Review events leading up to this: Joshua had led Israel into Canaan and they possessed their promised possession. They now have rest and the promise has been fulfilled (Joshua 21:43-45). But there was still much work to be done. Our text occurs after Joshua and his generation died (Judges 2:7-9). We are told, another generation arose that did not know God and that forsook Him (2:10-12). The book of Judges points out that this became a pattern for Israel (cf. 2:11-23). How could this happen? How does this apply to us?
I. I Believe It Started with Failure of Parents & Grandparents
A.
They did not drive out all the
Canaanites – They did not complete the task of securing the land - 1:27-36
As a result, God was displeased – 2:1-3.
Consider also Deuteronomy 6:6-9 – Did they fulfill their responsibilities? What
we have are parents not totally committed. This “rubbed off” on their children
who were less faithful.
B.
Second Generation Servants
There is a pattern of spiritual development that can be seen within many
families of God and in many churches. And it’s generational. Usually there are
3 generations (types) of Christians –
1.
First generation – this the one
who hears the gospel and readily receives it. He obeys from the heart and
usually comes from a background which causes him to appreciate His relationship
with God.
Like Paul he says, “By the grace of God, I am what I am” 1 Corinthians 15:10.
He is zealous, obeys God completely and gladly. God is #1 in his life.
2. Second Generation – He is “raised in the church” and has gone all his life. He obeys the gospel, usually as a child, knows he needs to go to church and does. He does some work, but not with the zeal of his parents (the first generation Christians). I think of the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:4. They serve faithfully, but only because it is DUTY.
3.
Third Generation – They see the
half-hearted service of their parents. They see the inconsistencies, ritual and
constant complaining of their parents. They may “obey the gospel” and they do
“go to church”, but only because they have to go. Yet because they are at
“church” every Sunday they hear what is supposed to be happening. Perhaps they
see numerous inconsistencies among brethren as well. (NEVER underestimate the
power of your example).
The result is when they leave home – they quit God. Some gradually, but with
many it is immediately! This IS THE GENERATION THAT DOES NOT KNOW GOD! They
may know OF God, but they don’t know Him!
C.
The problem:
GOD
HAS NO GRANDCHILDREN!!
It has been said that the church is always only ONE generation from apostasy. How true this is:
1. Even in the first century, we read of apostasy within the church.
2.
If proper attitudes of respect
for authority are not instilled, we will see innovations introduced that are
foreign to God’s word. And it won’t take very long (ABOUT ONE GENERATION)
before the church has completely left God.
The Christian church is an example of this – as they introduced the instrument
into worship and began establishing missionary societies. Look at that church
today – they boast to be simply “a denomination among many”
Even among churches of Christ – there have been innovations introduced that many
here have seen divide churches and draw them further and further away from God.
Churches that expand upon God’s role for her work and organization. And because
of their disregard for the authority of God’s word – every generation grows
further and further away until even many of them boast that we are just “another
denomination”. That is why we HAVE TO STAY WITH THE PATTERN established in
God’s word. When we stray from the “old paths” we become vulnerable
3.
OUR CHALLENGE: To become first
generation Christians and instill those values in our children.
As parents we have an awesome responsibility to teach our children, both in word
and deed. BUT there has to come a time when they realize for themselves that
they need God and that the only way they will make to heaven is if they put Him
FIRST! They have to become first generation Christians!
Will there be a church of Christ for the next generation? Cf. Luke 18:8
II. Who Is To Blame When Churches Die?
A.
Why are churches splintering?
Churches are dying, “holding their own” and some are being held together by a
handful of old warriors who will soon pass from this life which will result in
the church closing its doors.
Will there be a true church of Christ for the next
generation? Who has the greatest responsibility?
B. The church itself? In many cases, the local church has some blame. When there are weak leaders, poor Bible classes, no vision and planning, etc. a church is in danger of stagnating.
C. Is society to blame? Certainly it IS against God. And there are many forces - peer pressure, temptations, evil companions, humanism - which implants ideas to reject God.
D.
The individual himself?
Ultimately if you are lost, you can blame no one but yourself!
Ezekiel 18:19-20 – the soul that sins shall die
2 Corinthians 5:10 – you will stand in judgment before God and answer for YOU!
E. The family? Much and perhaps MOST of the blame rests here! At least, this is what I want to address for a few moments. WHY?
Because it is a well known fact that children do what their parents do. Parents have always been the greatest source of influence in a determining the direction a child will go. Often children turn to other sources, but usually it is because of a failure in the parental example.
Yes there are many who disobey in spite of their parents, but there are also many who become strong, faithful Christians in spite of their parents as well.
We have responsibility – Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; Prov. 22:6
We
have to be the example – Ezekiel 16:44 which speaks of the proverb, “like
mother, like daughter”,
1 Kings 15:26 – speaks of Nadab the son of Jeroboam walking in the way of
his father doing evil in the sight of the Lord.
Multitudes of examples, both good and bad, can be cited in God’s word that
show the influence of parents upon a child.
There
is a story that I read in a bulletin a number of years ago that says:
“Three months ago I sat in a courtroom and heard a judge say, “Twenty
years”. He was pronouncing sentence on my 21 year old son, a sentence for
drinking, gambling, and robbery, which ended in the shooting and near death
of a man.
The sentence might have been less, but my son had a sneering, defiant
attitude all through the trial…ridiculing every officer who spoke to him.
But the drowning, shocking climax came when the judge asked, “Young man,
don’t you believe in God?” He laughed aloud as he said, “God, Who’s that?”
Every eye in the courtroom turned and looked at me.
I went to Sunday school when I was small and had learned all about God.
After I married, I decided to go again and take my children, but could not
persuade my husband to go, so the children and I went regularly for a year.
Then, I skipped two or three services and then went only on special days.
Soon I joined a recreation team and competed on Sunday afternoons. I
couldn’t go to church and get ready in time to play, and sports was so much
fun. If only I had those years to live over. Night after night, since the
court trial, I have walked the floor with the words, “God?...Who’s that?” in
my ears.
When I think of the wasted years of “having fun” instead of meeting God at
His appointed place, I am sick with shame. I’m trying to make restitution
by urging other people to go. So many say they do not believe in making a
child go to church if he doesn’t want to go, but how many would go to school
if they were not made to go? As yourself that question. --- Author
Unknown, From the Southeast Sower, Akron,
Ohio. Date unknown.
Brethren, never underestimate the power of being a proper example to your children!
III. Are We Sacrificing Our Children?
A.
Ezekiel 16:20-21 speaks of
Jerusalem’s condemnation shortly before their captivity was completed.
2 Chronicles 33:4-6 records the rebellion of Manasseh in Judah as he defiled the
temple and sacrificed his children – what an abomination. It was his conduct
that prompted God to say once and for all, “That’s it!”
2 Kings 6:26-29, Years earlier, before the fall of Israel we read of two women
in Samaria who were so desperate for food that they boiled a son and ate him.
HOW TRAGIC!
B.
Could we do such an abominable
thing? I know I couldn’t. NEVER! I don’t even know if I could do as Abraham did
when he was told to offer up his son in Genesis 22.
Everyone here sees how horrible and beyond imagination such conduct is.
C. BUT are we offering up our children to OTHER IDOLS? Are we willing to sacrifice the souls of our children to fulfill our own selfish gratifications?
a. Many parents, are allowing their children to run to every altar that Satan erects. Some even push them down that road!
b.
Do we seek popularity for our
children? Some parents will allow their children to wear whatever they want and
go wherever they want to go because it is the popular thing to do.
If something is wrong or questionable (such as dancing, certain types of
fashion, etc) we should stay away from it. Romans 14:22-23
c.
Do we show a love for things more
than God? Do we place more emphasis in our lives on material possessions that
spiritual possessions. Do our children see us worshipping the “almighty dollar”
as they are spiritually neglected?
WHAT is our definition of success where our children are concerned?
Consider 1 Timothy 6:6-10 among many other passages.
d. Do we keep our children so busy there is no time left for God? Do we fail to study the Bible at home? Do we skip the worship services for every little excuse that comes along? Do we see Sunday and Wednesday nights as less important than Sunday morning? WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN? Consider Matthew 6:33, 10:37-38, etc.
Let it be understood, that as parents we have a large part AND RESPONSIBILITY in the way our children turn out. If they rebel let it be IN SPITE of all you have done instead of BECAUSE of what you have done.
Turning back to our text, the result of Israel’s sins seen in seen in Judges 2:12-15. God gave them over to ungodly nations to punish them. When we fail our children – Revelation 20:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 – they will be lost, but we might be there beside them, UNLESS we repent! THE FUTURE OF THIS CHURCH RESTS IN WHAT WE DO NOW!
TATJR