It happens a lot! In fact, it seems to be happening more and more. Young people grow up in a Christian home, with godly parents who teach them God’s Word and regularly take them to Bible class and worship. But then, when the young people graduate and get out on their own, what they once believed themselves (and even taught, in some cases) is abandoned for something more palatable or popular. Some will say under their breath or some may say with great delight, “I don’t agree with my parents on that anymore!”
As interesting as that statement is, and even as hurtful as it can be in some cases, would you please read this next statement? Whether you still agree with your parents on a certain matter is actually irrelevant. The question is—Do you agree with God?
What some parents teach may not be what God teaches. What other parents teach may be exactly what God teaches. One’s faith does not need to be in what his/her parents teach but in what God Himself says! BUT, here’s the thing! If your parents have taught you what God Himself teaches on a matter, and if you then decide that you do not agree with your parents anymore, your new-found freedom and your disagreement is not with your parents but with GOD! Do you agree with God on singing acapella in worship? That is what God teaches (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). If Shem did not agree with Noah on using only gopherwood in the ark, his disagreement would have actually been with God!
Do you agree with God on only men leading in the worship of the church and not women? That is what God teaches (1 Tim. 2:8-14; 1 Cor. 14:34-35). If Philip’s daughters did not agree with him on women not teaching over a man (Acts 21:8-9), their disagreement would have actually been with God!
Do you agree with God on baptism being essential for salvation from sin? That is what God teaches (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). If Peter’s children grew up to believe that baptism was not essential, their disagreement would have been with God!
Do you agree with God on the unique nature of His one church established in the New Testament? That is what God teaches (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 4:4). Do you agree with God on divorce and remarriage only being permitted by God for the reason of your spouse’s fornication? That is what God teaches (Matt. 5:32; 19:9). Do you agree with God on the sinfulness of drinking alcohol? That is what God teaches (Eph. 5:18; 1 Thess. 5:5-8; 1 Pet. 2:11; Prov. 20:1; 23:29-35).
The question is not, “Do you still agree with your parents?” The question will always be, “Do you agree with God?”
-David Sproule
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