Teaching Christian Values

Kids are faced with many temptations and opportunities to make right and wrong decisions. Here are some suggestions for how to raise children in the Christian way.

How can we help our children to make right and wrong decisions in today's society when there is no longer a clear-cut "right" or "wrong" anymore? It is apparent that people care less and less about what is right or wrong, as long as something makes them feel good. This is true both inside and outside of a Christian lifestyle. We can make excuses for just about everything, and think that all is okay. But, Jesus does not feel this way. In Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) it is written, "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." God's word does not change. These are still the greatest commandments in our world today. In fact, they envelope every command that God gave us in the Ten Commandments. ACTIVITY: Write each of the Ten Commandments on a separate index card. Title two other index cards (headers): "Love God" and "Love Others," as these are the two greatest commandments that Jesus mentions in Matthew 22:37-40. Place the two header cards side-byside on a table. Now go through each of the Ten Commandments that you have written down and place it under either of the two header cards where you think it best fits. You will quickly see how all of the Ten Commandments can be summed up into the two greatest commandments that Jesus has given us. The Ten Commandments have not been replaced by Jesus' new commandments, but have been summed up to say that if you love God and love others, you will naturally be following the original Ten Commandments. Below are the essential character traits that give us Christian values. Christian values are a way of life and should become very natural in how we think and treat God and others. Of course, values can differ from household to household, like traditions, but the traits listed below are biblically supported, and, thus, make them important to pass on to our children. Honesty - Exodus 20:16, Leviticus 19:11-13, Job 31:6, Proverbs 12:17, Proverbs 24:26, Jeremiah 5:1, Matthew 19:19, Ephesians 4:25, Colossians 3:9 - show how strongly God dislikes lies and distrust. If we want to be like God and portray the Christian values that He wants us to have, we have to give up telling lies. We must be truthful always. Like a father who disciplines his earthly child when he has done wrong, so God will discipline his children when they lie and are deceitful. On the other hand, just as an earthly father wants to praise and bless his child for being honest, so does God want to bless his children when we are honest. Integrity - Genesis 18:19, Deuteronomy 12:28, 1 Chronicles 18:14, Job 1:8, Proverbs 2:21, 2 Thessalonians 3:13, Titus 1:8 - are verses that show how much it pleases God to see us as people of integrity. Someone who does what is right, even when it is a sacrifice. We are not perfect. We were not intended to be perfect. God needs to know that we will lean on Him and trust in Him when we are tempted or not strong. Prayer is a great source of power that God has given us to
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communicate directly with Him. So, lift up your prayers when you feel your integrity is being compromised. Wait on God's answer patiently. He will never fail you! Compassion - Exodus 22:27, Deuteronomy 13:17, Judges 2:18, 2 Kings 13:23, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 103:13, Isaiah 30:18, Matthew 9:36, Mark 1:41, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12-are verses that refer to how often the Lord has had compassion on his people and how Jesus felt compassion for the sick and lame. And, in Colossians 3:12, Paul is telling us to mirror Jesus and have compassion on others. We greatly show our Christian love when we reach out to others in need. This can be as simple as cheering up a good friend who is down to reaching out across the world and helping missionaries in Third World countries who need supplies to enable them to continue teaching others about Christ. Don't you feel happy when someone grants you compassion? Return the love. Self-Discipline - Galatians 5:22-24, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 2 Timothy 1:7, Titus 1:8, Titus 2:12, 1 Peter 4:7, 2 Peter 1:5-7 - are verses that demand that we have self-discipline or self-control. This means not giving in to what we want without thinking about the consequences or praying to God if this is His will for our life. Many times we want to do something and feel that we cannot wait, but when we do wait and exercise patience, we discover that we really did not want it in the first place. No impulse! We must learn to control our actions and feelings; harness ourselves, so to speak. Respect - Leviticus 19:3, Leviticus 19:32, Proverbs 11:16, Romans 13:7, Ephesians 5:33, 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 1 Timothy 3:4, Titus 2:2, 1 Peter 2:17, 1 Peter 3:15 - are verses that show that God wants us to have respect for Him and His position of authority. We must also respect each other, treating everyone with kindness and fairness, in order to obey God's Word. Simple words like "please" and "thank you" go a long way to show someone that you respect them. It is just as easy to build someone up than to tear them down. But, building someone up makes both of you feel good! As you can see, these five Christian values line up with the great commandments to love God and to love others. With daily practice and a heartfelt desire to please God, these values will quickly bring on blessings from God and shower you and your family with feelings of accomplishment, encouragment, and fulfillment.