As parents, it is our honor and duty to teach our children to view their world through a biblical lens, a world filled with identity politics, the social gospel, complicated terminology, and sneaky lies that often sound sensible at first. It can be daunting to play defense when our children ask difficult questions.
Some of the loudest and most misleading voices on this topic are coming from our left-leaning pulpits, seminaries and so-called Christian authors. Biblical churches and their member families are on the receiving end of some dangerous rhetoric. How do we stand firm and prepare the next generation?
Here is a simple list of ten principles that allow parents to be prepared and strengthened with specific truths that directly apply to the tough questions and yes, outright lies our children hear as they live in a fallen world. Once these truths are settled in the minds of our children, they will have everything they need to apply discernment in their thoughts, positions and conversations regarding race.
God created one kind of people, all of one blood, made in His image. (Gen 1:27, Acts 17:26, Rom 10:12-13, Gal 3:28)
The Christian’s identity is found in Christ alone. (Eph 1:3-14)
A Christian cannot be charged with sin found outside of God’s Word. Furthermore, each person is only held accountable for his or her own sins, not the corporate sins of ancestors, an ethnicity, or a system. (Num 5:7-8, Deut 24:16, Phil 2:12, Rev 20:13)
Biblical justice includes recognizing that all sin is wrong. Biblical principles should be consistently applied to prevent hypocrisy. (Prov 20:10, Matt 15:7-9)
A repentant sinner is justified as an individual, not as part of a group. (John 3:16, Rev 20:15)
Man is saved by grace alone, not by added works of social justice. (Rom 5:8, Eph 2:8-9)
The church has been established primarily to worship God, including the proclamation of the gospel. (Matt 28:18-20, Eph 2:20-22, I Pet 2:5)
The true church is the precious bride of Christ, the pillar and buttress of truth. (Rev 22:17, I Pet 2:9-10, Eph 2:19-22, 2 Cor 11:2, Matt 16:18)
Each passage of scripture has one fixed meaning originating from the author’s intent. (Compare Matt 9:13 with Hosea 6:6)
Life experiences must be interpreted through the lens of God’s Word, not vice versa. (Rom 12:2, 2 Cor 10:4-5, I Tim 3:16-17)
For a more in-depth treatment of this topic, please email babernk@ebcbryan.org.
