Josh. 24:15 Contemporary English Version)
A most effective way of leading, especially young children, is by example. It is not enough to merely tell them what should be done. Parents must become what they want to see in their children. They should practice what they teach.
Noah is a great example in leading his family in obedience to God’s commands, one of which is to enter the ark for their salvation:
“… So gather your family, and all of you into the boat. … Noah did everything the Lord told him to do. … He and his family went into the boat to be saved from the flood …” (Gen. 7:1, 5, 7 Easy-to-Read Version)
We know that God sent a great flood to destroy the ancient world. But before that, He gave an instruction to Noah so that he and his family would be able to escape destruction and death. Because Noah took the command seriously and obeyed it, his family followed his lead, and as a result, they were all blessed and brought to safety.
Like Noah, to lead our family and children to salvation is the greatest gift we should ever pass on to them. We can do this by leading them to remain inside the Church Of Christ (John 15:4–6 New Living Translation) because by virtue of our membership in the Church, we have been reconciled with God, and will escape the fiery destruction come the Day of Judgment (Rom. 5:9 Amplified Bible). Parents must ensure that their children’s membership in the Church is a lifelong one.
How can parents make sure that their family remains in this relationship with God? This was what God expected of Abraham, one of His early servants:
“I have chosen him for a reason, namely that he will carefully instruct his children and his household to keep themselves strong in relationship to Me and to walk in My ways by doing what is good and right in the world and by showing mercy and justice to all others …” (Gen. 18:19 The Voice)
Strengthening our family’s relationship with God is vital for us to remain loyal to Him. This bond with God will be strengthened by ensuring that every member of the household walks in His ways and does what is good and right. But what is the “good and right” that should be taught by parents?
Sadly, a popular but skewed concept of what is right is being used by many parents today to advise their children: “If it makes you happy, it feels right, and you are not hurting anyone, then that is good.” Others blindly stick to the culture or tradition they and their children were born and raised in as what is good and right.
According to Romans 7:12, the law of God recorded in the Holy Scriptures is good and right and this is what should serve as the guide for parents in training and teaching their children.
What does the Bible give as examples of what should not be practiced by true Christians for them to remain living by what is good and right? Apostle Paul enumerated, thus:
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Cor. 6:9–10 New International Version)
Today, these prohibitions mentioned by Apostle Paul may be deemed outdated, archaic, and even politically incorrect by the standards of the world. But for true Christians, these laws of God continuously serve as the foundation of morality and, thus, a guide for parents in raising their children. Parents must warn their children against sexual immorality such as casual sexual relationships or relationships outside marriage, or homosexual or same-sex relationships, which are all popular and trendy today. Church members must also heed the biblical prohibition to engage in romantic relationships and marriage with those who do not belong amongst the true believers or members of the Church Of Christ (II Cor. 6:14–15 Lamsa Translation).
Parents must also teach their children about the prohibition and the dangers of getting drunk or the consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs. While the value of hard work and having dreams and ambitions must be taught to children, yet they must be trained to never be tempted to break the law or cheat anyone to make money.
What if a parent fails to teach the children these commands, to correct and discipline, or worse still, condones and puts up with their wrongdoings? In I Samuel 3:13, God said of Eli, an Israelite priest in ancient Israel, that his children had disrespected God through their disgraceful actions and he did not restrain or discipline them. Because of this, God meted out punishment upon his family.
It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that no family member turns away from the Lord. Although it may be difficult to see our children hurting or crying when we correct or discipline them, correction is absolutely necessary for them to learn, for their own welfare. True love and concern for our children is to warn them of and not do things that will harm them in the long term and damage their relationship with God, regardless of the immediate discomfort that correction may bring. To neglect such a duty for whatever reason is doing our children a great harm and disservice as it will surely lead them to turn away from God.
But we have to remember, we may teach and discipline all we want, but if we as parents are the ones seen by them going against what we are teaching, anything we say and do to correct them will have no effect at all. Parents should be seen to believe in what they are teaching and there is no better proof than putting what we believe into practice.
Another way parents can lead their children in being close to God is by encouraging every one of them to hold a duty in the Church, just like the family of Stephanas:
“You know that the family of Stephanas was the first family to be won for Christ in Greece. This family has devoted itself to serving God’s people. So I encourage you, brothers and sisters, to follow the example of people like these and anyone else who shares their labor and hard work.” (I Cor. 16:15–16 gw)
Yes, all parents want their children to succeed in their studies and reach their career goals, but we should remind them that it should never be at the expense of their services to God. Parents should instill in their children that their Church duty is their real treasure and that any success in the academic or corporate world achieved as a result of abandoning God will be meaningless. It is the performance of their Church duties and responsibilities that will lead them to true success, peace, and prosperity.
Apostle Paul, through the example of Timothy’s family, made it clear about what parents do when they bring up their children in obedience to God’s commands, in active worship service, and in taking up duties in the Church:
“… I’m filled with joy as I think of your strong faith that was passed down through your family line. It began with your grandmother Lois, who passed it on to your dear mother, Eunice. And it’s clear that you too are following in the footsteps of their godly example.” (II Tim 1:4–5 The Passion New Testament)
Despite his young age, Timothy was a loyal and dedicated member of the Church and a good helper of Apostle Paul in the work of the Church. This was because of his strong faith that was passed down through his family line. Today, many Church Of Christ parents imitate this by teaching their children from a young age to be active in attending worship services, to take up offices in the Church, and to live by the biblical teachings upheld in the Church.
But, despite our best efforts, there is only so much we can do especially during these difficult times and could not be with our children all the time because of other essential concerns. At the end of the day, we must leave it all in the hands of God and the best way we can do this is by sincerely seeking His blessings upon our family during our personal and family devotional prayers, just as the prayer of one of His servants of old:
“Lord my Master, you are God. And I can trust the things you say. And you said that these good things will happen to me, your servant Now please, bless my family. Let them stand before you (and serve you) forever. Lord my Master, you yourself said these things. You yourself blessed my family with a blessing that will continue forever.” (II Sam 7:28–29 etrv)
God willing, all Christian parents will be able to fulfill this sacred task in leading our families in remaining faithful and in finishing our race. This is what we should include in our prayers, so we can rest assured that when our time does come to leave behind our children, we can be confident that whatever they go through in the future, they will remain true and loyal in the faith and finish their race:
“Sovereign Lord, I put my hope in you; I have trusted in you since I was young. I have relied on you all my life; you have protected me since the day I was born. I will always praise you. … And now that I am old and gray, don’t forsake me. Give me time to tell this new generation (and their children too) about all your mighty miracles. … I will tell people how good you are. I will tell about the times you saved me—That has happened too many times to count.” (Ps. 71:5–6 Good News Bible, 18 Living Bible, 15 etrv)
