For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the carved images and the molten images.
2 Chronicles 34:3
He was 16. He hadn’t even found the Book of the Law yet. However, he knew what was happening in his land was wrong. He knew his own father, Amon, was wrong. This young man was God-focused.
In today’s culture, we don’t expect teenagers to be GOD-focused. We pretty much expect them to be self-focused. We shrug it off and keep chugging along, hoping it’s just a phase they will grow out of.
Worse than this are those of us with children who are quite God-focused, yet because we worry they are being little Pharisees and might say something a little too black and white in the wrong crowd, we silence them. In our earnest avoidance of anything smacking of legalism, we teach these children tolerance…the kind of tolerance that brings them to their knees and weakens their resolve.
We take away their absolute Truth and give them generalities instead. Better not to ruffle feathers. Better not to stand up for Christ. Better to live wishy-washy than die a martyr.
Why do we not teach our children instead to expect persecution? Why do we not teach a love so deep we must speak Truth, rather than a tolerance that waters down the Truth so it becomes more palatable to all?
Why do we not allow these children to tear down our own high places? Sometimes the iron that sharpens the iron isn’t all that big. Sometimes it looks like a child.
Do you have a Josiah?
Weekends in the Word is a ministry of Raising Arrows meant to offer a time of worship and encouragement specifically for those mommies who find themselves, due to circumstances beyond their control, unable to attend worship services with other believers. However, all are welcome here each weekend to feast on His Word.
soapHOUSEmama says
You have no idea how much I needed to hear that today. The Lord truly spoke through your blog to me today!!!!
Vanessa B says
My 11 year old is a “Josiah” and I needed to read this post because there have been times recently that I have silenced him. Why? Because I was afraid he might offend someone but that is so wrong of me. He was pointing out things that go against God and they are like the white elephant in the room – they need pointed out. I have been talking the good talk and we read about martyrs and how brave they were but then I try to protect my child by shutting him up and that is not protection at all. I have been nothing more than a Pharisee myself. Thankfully we serve a forgiving God and give me another chance to let my little Josiah stand up for what is right.
Elizabeth says
Powerful Post!
I loved this line, which I posted as my FB status and linked to your blog!
Why do we not teach our children instead to expect persecution? Why do we not teach a love so deep we must speak Truth, rather than a tolerance that waters down the Truth so it becomes more palatable to all?
Kim S says
I personally struggle with this line a lot. Both of my girls (age 7 and 8) have a very strong sense of what is right and what is wrong. I want them to stand up for what they believe in, but so many times others will find that offensive. It’s such a fine line; however, I would almost rather raise a child that was slightly offensive, but had a heart after God. The alternative leads to tolerance. Which, I agree, is not a concept that we find in the pages of scripture.
Jillian says
I’ve stopped my kids from speaking the truth too at times. This is definitely something to think and pray about. Thank you for challenging us.
Rebecca says
Amy, you hit the nail on the head here. I have fallen in the trap of saying, Oh, they’re only children…I’m sorry they said that…when they were speaking the truth….to avoid their hearts from the piercing arrows of persecution. It’s a fine line…to walk in love and truth of Christ without being a Pharisee …it’s a decisions we have to make daily…and if all we say and do…is to Glorify God…then we will keep an eternal thought process and pass that on to our children….Thank you for this!
Jennifer King says
I LOVE this! My son is only six but he definitely loves to share the truth of God’s word with everyone. And *ouch* there have been times I have tried to muffle his truth – Instead of being afraid of what others think of my son’s words I need to remember to praise God for a child that is so strong in love!
Tonya Dixon says
We have a Josiah in our home. That is actually his name! He is about to turn 6 years old, but spiritually he seems much older. When we go places, he comes up to people and asks them if they love Jesus. This winter on a two month mission trip in East Asia while riding in taxis he often asked my husband if he had told the driver about Jesus yet (my husband speaks the language and we don’t). We are sometimes proud of him, but other times slightly embarrased. But we should encourage it. After all, he needs to take after his namesake!
abba12 says
I think the issue is that we shouldn’t teach tollerance so much as compassion and grace, you’ll win more people over with honey than vinegar.
I think beliefs of some of the people around me are wrong, end of story. There’s no tollerance about them, they’re not ‘sort of right’, they’re just plain wrong against my beliefs. BUT, to treat them without grace despite their sin would make us very ungrateful of the grace we recieve from God. When Jesus came across sinners he didn’t sit there and list off every incorrect thing in their lives (except maybe the pharasies, who showed no grace and deserved none). Some people are not as far on their journey as others, and just like you wouldn’t make a toddler feel bad for not knowing how to read yet, we should not make a young christian feel bad for missing what we feel is an important doctrine, it comes in time. Have compassion for those who have not had lives that have allowed them to learn about God the way you have, have grace for those still learning and stumbling, and just like a little child who insists the impossible will be, that she WILL grow up to be a chicken, or marry her father cause he’s the best man in the world, gently guide them out of their immaturity but understand that they will probably believe these things, no matter the persuasion, until they have matured to a higher understanding, and only God can give that maturity. If everyone were correct about everything, then this wouldn’t be a fallen world would it?
And for those who are mature christians and still believe incorrect ideas, do not back down of your own, however, God taught us to love one another, and how can we love one another if we are caught up with differences of opinion constantly, choose for it to not come up except when the Lord leads you to speak of it, so that you may love your neighbours and not live in disagreement with everyone who does not believe the same.
Amy says
I agree wholeheartedly. We should love people so much it shows…even as we speak the Truth into their lives. And yes, I will still be wrong because I am human and this is a fallen world, but as I read that passage, I kept thinking…Wow, I bet he made a lot of people mad. Yet he did the right thing. I do not want my children to grow up afraid to do the right thing because someone might get mad.
Very good points here. Thank you. 🙂
Jillian says
Amy, you are so gracious.
Melissa says
I have a Micah Josiah…our “prohectic boy-king.” It is my prayer that he grows into a man who is loves and serves God…who strives to follow His will. Thanks for the reminder of how I need to be thinking, raising my “boy-king”.
Tesha says
VERY GOOD! We live in southern Ca.–where my husband is a Pastor, we out reach a lot. Our Children lean at a very young age they will be persecuted for their faith. Once on outreach Some people started throwing eggs at us…We laugh so hard about that. It is a family favorite…we have to exposes them to, people testing and question their faith while thy are young. That way when they are older they will know how to handle it.
Bambi @ In the Nursery of the Nation says
Ahhh, this was a wonderful post. Thank you so much!