Worldview and Your Child - A Shout Out to Parents!

Across the country this month thousands of students are stepping across the platform to receive their diplomas. I am in my first year of graduate school and have had my fair share of college experiences. In my college classroom last year I listened as a classmate proposed a solution to the problem of abortion as exploring common ground between the pro-choice and pro-life messages. My own convictions on the subject sent my mind racing. Are beliefs mere preferences to be compromised? What about absolute truth and right and wrong?

Throughout life, and often intensely during the college years, students will encounter a variety of beliefs. As parents, many of you want your children to possess strong faith that actively counters unbiblical thought and action. Intentional worldview training is key to shaping and refining a Christian worldview, particularly important in today’s postmodern culture.

Absolute truth is an unpopular concept. America has strayed from the Judeo-Christian beliefs that once molded the religious and moral convictions of many of its founders, and moral relativism now leads the assumptions about reality. Fewer young people today can say with confidence that Christianity is not only true for them, but ultimate truth for every single man, woman and child.

As parents, you face the challenge of incorporating worldview training into daily life. A biblical framework for viewing life begins with a solid grounding in God’s word. At its heart lie questions of reality, origin, identity, purpose and ethics. The starting point is the objective truth of Jesus Christ. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

In his book entitled How Shall We Now Live?, Charles Colson emphasizes that Christianity is all-encompassing. “We must show the world that Christianity is more than a private belief, more than personal salvation. We must show that it is a comprehensive life system that answers all of humanity’s age-old questions: Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? Does life have any meaning and purpose?”

Teach your children to critically examine the behaviors and beliefs around them and to compare their observations to biblical truth. Engage your children daily in dialogue on cultural topics. My 13-year-old sister looked no farther than her community swim team to face opposing worldviews. She strengthened her own beliefs as she shared her convictions on topics of abortion, homeschooling, traditional marriage and world religions with her pre-teen teammates.

Make biblical worldview a central theme with the books lining your bookshelves and the magazines on your coffee table. Scan the news and discuss current events.

By understanding the times in which we live, having a solid foundation in biblical truth, and possessing the conviction and boldness to articulate their beliefs, your children will not only survive, but confidently live lives that will influence our culture. “[M]en of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32).

How Dare You Celebrate Mother’s Day!?

Ladies, this Sunday much of the world will stop to cherish and celebrate you – women who know the difference between Gerber and Hein, can discern between a cloudy tantrum and a scream of pain and have firsthand knowledge that Hannah Montana’s best friend Lilly does not really have pink hair.

In fact, we are four years shy of celebrating a century of official Mother’s Days here in the U।S. I’m not a mom, but I have one and I’ve hoped that this worthy tradition will last forever. But wait... in the near future we may get our wrists slapped for daring to celebrate your role and contributions as moms. Sweet niblets!

Currently, the U.S. Senate is considering the ratification of a treaty that frowns upon the celebration of motherhood. The Convention on the Elimination on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is termed the “most complete international agreement advancing basic human rights for women” by the National Organization for Women (NOW). Sounds good, right? Before you raise your glass in a toast, take a closer look.

The United Nations committee of 23 “gender experts” under whom nations that ratify CEDAW are accountable, reprimanded Belarus and criticized their celebration of Mother’s Day as a promotion of “sex-role stereotypes” and “women’s traditional roles.” The committee advised Armenia to fight the stereotype of “women in the noble role of mother.” Instead, it has a long history of supporting prostitution, abortion, mandatory sex education and day care - all in the name of gender equality and non-discrimination.

CEDAW establishes that motherhood tends to limit women’s full participation in society. So in return, it works to eliminate the role of the mother. I guess the U.N. never heard that the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. Or is that now a politically-incorrect old wives’ tale?