PARENTS STATEMENT
OF BELIEF AND PURPOSE
I believe in the God of the Bible who created the heavens and the earth.
I believe that Jesus is the Christ the only begotten Son of God who is my Savior, Lord and Boss.
I believe that God requires children to obey their parents, and that parents are responsible for the education of their children, not government or society.
I believe that God's Word, the Bible, is the source of wisdom and knowledge. I reject the false philosophy of humanism and the false science of evolution.
Therefore I purpose to dedicate my life to God and to train my children:
TO PUT GOD FIRST:
To teach, train, and guide my children to put their full FAITH and TRUST in their Lord Jesus Christ, to put their HOPE in the return of Jesus, and to seek to LOVE Christ and one another with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40 WEB
TO DEVELOP CHRIST LIKE CHARACTER:
To build God's Word and Christ's character in each child so that they will be above approach and an "advertisement" of the Christian faith; a light shining in a dark world.
"You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16 WEB
TO BUILD GODLY FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS:
To teach each child to honor and obey their parents, to make wise choices in friends, to develop Christian character qualities in their lives, and to know and obey the Christian rules of courtship and marriage.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with a promise: "that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth." Ephesians 6:1-3 WEB (Also see Colossians 3:20 and Malachi 4:6)
TO GIVE A GOOD REPORT:
To train my children to demonstrate their love to the Lord and their loyalty to His Body by giving a good report of one another, and to follow Matthew 18 in the spirit of restoring rather than merely exposing and judging one another.
Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32 WEB (See also Galatians 6:1 and Matthew 7:1-5.)
TO DEVELOP FINANCIAL FREEDOM:
To instruct my children to apply God's principles of finance in their lives so God can provide specific direction and illustrate His supernatural power.
Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything, except to
love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:7,8 WEB (See also Luke 16:10-13 and Malachi 3:10)
TO WORSHIP GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH:
To train each child to learn how to genuinely worship the Lord Jesus Christ and how to edify one another.
Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father; Ephesians 5:19,20 WEB (Also see Colossians 3:15-17.)
TO DEVELOP CHRISTIAN DISCIPLINES:
To train my children the disciplines of giving, prayer, and fasting. Matthew 6:1-34
TO DEVELOP WORK SKILLS:
To train my children to develop salable skills by self study, experience in the work place, and Christian apprenticeship programs.
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death. Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked. He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth. He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame. Proverbs 10:2-5 WEB (See Proverbs 12:24 and 19:15)
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones. Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase: so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, don't despise Yahweh's discipline, neither be weary of his reproof: for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:5-12
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