As promised, this is a continuation of last week’s article which laid the background of how I can teach my little child about God. We said, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a book entitled, ‘Seven Steps to Raising Godly Children,’ that would give us all answers with easy rules to just follow?” As the article continued, it said, “There is such book.” It does not give seven rules, but it gives the principles God gave Israel as they left Egypt.
It begins by telling us to love God with all your heart and soul (Deut. 6:4), and the words written on stone were then engraved on our hearts and souls (Psa. 37:31; Jer. 31:33). How do I show this to my child? How can he ever see that I love God? Deuteronomy 6 continues by showing that almost every day there are so many times you can talk to your children, even the very smallest, about God. God knew the needs of children and told parents to openly talk about God, not just in the home, but everywhere they went. Read the book. This principle is found in Deuteronomy 6:7-9.
Read the rest of the chapter. God said that sometimes children would ask a “why” question about God. Why do we go to church? Why do you eat the bread and drink the juice and I do not? Why are people dunked in the water? Why do you close your eyes when praying? They may have so many other questions that they wonder about. Read verse 20 carefully. Your answer is not to teach him the “rules” of God but to teach him the deeper meaning about why these rules exist.
Jewish children could ask, “Why did you break the neck of that newborn baby donkey?” (Ex. 13:13; 34:20). He is not asking what the rule is, he knows God said to do that to all firstborns. Will your child, who is a firstborn, understand? They could ask, “Why do you work so hard every day except Saturday, and why was that man killed who picked up sticks on Saturday?” (Num. 15:32-36). They could ask, “Why are there no women priests?” “Why are lambs killed twice every day at the temple?”
Now apply this rule to what your child sees in you. He may have many questions. Why do you mark in your Bible? Why do people seem so happy when someone is baptized? You said you loved God, so why do you criticize the songs we sing, the sermon, the way some behave in worship, the people chosen or not chosen to lead in worship and so many other things? Do you enjoy worship?
Does your child see how much you give? Is more given to Starbucks every week than is given to God? He hears you talk and wonders if you really enjoy worship. Let your children know the rules of God. Talk all week to your children about God. Make sure you teach the “meaning of the rules.”