Kids are impressionable, and things their parents say and do make a significant impact on their behaviour. It is fun to see the personalities of these little ones begin to emerge, but not all that we see or hear is pleasing because it can be a portrayal of us parents at our worst. A common tendency in many kids is the ironic and unbecoming attitude I will simply call "bossy." Watch an older brother or sister for very long and it's likely they will order their sibling around or tattle on them when they are not doing what they think is right. The demands placed on them are quickly (and in their minds fairly) placed on all others. It seems for some kids a necessary step in the maturation process, something unfortunately not all grow out of.
This kind of concrete "black and white" thinking pervasive in kids can be maintained in adults who lean towards legalism. "That's not fair!" or "That's just wrong!" are phrases often through which the world and others are viewed. It is true there is a lot wrong in the world and even the church packed with sinners, but it is good to remember we are not the authority: God is. Those who are raised in Christian homes and were taught in Sunday School likely received a large dose of what to do and what not to do. For little concrete thinkers the Law of Moses is Gospel. Some have responded by avoiding teaching the Ten Commandments or emphasising the love of God instead. But we need the Law to see we are proud, selfish, hypocritical legalists who desperately need to repent. God forbid we would teach Law without explaining the modern purpose of the Law, and we should employ it unto that end: to reveal our need for salvation by grace through faith in Jesus.
Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. Knowing right and wrong is one thing, but doing it is another matter entirely. It is natural for us to judge others self-righteously according to Law (and even according to a subjective standard we hold forth as righteous), but Jesus said in John 7:24, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." We ought to use righteous judgment, knowing that the severity of the judgment we place upon others is the degree God will see we drink to the dregs (Matthew 7:1-2). Those who are teachers (this includes parents who instruct their kids) will receive harsher judgment even in our age of grace (James 3:1-2). Not one of us is perfect, even in our understanding of the scriptures we imagine we know well. Many times Jesus said, "It has been written...but I say unto you..." going far beyond the reach of the Law of Moses and addressing the sin in our hearts. If we accuse and condemn others in hypocrisy, it is we who are most wrong.
As teachers of God's Word we are called to teach the whole Bible, the Law of Moses included, providing the overarching context of God's grace which saturates scripture. Without knowledge of the Law we are without that tutor or schoolmaster who leads us by the hand to Jesus. Can you imagine trying to learn mathematics or English without a teacher? We live in a world where many people feel they can do no wrong, but God loves us enough to show us otherwise. Praise the LORD God's power remains without limit to teach people His ways from all backgrounds and perspectives. His Word is sharp and powerful, and the Holy Spirit transcends man's best efforts to convey truth. There remains right and wrong, and God is able to show us the times when we were positive we were right but actually were dead wrong. Instead of judging according to appearance, we are to judge righteously by God's grace.
This kind of concrete "black and white" thinking pervasive in kids can be maintained in adults who lean towards legalism. "That's not fair!" or "That's just wrong!" are phrases often through which the world and others are viewed. It is true there is a lot wrong in the world and even the church packed with sinners, but it is good to remember we are not the authority: God is. Those who are raised in Christian homes and were taught in Sunday School likely received a large dose of what to do and what not to do. For little concrete thinkers the Law of Moses is Gospel. Some have responded by avoiding teaching the Ten Commandments or emphasising the love of God instead. But we need the Law to see we are proud, selfish, hypocritical legalists who desperately need to repent. God forbid we would teach Law without explaining the modern purpose of the Law, and we should employ it unto that end: to reveal our need for salvation by grace through faith in Jesus.
Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. Knowing right and wrong is one thing, but doing it is another matter entirely. It is natural for us to judge others self-righteously according to Law (and even according to a subjective standard we hold forth as righteous), but Jesus said in John 7:24, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." We ought to use righteous judgment, knowing that the severity of the judgment we place upon others is the degree God will see we drink to the dregs (Matthew 7:1-2). Those who are teachers (this includes parents who instruct their kids) will receive harsher judgment even in our age of grace (James 3:1-2). Not one of us is perfect, even in our understanding of the scriptures we imagine we know well. Many times Jesus said, "It has been written...but I say unto you..." going far beyond the reach of the Law of Moses and addressing the sin in our hearts. If we accuse and condemn others in hypocrisy, it is we who are most wrong.
As teachers of God's Word we are called to teach the whole Bible, the Law of Moses included, providing the overarching context of God's grace which saturates scripture. Without knowledge of the Law we are without that tutor or schoolmaster who leads us by the hand to Jesus. Can you imagine trying to learn mathematics or English without a teacher? We live in a world where many people feel they can do no wrong, but God loves us enough to show us otherwise. Praise the LORD God's power remains without limit to teach people His ways from all backgrounds and perspectives. His Word is sharp and powerful, and the Holy Spirit transcends man's best efforts to convey truth. There remains right and wrong, and God is able to show us the times when we were positive we were right but actually were dead wrong. Instead of judging according to appearance, we are to judge righteously by God's grace.
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