“Who or What is discipling us?”

“Who or What is discipling us?”

Happy Tuesday everyone!

I hope you’re staying as warm and dry as you can on a day like this.

I’ve been singing an old Johnny Cash song this Winter: “How high’s the water momma?” Seems appropriate…

 

Before I get into what I’ve been wanting to share…let’s do this important thing first…

Zoom Bible Study Catch-Up – Friday – 26 August – 1:00 PM

Click the link to Join Zoom Meeting — https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88022194499  — Meeting ID: 880 2219 4499

 

Now…something kinda cool…

I had a unique opportunity this past week. I was invited to share a “What does it mean to you to be a father?” piece for the Christian College’s Father’s Day series on their FaceBook page. If you’re into FB you can probably go see it…I don’t know anything about FaceBook except I’m not on it & I have real misgivings about all the social media…and there’s science to back me up. Anyway…

It was intended to be a 3-5 minute video interview. I was asked 2 questions:

  1. What’s the best thing about being a father?
  2. What lessons have you learned from being a father?

 

Now…you know me…I probably went a bit longer than the allotted time…but what got my interviewer’s attention (her eyes popped wide open when I said it) was when I said one of the lessons Leonie & I learned before Charis was born was that contrary to all the inspirational posters out there, It does not take a village to raise a child, it takes a mom & a dad.

 

I could go into great detail…and did some in the video…and would be happy to chat with you about that…but in essence, my point was that Leonie & I have been very intentional about who we allow to speak authoritatively & influentially into our girls’ lives. We live in a very diverse “village” where there are lots of “villagers” trying to make their mark on our children’s lives, and not all of them are good for our kids. The example I’ve already noted is social media like FaceBook, SnapChat, Instagram, Twitter…etc…If you’re not immersed in the tech world, you may not know what all those are…and that’s ok. But for comparison, think of all the TV shows available now via the free-to-air and the subscribe-to-pay services to which most of us have access. Those media all work to shape our culture and our attitudes, values, and behaviours. Some of it is just rotten…and I want to lessen their influence in my children as close to “0” as I can.

 

So…I contended that all parents I know have some sort of screen they use to determine which “villagers” are allowed to be influential in their children’s lives…they don’t let the whole “village” have a hand in their sons’ or daughters’ “raising.” Be honest…there were children you really didn’t want your kids to be too close to…you might have seen them as a “bad influence.” Your kids were to be nice & kind…but not best friends. We all make those distinctions & all have some sort of preferences in who we want influencing our family. That’s why I tell my girls to think “follower of Jesus” when they look at young men for dating & marrying purposes. If a young man isn’t serious about Jesus going into the relationship, it’s going to be a long slog getting him there later. It happens, but there are always compromises along the way I’d rather they not have to face.

 

On the other hand…know how precious & important so many of you are in our girls’ lives. We want you there. We invite you to speak from your God-given wisdom. Share your faith triumphs and tragedies. Encourage, challenge, admonish & applaud them. You’re not a village…you’re the church of Jesus Christ. You are unbreakably connected to them by baptism into Christ and have a place with them among all the saints. That’s part of your role in their lives & Leonie’s & mine. Not to “raise” our girls, but to make visible for them a life of discipleship from farther down the road than they are at the moment. Show them what faith in Christ at 45, 75, or 93 (or anywhere along the way) looks like.

 

And today…that pastor from Tennessee I mentioned last week…Scotty Smith…sends me a devotion “Who or What is discipling us?”

Who Or What Is Discipling Us? (thegospelcoalition.org)

His point is similar to mine…although he’s more creative in making it…and more to the point 😉  We live surrounded by things & people & voices (“villagers”) clamouring for our attention, allegiance, affection, and adoration. But our hearts are meant to be tuned into One person, voice, direction, and devotion: Jesus. Those are the voices I want near my girls…voices that lead them to Jesus more and more every day. Thank you for the times you do that…please don’t stop.

 

I’ll stop now…time for lunch & then some time studying the Bible with a group of pastors…like I said last week, I need to be nurtured and encouraged and challenged too! These guys do it.

See y’all Friday…and then again Sunday!

Peace

John

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