A recent survey said U.S. citizens would not elect anyone as President if the candidate did not believe in God. However, any candidate we might elect - Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal, male or female -- cannot fix America. Only informed voters who are parents, acting in concert with millions of evangelicals, can rescue our nation.
I've been reading a provocative book by Harold Beebe, "Christianity Unshackled." In it he says, "Whoever teaches the children rules the future." That's absolutely true. It is also immensely heartbreaking. It makes me sad because in America we have divorced public education from faith in God. I saw it happen in my lifetime. Our society has shifted away from a biblical worldview. In public schools, we train our children to be "cool atheists."
Yale, Princeton, and Harvard actually began as Christian schools. They were founded on the belief that knowledge comes from the Creator revealed in the Bible. Now the state or secular education has replaced God, the church, or family training. In America's homes, kids can grow up never seeing anyone open a Bible to read it. They may not see any adult bow their head to give thanks over a meal. They may never have a mom or a dad pray over them at bedtime for blessing or safety. We're raising deprived kids!
You could debate with me about the source of this cultural slide into atheism. But in my opinion, having lived a long while, and having lived overseas, America is becoming more like a third-world country where people look to an all-powerful government to meet their needs rather than be self-reliant, informed, productive individuals who were raised in strong families with biblical values. The only exceptions to this erosion seem to be those few churches - micro-societies, Christian counter-cultures - that model kingdom-minded community, marriage, and parenting as seen in the Bible. These Spirit-filled evangelical churches are our last best hope to salvage America's decayed and divided culture.
No church is perfect. We do have some baggage to toss overboard. We have theological errors to fix and cultural bias to repent of. But I have hope. The church has experienced reformation before and we will experience it again. This renewal of the church's identity, mission and structure is underway. "As goes the church, so goes the nation!"
Today I have come to believe that God is ever-present. He even goes with our kids to school! He is not distant, but near to us. He speaks to everyone, everywhere although we humans have devised amazing ways to drown out His voice.
I think children can hear God's voice. This is why it is so important that we not smother the flickering flame of faith -- of love for God, of desire to know Abba -- that's in a child. "Their angels see God!" Jesus said. So, do not make them stumble! If you destroy a child's faith in God, your judgment will be very severe. Parents, it is your primary responsibility to train up your child so they know God and they know right from wrong. (Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6) The church is your support system. As for the state, it had better not interfere with the family.
RON WOOD IS A WRITER AND MINISTER. EMAIL HIM AT [email protected] OR VISIT WWW.TOUCHEDBYGRACE.ORG.
Editorial on 02/10/2016