You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. Deuteronomy 11:19-21

A new study coming out of the United Kingdom has shared some interesting stuff.

For example, the study, done by ComRes, and paid for by Theos, a religious think tank, has discovered that

1. 34 percent of parents thought social media has more influence on their children than they do.

2. A little over 50 percent said they feel uncomfortable talking with their kids about their faith.

3. In England and Wales for the first time there are more unbelievers than believers.

Those figures are shocking, but there was one which, I think, guarantees the decline of the church for the foreseeable future: 23 percent of Christian parents are worried their little ones might be rejected by their classmates if their faith becomes a public thing.

The really scary part is how those parents plan to deal with the problem. These parents are not

* developing a confirmation program to help the kids stand up for their beliefs;

* teaching the children about their legal rights;

* educating them on how to withstand or avoid a religious bully.

Nope, a fair percentage of these parents have decided the best way they can help their children of faith avoid being persecuted -- are you ready -- is not tell them anything.

The rather long passage up above, the one from Deuteronomy, which outlines God's plan of education for parents and their children, has been put up on a high shelf where it can't be reached and it won't be remembered.

Instead of God's plan, the parents have agreed with this idea: if kids don't know anything about their faith, they won't say anything about that faith, and if they don't say anything about their faith, no one will pick on them.

Nobody can question the logic of these parents. Their logic is flawless if the greatest duty of a Christian parent is to assure their offspring have playmates.

On the other hand, if you, as a parent, are more concerned about seeing your children in heaven, you might want to share Jesus' salvation story when you are sitting at home or when you're walking by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise.

In short -- 24/7 -- tell your kids that Jesus gave His life so they could have life eternal.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant that parents everywhere may realize that You have entrusted them with helping a child's body, mind and soul grow strong. Most of all, let parents teach of Jesus, who is our Savior and the only path to heaven. In His Name we pray. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Ezekiel 11-13    1 Timothy 6

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