The Shepherd Press Blog

Humanism – Today’s Goliath

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. —2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Young David was undeterred by the huge champion Goliath. Unlike his fellow Israelites, he did not compare Goliath’s size and strength with his own. He compared the strength of Goliath with his God. This comparison gave David the courage to fight for the reputation of God.

The world of biblical parenting is full of modern day Goliaths. The 21^st century thinks it has little need of God. Many attempt to redefine Christianity. Oprah Winfrey recently stated that she has come to see her Christian faith as a faith of feeling rather than believing. Experience and feeling are to be trusted; belief and objective truth are to be abandoned.

From Death to Life

Memorial Day calls Americans to take time to consider the sacrifice that so many have made to allow this country to be free. As the white markers at  Arlington National Cemetery vividly depict, this sacrifice often involves the  loss of life. It is no small thing to give one's life that others may benefit. Certainly, those in the military should be appreciated for their willingness to make this sacrifice. This holiday is a reminder that there is more to life than living.

God calls his people to consider him first in this life. This means putting aside your own desires and embracing God’s ways. In one sense this is also a sacrifice, as Jesus says in Matthew 16. Raising children involves much sacrifice. But this sacrifice must be for God’s sake, not primarily for the sake of your children. Parents, to be faithful shepherds you must be willing to lose your life for the glory of God. By being willing to lose your life you are then able to take hold of life that is truly life. It is this singular vision that speaks powerfully to your children about your love for Jesus Christ.

The ultimate remembrance for Christians is the life, death and resurrection of Christ. His death brought life and purpose to our lost souls. So while our nation sets aside a day each year to remember the deaths of those serving in battle, as Christians, each day should be a memorial day. Each day we should remember the sacrifice made for us so that we might live for the glory of God. We are not our own.

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. — Matthew 16:25

Gratitude

I am grateful to you, the readers of this blog, for your participation in this new online community. Biblical parenting is both challenging and rewarding. This blog is one way to find encouragement as you face the challenges of addressing more than outward behavior in raising your children. Your reading of the blog and your comments are certainly an encouragement to me. Please continue to pray that God would richly bless our efforts to shepherd our children to love Jesus Christ deeply from the heart.

Raising Davids

Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? I Samuel 17:26

Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." I Samuel 17:36-37

It is possible that after these last few posts some of you may be thinking that I have a problem with the news media. Actually, my purpose is to encourage families to recognize God for who he is and raise their children accordingly. Christians must care deeply about the reputation of God—the glory of God—and how we add or detract from that reputation in our daily lives. (See Ezek. 36:16-36.) On the one hand, God is certainly not in need of our recognition. On the other hand, you and your children were designed by God to live for his glory and bring honor to his name. That is what it means to have a Godward orientation (chapter 3 of Shepherding a Child’s Heart). So my focus is not primarily on the news media, but upon parents giving their children a vision for adding to the reputation of God.

Mini-Post: Michelle's Comment

Michelle Brock gave a wonderful illustration regarding yesterdays post. I wanted to highlight this for you. Thanks for responding Michelle.

One of the treasures I own is a platter my mom brought back from Thailand just after the Tsunami several years back. She found it on the beach in perfect condition, yards away from where many people lost their lives in a resort.

The missionaries in this area found many people willing to hear about God, because of this tragedy.

Your post reminded me of one of the stories that the missionaries told of the Christians in a particular village who had been persecuted. They requested permission to celebrate Christmas in the village, and were told no. They were required to leave the village if they wanted to do so, which they did. In this way, they were gone when their village was completely wiped out by the tsunami. These Thai Christians were now sought after by the people in the surrounding villages who had survived, who wanted to know more of their powerful God.

Perhaps this would be a good time to bring out the plate again. Thanks for the thought-provoking post.

You display your power among the peoples

O LORD, our Lord,
  how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:9

The heavens declare the glory of God;
  the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  Colossians 1:16-17

Parents, you should not expect or trust the news media to tell your children the truth about God and his power. The press of the 21^st century will not knowingly do that. “So,” you might reply, “what’s the point? Of course I don’t expect the press to tell my children the truth about God.” Exactly! So who will tell your children about the glory and majesty of God?

 

God & News Reporting

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 'For in him we live and move and have our being… Acts 17:24-28a

The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.  In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him." Luke 8:24-25

Current events, admittedly, is a subjective topic. To an historian or geologist, current could mean anything in the last 100 years. To someone trading the stock markets, current could mean something happening in the last 10 minutes. And then, of course, there is the issue of deciding what is an event that is worthy of being labeled as a current event. In reality, news reporting is a highly subjective process. For some, the annual Country Music Awards show last night was a current event. Later this week, the new Indiana Jones movie will debut. The intrigue of the presidential campaign vies for the attention of the media. If you are a sports fan, the NBA playoffs are in progress, however slow that progress may be.

God, Cyclones, Earthquakes and the News

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17

In the latest mini-post I referenced the death and destruction that have occurred in Burma and China in the last few days. As of this date the AP reports that in Myanmar as many as 128,000 have died and over 2 ½ million have been severely impacted by the cyclone which devastated that region on May 3^rd of this year. In China, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck the  central part of that country this past Monday. The death toll is now estimated by the Chinese government to reach as high as 50,000. Fox News reports a Chinese government official as stating that over 4 million homes have been shattered in the region of the quake.

 

Mini-Post - Death & Destruction

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
       and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea...     Psalm 46:2

You have, no doubt, read or heard of the devastation in Burma and now in China. Tens of thousands are dead and many more are homeless. What do you think of these events? Why did they happen?

Your children are asking these questions. God wants you to give answers that will bring honor to him.

If you have questions about these events, please share them with us. The next post will look at what God has to say regarding what he has brought about.

The Day After

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

Modern culture has developed a curious practice for giving appreciation to others. It is a mixture of style and substance, with the emphasis on style. This practice is called Day. Day is an extremely flexible and adaptable concept. While Day has no particular religious significance, it is nonetheless observed with ritual and sacrifice. All one has to do to make Day fit almost any relational circumstance is to add an appropriate adjective. For example, there is Valentine’s Day, Secretary’s—oops, make that Administrative Professional’s—Day, Birth Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day. Day is able to adapt to almost any desire to show appreciation. Father’s Day and the just-celebrated Mother’s Day make Day a personal event. There is even a Day for gratitude. The retail industry is more than happy to help with the appreciation celebrations. Right now, Mother’s Day promotions are being replaced rapidly with themes for grads and dads.