As Jenna just started 10th grade today at Torrey Pines, it caused me to think a little bit about the future as I realized that she is only 3 years away from college. Kara is now in 7th grade, Alyssa is in 3rd grade (both are homeschooled by Angela), and even Olivia is now on a schedule with room time, coloring time (she really enjoys drawing), and of course nap time. The years seem to be just shooting by and before you know it, they will be getting married and then having children of their own. As my own parents get older and face the challenges that come with the latter stages of life, it has challenged me to think about what I am doing to prepare the next generation that follows my own.
My big complaint while working in the Korean American church scene was that it seemed like the first generation did not do much to really disciple and mentor the second generation in the Christian life. They seemed to put a lot of time and energy into making a lot of money and building large church buildings but not a lot of time seemed to go into raising their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. As a result, I look at the second generation (which is my own) really having become a product of this worldly culture, pursuing worldly success and prosperity, but at the cost of their spiritual lives. It's no surprise that many are finding that with all the success and prosperity comes the realization that something is missing. So many are coming back to church, bringing their children in hopes that they will receive some kind of spiritual upbringing that they themselve missed growing up.
The reason I share this is that even though I am a pastor, it still is a challenge to invest even in my own kids when it comes to spiritual things. It's easy to discuss their academics, their athletic participation, their extra-curricular activities, and even their church involvement, but when it comes to interacting over their individual spiritual development, it does seem easier to leave it to other people. It should not be so. While other people can definitely help in a secondary manner, the primary responsibility of spiritual development lies on the shoulders of the parents. We cannot afford to allow the early years of their childhood to slip by and realize later that we should have spent more time with them. This is a regret that too many parents make too late in life and there is no way to rewind or start over.
But we can start now. As parents, we can take each day as an opportunity to invest in our children. It doesn't have to be anything too big. Even if it's a short conversation, a brief devotional with the family, a time of singing, or even to just share what you learned at church, every little bit counts.
If you don't have children yet, whether as singles or even as married couples, you can prepare now by being spiritually disciplined so that when God does grant you children, you have a foundation to build on. Don't underestimate the preparation you invest in your own life. You will only be able to offer what you have and if you don't have much when the time calls for it, it will be difficult to catch up. So your own personal spiritual growth is really not just for your own sake, but it is for the sake of the next generation.
Even if God does not grant you biological children of your own, you can invest your life into others spiritually so that they would be like spiritual children that you would disciple so that they can be equipped to grow. This is why the Titus 2 principle of older men/women training the younger men/women is so crucial, especially in the life of the church. There are many who don't have Christian parents and so they have never received spiritual teaching from home. So the church becomes their "family" and the older saints need to really invest in them as the next generation to follow.
Lighthouse is steadily growing and I hope that the numerical growth is not all that we care for. Spiritual growth in growing deeper in our understanding and application of God's word is what we really need to see increase in all our lives and I would like to really challenge you all to have a view toward the future as you seek to grow today.
Showing posts with label Parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parenting. Show all posts
Monday, August 27, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
The Importance of Your Weltanschauung
What does it mean to have a Christian worldview? The German word "weltanschauung" stands for the idea of a "worldview" and many of the noted philosophers are known for very strong worldviews that influenced many to live in such a way that reflected a particular worldview. Adolf Hitler, for one, was tremendously influenced by Nietzche, and World War 2 was a result.
I think many of us underestimate the importance of having a God-centered worldview as we consider the various aspects of life. For many, the issue of education, vocation, marriage, parenting, and even the role of church in life is governed by what a person's worldview is.
For many who grow up in an Asian culture, there is a very strong undercurrent of Confucian ideology that governs the mindset of how one values the importance of various things in life and it is especially seen in the parent/child relationship. Though some parents would claim to be Christians, even as leaders in a church, there is a strange absence of a high view of God and often there is a manipulating of Scripture to serve a man-centered goal, whether it be related to the pursuit of a particular major in college or the pursuit of a specific vocation, namely those of the "doctor, lawyer, engineer" variety. Not that those roles are inherently wrong in themselves, but it is the motivation and intention behind the pursuit of such roles that often reveal the greed and the self-serving mindset that pursues the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life as warned in 1 John 2. There are even times when some might appeal to the glory of God being served by pursuing such ends. But down the road we often see what is revealed to be the true heart and intention behind the pursuit of success. It is not the glory of God. It is the pursuit of self-glory and self-fulfillment at the expense of the glory of God.
I would see this happen many times working with college students who would enter their first year idealistic and would even go as far as to admit that they were not balanced in how they handled their spiritual priorities but would always reassure me that they would take care of them later after they graduated, got settled in their jobs, and became successful. They would often add that they would give a lot of money to God, assuming that they would make a lot of money. But this is sadly not the case. I have seen what success does to people and it more often draws them away from God rather than toward God. And this is due to their worldview ultimately being about themselves in the center.
It is also seen in addressing the issue of marriage, where instead of seeking to honor God by reflecting the love relationship between Christ and His church, marriage is seen as a self-seeking opportunity for social-economic advancement. There is little preparation and education given regarding the biblical purpose for marriage and it is no wonder that many marriages suffer immediately with much trauma, often leading to stale relationships that teeter on the brink of divorce, often tipping over when the differences become "irreconcilable."
What really draws some ire from my perspective is when I see so-called Christian parents, who in the name of "thinking of their child's best" would show absolutely no concept of God's glory being at stake. Rather there is some "practical" advice about a certain criteria having to be upheld to "protect" their child when in fact it is all about their own pride.
It is not wrong for someone to go to a good school. It is not wrong for someone to choose a particular vocational path. Neither it is wrong to marry within your own ethnicity or age range. But to insist that certain things are "God's will" when they really are not, I believe, is a travesty that many parents are imposing on their children, often with a subtle (or even not so subtle) threat of disownment. It is portrayed as an issue of "honoring" parents, even "obeying." Now I am not suggesting that there should be a full-scale rebellion just thrown back. But I think there must be a line clearly drawn when a worldview is being revealed for what it is, a man-centered pursuit of worldly success and approval as opposed to God's kingdom and righteousness.
More about this later. Our Single Life retreat this weekend will be on "My Father's World - Building a Biblical Worldview" so I'll have a lot more to say about this in the days to come.
Three entries in one day!! I'm starting to feel like Al Mohler =) But no way can I keep up with his pace. I'll stay at being John Kim, one of many.
I think many of us underestimate the importance of having a God-centered worldview as we consider the various aspects of life. For many, the issue of education, vocation, marriage, parenting, and even the role of church in life is governed by what a person's worldview is.
For many who grow up in an Asian culture, there is a very strong undercurrent of Confucian ideology that governs the mindset of how one values the importance of various things in life and it is especially seen in the parent/child relationship. Though some parents would claim to be Christians, even as leaders in a church, there is a strange absence of a high view of God and often there is a manipulating of Scripture to serve a man-centered goal, whether it be related to the pursuit of a particular major in college or the pursuit of a specific vocation, namely those of the "doctor, lawyer, engineer" variety. Not that those roles are inherently wrong in themselves, but it is the motivation and intention behind the pursuit of such roles that often reveal the greed and the self-serving mindset that pursues the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life as warned in 1 John 2. There are even times when some might appeal to the glory of God being served by pursuing such ends. But down the road we often see what is revealed to be the true heart and intention behind the pursuit of success. It is not the glory of God. It is the pursuit of self-glory and self-fulfillment at the expense of the glory of God.
I would see this happen many times working with college students who would enter their first year idealistic and would even go as far as to admit that they were not balanced in how they handled their spiritual priorities but would always reassure me that they would take care of them later after they graduated, got settled in their jobs, and became successful. They would often add that they would give a lot of money to God, assuming that they would make a lot of money. But this is sadly not the case. I have seen what success does to people and it more often draws them away from God rather than toward God. And this is due to their worldview ultimately being about themselves in the center.
It is also seen in addressing the issue of marriage, where instead of seeking to honor God by reflecting the love relationship between Christ and His church, marriage is seen as a self-seeking opportunity for social-economic advancement. There is little preparation and education given regarding the biblical purpose for marriage and it is no wonder that many marriages suffer immediately with much trauma, often leading to stale relationships that teeter on the brink of divorce, often tipping over when the differences become "irreconcilable."
What really draws some ire from my perspective is when I see so-called Christian parents, who in the name of "thinking of their child's best" would show absolutely no concept of God's glory being at stake. Rather there is some "practical" advice about a certain criteria having to be upheld to "protect" their child when in fact it is all about their own pride.
It is not wrong for someone to go to a good school. It is not wrong for someone to choose a particular vocational path. Neither it is wrong to marry within your own ethnicity or age range. But to insist that certain things are "God's will" when they really are not, I believe, is a travesty that many parents are imposing on their children, often with a subtle (or even not so subtle) threat of disownment. It is portrayed as an issue of "honoring" parents, even "obeying." Now I am not suggesting that there should be a full-scale rebellion just thrown back. But I think there must be a line clearly drawn when a worldview is being revealed for what it is, a man-centered pursuit of worldly success and approval as opposed to God's kingdom and righteousness.
More about this later. Our Single Life retreat this weekend will be on "My Father's World - Building a Biblical Worldview" so I'll have a lot more to say about this in the days to come.
Three entries in one day!! I'm starting to feel like Al Mohler =) But no way can I keep up with his pace. I'll stay at being John Kim, one of many.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
The Great Trump Card
Pastor John mentioned to me this afternoon that Al Mohler posted an article on his blog about the church and the home. This is a tremendously helpful article for anyone trying to find the balance between ministry and family. Much of what Dr. Mohler shares is what Pastor John has already been sharing for the past few years, but sometimes it helps to hear it from a respected seminary president from outside our church.
It is a challenge to families to consider having a higher view of church in a practical sense. It is easy to talk about loving Jesus and living for Him. It is understandable that believers should be studying the Bible regularly, praying, and attending church on Sundays. These things are obviously going to take up some measure of a family's time. Many families today complain, however, when the church puts additional activities on the calendar because they infringe upon "personal family time." Considering all the other things families are typically involved in and committed to, it is no wonder little time is left for the church. Families must consider what is important in the end. What kind of message do we want to give our children about what are the right kinds of priorities? People wonder why there is a moral decline in the lifestyles of children in the church, and why children today seem more and more disinterested in church! Perhaps it is because parents have not demonstrated to their children that church is more important than music lessons, sports, shopping, and weekend trips.
It is a challenge to families to consider having a higher view of church in a practical sense. It is easy to talk about loving Jesus and living for Him. It is understandable that believers should be studying the Bible regularly, praying, and attending church on Sundays. These things are obviously going to take up some measure of a family's time. Many families today complain, however, when the church puts additional activities on the calendar because they infringe upon "personal family time." Considering all the other things families are typically involved in and committed to, it is no wonder little time is left for the church. Families must consider what is important in the end. What kind of message do we want to give our children about what are the right kinds of priorities? People wonder why there is a moral decline in the lifestyles of children in the church, and why children today seem more and more disinterested in church! Perhaps it is because parents have not demonstrated to their children that church is more important than music lessons, sports, shopping, and weekend trips.
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