I just started reading Family Man, Family Leader by Philip Lancaster. The first couple of chapters tell a very important story of how we have lost our culture, heritage and family priorities through the "improvements" of industry, communication, transportation, feminist movement, entertainment, materialism etc. Is the structure of your family biblical? Who is raising your kids - the media, their friends, a daycare, public or private school? Homeschooling is not the emphasis of this book but rather biblical parenting, leadership and decision making. The influences in our kids lives can't be their TV, Ipod, Xbox, friends, etc. The father cant be that guy that leaves early, comes home late and occasionally shares the supper table (or TV trays in front of the news) before mowing the lawn and going to bed. What do you think this will lead to in their teen years and beyond...and we wonder why todays generation is how it is - it should not be a surprise but it should be a rebuke. Some of us still have an opportunity to make a change here - is it important enough to you - this book needs to be read!
I read this morning in my daily reading 1 Chron 12:32.
And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do...
I heard this verse mentioned recently from the pulpit and then in this book last night before I got up to find it in my daily reading this morning. The children of Issachar were men that had not allowed themselves to be blinded and enthralled by the current trends and acceptible practices. They seem, according to this verse to have enough God given wisdom to realize that where we have come is not necessarily the result of continuous improvement. After all, isn't it evolution (which we vehemently and almost laughably refute for its ridiculous lies) that teaches that things are gradually getting better to the opposition of the 2nd law of thermodynamics - that everything is wearing down... They saw the impact of the influences around them, they understood what was happening from history, they used thought and discernment for each and every decision and they knew what they ought to do.
I asked the question to myself and some friends recently whether the benefits of someone who is very smart and can teach us many good things is worth having come in if one of the costs that will be incurred is that a very foundational truth that we support will be questioned, criticized and publicly "corrected" thereby casting doubt in the minds of the star-struck people who are not sound in their foundational beliefs on that topic. This was a situation that was warned against and not anticipated but not there is damage control in place. The lesson to be learned - fool us once, shame on you - allow it to happen twice - shame on us.
So it is with today. So many things are advertised with loads of advantages - get there faster, cheaper products, better technology, information at your fingertips, give your family more (they deserve it) - but what does it bring with it. Satan is the king of subtlety and loves this tactic of sales. HOOK, LINE AND SINKER...
We can be the Issachars of today if we would only step back and understand the times. If we could see where todays influences have already taken us and where they will lead if we continue to follow in them. If we will understand the times then we can know what we as individuals, families, Christians, congregations should do.
ISSACHAR - UNDERSTAND THE TIMES
What does God teach or example for us in...
- Who is to raise our kids
- Who is to lead the home
- What should be the foundational curriculum
- How important money should be to us
- How the influences of the world can impact an individual, family or church
- Whether our model to follow is to be the world or the Bible
How have these factors influenced our country in the past 150 years
- Industrialism
- Transportation
- Communication
- Media
- The eroding of our minds and inability to comprehend and utilize the written word by this image driven society
- Idolizing men and making their word the final authority
- Feminist Movement - biblical roles are out the window, men and boys are soft and being made more effeminate all the time, little girls are no longer virtuous little maidens but savvy, street smart and often self serving, children dont have the proper balance or influence that God intended
- Humanism
- Materialism/Commercialism
- Education systems
- Age segregation, common interest groups where peers are the influence rather than parents
- Moving away from home businesses or farms where kids were highly valued commodities to fathers and now in most cases both parents working outside the home and kids being an expense.
- Lost reverence for God and His word through busyness, casting doubt, corrections, and perverted interpretations of meaning.
- Degredation of music and clothing
This is a short list.
What's done is done?
We know these influences wont go away around us until the judgment of God on this wicked land but we also have the command to know God's word, understand His desires in comparison with the times and know what we ought to do...
With the history of the world and influences of surroundings well documented for us along with teh completed preserved, perfect King James Bible - we will be held accountable for choosing to continue in this regression or be do something about it.
Fathers, lets be biblical fathers.
I am not buying a goat and opening a farm, we have been given our marching orders but as the Lord takes us to the Philippines it is clear that the influences are global. We are praying that we will understand the times, understand God's word and by God's grace, do what is most glorifying to Jesus Christ with the rest of our lives that He gives us.
Let's consider our ways...
