Augustine taught that all humans born since the Fall possessed sinful natures (original sin) from birth. Pelagius on the other hand believed that all humans were born innocent, only gaining sinful natures eventually based on free choices made due to the sinful examples of other humans.
Often in ministry I have observed evangelicals that claim to believe that all humans are born sinners (Augustine), live as if their children will be corrupted by outside influences (Pelagius). Parents may profess to believe that their children are sinners, but they seek to protect them from a sinful world as if the world is the problem. The problem with our children is not outside influences, but is instead their inside influences. If you and I protect our children from sin, we still cannot protect them from their sinful selves. Our children are what is wrong with the world; the world is not what is wrong with our children.
Instead of living as if your children “will be” corrupted by the world, you should instead teach them to handle their own sinful natures in a wicked world. In order to communicate this, you must tell your children that they are what is wrong with the world. You must teach them that they are sinners (Rom. 3:23) in desperate need of a Savior (John 14:6). Apart from His life, death, burial, and resurrection in their stead, there is no hope for them (Rom. 6:23). Christ’s finished work is their only hope for being reconciled to God the Father (Rom. 10:9-11).
By the time your children are 18 years of age, they should be prepared to live in a wicked world in which they are part of the wickedness. Thus, having run to Christ, they must be prepared to face temptation. You must thoroughly teach them the Scriptures, and how to discern the difference between truth and lies in their surrounding culture. If you believe that the world is the problem, you will try to shield them from the world; however, if you believe they are the problem, you will instead teach them how to hide the Word of God in their hearts so that they might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11).
Because you cannot separate your children from their sin-natures (Augustine), you must prepare them to handle their sin-natures. We must cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in our children, realizing that they will always desire wickedness on earth; yet, they must learn to appropriate and cultivate the self-control of God the Holy Spirit, His fruit in their lives. One of the biggest problems of children raised by evangelicals is that they are not prepared to live in this world because Augustinian parents are practicing the methodology of Pelagians. Our children do not know how to handle temptation whenever they cannot escape it because we have falsely deified our protecting ability to the point of hindering the cultivation of self-control in their lives (Pelagian). In other words, in trying to protect our children through legalistic boundaries, we have not prepared them to live in this wicked world. Sooner or later temptation will knock on the door; and no amount of legalism can stop it. If you have not taught your children how to respond to temptation through teaching them how to be discerning (Augustine), then you are dooming them for eventual failure.
One way to help your children cultivate discernment in this wicked world is to participate in ungodly media with them. Let me qualify the term “ungodly.” I’m not saying that children must be shown immorality so they will know what is immoral (You do not want to tempt your children to sin); I am merely saying that a child must be thoroughly taught the Scriptures, and then he or she must be shown how to discern the difference between truth and lies. One way to do this is if you show your children how to use discernment as they participate in media. In our world, your children will participate in media; and they will either participate like Christians or like non-Christians. You must understand that even Disney’s The Princess and the Frog is full of paganism and false gospels:
Furthermore, in God’s world, all that is true, is true because God created it true. Truth thus is found all around us in every form of media. The problem is that this truth is laced with lies or it is divorced from Christ’s finished work, which always equals a false gospel. You must teach your children to recogize all lies that are presented by all media that they choose to participate in: The nightly news, books, newspapers, movies, TV shows, songs, etc.. You must help them filter everything they hear and see so that they will possess a consistent Christian worldview.
If you want to be a practicing Augustinian parent, you should participate in ungodly media with your children so…
1. They can see the outworkings of contemporary worldviews. Secular humanism for example is hard to recognize for the average Christian because it is largely Christ-less Christianity. Types of Secular humanists attend our churches regularly while viewing the Bible as a book they can accomplish and Christ as an example that they can follow. The Book of Eli for example argues for a type of Secular Humanism, a type of moralism that comes from the Bible, but is divorced from Christ. Even “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” teaches a type of secular humanism: “So, be good for goodness sake.” = A false gospel.
2. They can recognize the various lies of culture. On most sitcoms, husbands are 1) stupid, 2) submissive to their wives, 3) uninvolved in raising their children, etc. Furthermore, 1) homosexuality is acceptable, 2) adultery is laughable, and 3) sexual immorality has no consequences. While watching one of these sitcoms with your teenagers, you can ask: What is biblical about this show? What isn’t? Are the characters good husbands, wives, parents, etc.? Why or why not? What is true about this show, and what is false?
3. They can discern what the prevalent worldviews are in the media. All media has an agenda that either reveals God’s glory or hides it. Most media seeks to hide God’s glory. Whether this is intentional or not is irrelevant; your children must recognize the difference between truth and lies. Furthermore, they must especially practice discernment when listening to music. It is easy for children and teenagers to just mumble lyrics while not thinking about or understanding what the artist is saying. This is NOT discernment!
Here is a song called “Judith” by a band named A Perfect Circle. Whenever this song first came out, I could only understand “f-o-l-l-o-w your Christ, your God,” and “He did it all for you!” I even called the radio station to request the song. I had not practiced discernment! Here is the song with lyrics; WARNING: This song is blasphemous and has explicit lyrics (Turn down your speakers). If you have a sensitive conscience, then do NOT listen to this song! I simply want you to see what can happen to your children if they are not taught to keep their minds active as they participate in media; to constantly filter everything, separating the good from the evil, while qualifying everything in light of the condition of man and the finished work of Christ:
4. They can learn how to enjoy media unto God’s glory alone. Christians must not enjoy media like Atheists, pagans, or non-Christians. Christians must enjoy God through enjoying media; thus, they must hate evil and cling to what is good. A Christian must always cling to what is good (Rom. 12:9, Heb. 1:9), and think on what brings glory to God (Phil. 4:8). You must teach your children that their minds must always be active as they participate in media.
Here is a song called “Nowhere kids” by Smile Empty Soul. It is a good example for us to examine as we “cling to what is good, and hate what is evil.” There is much about this song that is true because GOD made it true; as well as, much we should hate. What is good about this song? What is evil? WARNING: This is NOT a Christian Band; but, the lyrics are somewhat edited:
5. They can tell the difference between Greco-Roman love and Biblical love. Most definitions for “love” that are presented in movies, TV shows, books, plays, songs, etc. argue for love being an uncontrollable force that humans have no control over. People speak often about “falling in love,” and consequently about “falling out of love,” as well. The Bible however presents love as a choice that all humans are commanded to make toward God and one another (Mark 12:30-31). Husbands and wives are commanded to love one another as well. In the Bible, love is not based on “feelings” or “emotions,” even though this Greco-Roman mythical love dominates all forms of media. Therefore, if you or your children believe that love is an uncontrollable force that happens to you, then you have believed a lie. Furthermore, if you do not talk to your children about the biblical definition of love, they will believe and learn their definition of love from the media they participate in; and the definition they receive will NOT be biblical love. For Christians, “warm, fuzzy feelings” are a result of choosing to love rather than the result of an uncontrollable force that happens to us.
Here is an example of ungodly love; it’s presented by the Goo Goo Dolls in a song called “Iris.”
6. They can learn how to practice discernment. Your children will participate in media for the rest of their lives. It is part of the world that they live in. They will either enjoy media unto God’s glory alone, or unto an idol’s glory alone.
Here’s a very moral and clean song by Phil Vassar called “Just Another Day in Paradise.” Most Christian parents would have no problem with their children listening to this song; however, it is still an ungodly song. What gospel does this song teach? Is it the gospel presented in the Bible, or is it a false gospel? Does Vassar describe “paradise” accurately? Is it godly for Vassar to love his paradise so much that he “wouldn’t trade it for anything,” or, is his paradise an idol?
7. They can tell the difference between godly media and ungodly media. Ungodly media is any media that does not communicate the saving gospel of Christ. Thus, any movie, TV show, song, play, book, etc. that does not include the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as the answer for what’s wrong with the world, either needs further revelation that you must provide or is presenting a false gospel. Pearl Jam for example in their remake “Last Kiss” argues that the gospel is “being good.” Furthermore, the whole reason the author wants to go to heaven is not primarily to be with Jesus, but rather to be with “his love, his life, his baby” that died. We too must be careful to overemphasize seeing our loved ones in heaven. When you participate in media with your children or teens, you can point out the subtle differences between godly and ungodly media.
8. They can recognize the difference between cultural Christianity and biblical Christianity. Cultural Christianity emphasizes the various traditions of evangelical Christianity, often Southern and associated with fellowshipping with family and friends. Biblical Christianity however cares less about the traditions of men, and rather enjoys God through Christ. The glory and joy of Sunday is ultimately God alone.
Here is an example of cultural Christianity:
9. They can see how the media answers the various worldview questions all men seek to answer. Dr. Voddie Baucham lists four worldview questions that all humanity asks and seeks to answer: 1) Who am I? 2) Why am I here? 3) What’s wrong with the world? 4) How can we fix what’s wrong with the world? (The Ever Loving Truth). The Bible argues: 1. You are a creation of the most-high God. You are the crowning glory of God’s creation. 2) You are here to bring glory and honor to God. 3) We are what’s wrong with the world. In our sin we are not doing what God has created us to do. 4) The world is fixed by the redemption provided by Jesus Christ alone. Almost every movie, TV show, song, or book seeks to answer at least one of these questions; and many try to answer all of them.
10. They can recognize the difference between therapeutic deism and Christianity. Both of these religions come from the Bible; however, only one includes the finished work of Christ. Veggie Tales for example is Christ-less. It breaks this writer’s heart that most Christian adults and children are not discerning enough to recognize that Veggie Tales is merely Christ-less therapeutic deism. Just because it comes from the Bible does not make it biblical! All biblical truth must be understood in light of Christ’s physical life, death, and resurrection or it is not full biblical truth; and thus, it is not Christian. Veggie Tales teaches the Bible as if it is a book that humans can accomplish. Almost every episode concludes with a Bible verse that the audience can accomplish. If humanity can accomplish God’s requirements, then why did Jesus die for sinners?
What are your thoughts about this article? Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?
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Welcome to Jared Moore, one of our newest contributors. I’ll give some biography on him when I get out from behind a couple of things.
Jared, I think this is at the heart of a lot of really bad parenting. today, many Christian parents spend a lot of time trying to protect their children from the evils all around them, the wicked influences of this world.
What they fail to realize is that the greatest evil any child faces comes from within – their own sinful nature.
And, in his first post, Jared broke the all-time Video-Link record. Congrats Jared!
Thank you, thank you brother. I couldn’t have done it without God’s provision, the support of my family and friends, and your willingness to post my article. I will cherish this record forever. Thank you to my supporters; and haters can keep hatin.
You forgot to thank the academy.
I have written a book (unpublished at this point) on Proverbs and the fundamental principle of parenting in that book is this: our job is to teach our children to make wise choices.
A lot of Christian parents seem to think that their job is to make all the choices for their children, so that they never make a bad one.
Isolationism and authoritarian parenting don’t work because they fail to give children the tools necessary to handle either their own wicked natures or the sinful influences of the world.
Amen, amen.
I do this with my kids and I have since they were young enough to watch Barney. The typical Western Christian pattern is to teach our kids how to be successful in this world (career, wealth management, sports, arts, education, various achievements, how to get the upper hand, etc) as though that were the greatest thing we could teach them. Teaching them how to think and minister like a Christian in a fallen world is a greater goal by far.
Are you saying that many problems with kids are often reflective or priority problems in parents?
No, that can’t be!
It is no easy thing to convey to our children a worldview that is truly reflective of the Christian Faith, especially in the face of so many competing voices that cry aloud for their attention and interest. Our own training is often woefully lacking, and even when we do have training we often want the knowledge of how to communicate our perspectives to our children. And some of it they must catch on their own (though that does not excuse us from not striving to teach them). What our generation needs in order to offset this awful overwhelming atmosphere of humanistic attitudes is an awakening to the overwhelmingness of the presence of God, a coming down of Heaven to earth (Isa.45:8). One night whitefield and Wesley experienced such a heavenly presence in the room where they and others of their persuasion that they literally could not rise from the floor for about three hours. We need to pray for the very prewence of God to be made manifest here and now on earth.
Good word.
For 38 years I have sought the Lord’s face for the favor of a Third Great Awakening. I became pastor in the Sandy Creek Association in October, 1972. In the spring of 1973 I preached a message to the Pastors’ Prayer Meeting on the subject of A Great Awakening, because the Association had been born in 1755-57 out of the labors of Shubal Stearns and his brother-in-law, Daniel Marshall. Both of them had been converted in the First Great Awakening, and the Association they founded grew from 16 members in a small church start to three churches and 900 members in about 3 years and by 1771 to 42 churches which stretched eastward to the Atlantic, southward to Georgia, northward to the Potomac River and westward to the Mississippi as it states on the monument at Sandy Creek. That association experienced the Second Great Awakening in 1801, and in 1816 under the leadership of Luther Rice it helped to launch the Great Century of Missions. The thought of such wonderful visitations moved me to begin praying in the spring of ’73 for another, a Third Great Awakening, and I have continued to pray for such for 38 years.
Interestingly enough, I have seen an increase in the number of ministers and believers in Sovereign Grace, the theology of the First and Second Great Awakenings and of the launching of the Great Century of Missions. It is my fervent hope that this is the precursor of the awakening for which I have been praying. One must have the right theology, if one would have the blessing of such a visitation. However, even good theology can be misunderstood and misrepresented. Like onions gone to seed, the flavor can be quite rank. But in purity and passion, the truth can be so wonderful and glorious that it quite overwhelms the soul with its joyful attractions. This does not mean that every one will be in agreement or that there won’t be disagreements. Just look at the 1700s and early 1800s and the controversies associated with both awakenings. Even so the awakenings had a tremendous effect on so many areas of life. think of religious liberty, missions, etc. I even have a theory that the real true liberal is the most biblically orthodox believer, because he or she does not feel the need to compel belief by force. Rather, on the contrary, the desire and aim is to persuade by the truth and the truth alone.
Think of winning the whole earth in one generation and every soul on it and then for doing it for a 1000 generations. It was an old layman in Kenutcky who had read baptist association and church records with a home-made mircrofilm machine and had written about what he had found who askd me, “Have you ever thought about the fact that at ny time every last soul on the face of the earth could be the elect of God?” That question by the wisest man I ever met -about six or sever years after he asked it – in conjunction with Jonah 3:4, 9 completely demolished my eschatology and opened the door for me to see the possibility of the Gospel doing more than I had ever thought possible. O yes, add the promises of God to Abraham concerning a seed as innumerable as the stars of heaven, the sand of sea, and the dust of the earth and the other promises recorded by Jonathan Edwards in his Humble Attempt which inspired William Carey, Luther Rice, and others, and you will begin to grasp the possibility that God could have other plans for this earth and for His Gospel.
Think what a glory it would be to His holy name to win the whole earth by the most peaceful means imaginable, by sacrifical love, but that is simply Calvary being emphasized and magnified again and again.
“Instead of living as if your children ‘will be’ corrupted by the world, you should instead teach them to handle their own sinful natures in a wicked world. In order to communicate this, you must tell your children that they are what is wrong with the world. “
That sounds fairly sadistic to me. Sure children have the potential for great evil lurking in there somewhere somehow. But telling them “you are what is wrong with the world” is certainly not going to help them at all! Rather, why not just tell them to live right and obey God’s commandments. Teach them Romans 2:6-10
Romans 2:6-10
“God will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
If in your theology, this passage is somehow ‘heresy’ then you have a massive personal and mental problem. And undoubtedly your children are going to turn out to be little monsters, possibly even murderers and rapists.
There is another passage that says (Phil 4:8) “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” By dwelling on this notion that “you are what is wrong with the world” you will not become any better. Rather, you are what you think, as Proverbs 23:7 says “as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
2 Cor 3:18 also says “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” We become better not by dwelling on our own inadequacy but by dwelling on the example of the Lord himself. By beholding and meditating on the ultimate good example we are changed from glory to glory. If, rather, we behold and meditate on our own evil, we will wax worse and worse as 2 Tim 3:13 says “But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
The way to raise kids is to put the example of Christ before their eyes. To teach them to mediate on his perfection, to constantly behold the face of God, so that they can be transformed from glory to glory. To teach them to behold their own sinfulness and meditate on this constantly will only make them more and more evil over time until the rival the devil himself in abominableness. Such is unfortunately the whirlwind that much of the protest world is reaping in its children, “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7).
Rey, thanks for the comment, but you’re completely out of line in my mind. You’re no where close to the article I wrote above. Read the article again, and then respond again… but, don’t take 1 sentence, pluck it out of context, and attack it continually. Read the WHOTLE article above, respond based on ALL I’ve written, and I’ll try to respond.
“until the rival” should be “until they rival”. “protest world” should be “Protestant world”
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