Last summer at a children’s birthday party my three-year-old son pretended to be a pirate along with the five-year-old honoree and a gang of other children. The birthday boy and my son really like each other and play well together when they get the chance, but this was not our usual crowd. Earlier this year I had helped the mother with one of her community projects and had babysat her son a few times. I was drawn to helping this single woman any way that I could, including praying daily for her salvation. I didn’t want to miss the party, so I dressed Nathaniel in a pirate’s outfit and suited myself with the armor of God, not knowing what conversations I would encounter.
Two very warm women—a Muslim and a follower of what she calls “oneness”—found their way to me and we talked about marriage. The Muslim was divorced and the other woman a predetermined single mother. They challenged traditional notions of marriage, including the man being the head of the house, with one saying her friends who have an open marriage “are one of the happiest couples I know.” Without attacking, I simply said many people misunderstand the Christian standard of submission and leadership and don’t realize that the husband is called to a sacrificial love, to put his desires secondary and those of his family first (Ephesians 5:23-29). The standard for the Christian husband as leader is Jesus Christ, not male domination. With quiet contemplation, they stared at me as if they had just heard a new idea, an idea that springs from the knowledge that the Apostle Peter talks about in 1:5, knowledge that we must teach our children.
The definition of knowledge means “moral wisdom, i.e., such as is seen in right living.” What is the basis of this moral wisdom? It’s not just being a good person that the world talks about, only rooted in a system of universal moral truths: don’t steal, kill, cheat; in essence following the 10 Commandments. While these ARE the basis (and basics) for all moral truth, none of us can keep these perfectly because we are imperfect human beings. We can’t rely upon and teach our children “as long as the good outweighs the bad” then we are ok with man and God. I don’t think that logic will suffice for the family that may suffer from a sin that our child may have committed against one of their loved ones. It’s not the reasoning that gets us to heaven.
So what makes Christian morality different than general morality? What should we teach our children so they understand the difference between the two and have a clear knowledge about why Christianity stands alone? Our knowledge of morality is based on a perfect person, the God-man Jesus Christ, and He is our barometer for morality, both positionally and physically. He came from heaven to show us the way. He died to be the way for us. Once we accept His death on the cross we are placed into the body of Christ and can live the message of Christ.
All throughout 2 Peter 1 we see the word knowledge. First Peter 1:5 tells us that this knowledge is moral wisdom and the other references tell us the source of that moral wisdom: God the Father and Jesus Christ. The only way we can live proper moral lives is through knowing the source of our morality and what He expects of us. It makes sense that we share this with our children. They need to know that salvation comes through Jesus and our maintenance (sanctification)--the ability to live a saved life--comes through Him, too. This knowledge helps our children with their walk (having proper moral wisdom) and prepares them for their witness (sharing proper moral wisdom). In order to receive salvation and to walk in sanctification, they have to make a decision for Christ for themselves. OUR decision for Christ won't cut it for them and neither will basic morality.
Knowing these three basics—who God is, who we are and what we are supposed to do—is key to understanding the difference between Christian morality and worldly views of morality:
The Word Says
- "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
- No one is good, but we are made righteous through Him (Matthew 19:17, Psalm 14:3, Romans 3:10, 22, 10:3).
- We should follow the word of God and not our own dictates (Romans 8:13).
The World Says
- There are many ways to God. It just matters that you are sincere in what you believe.
- Everyone is basically good.
- Do what you believe is right as long as you don’t hurt anybody.
Of course there are a multitude of differences and I challenge you to add to this short list. When you do, get ready to engage your children, no matter what their age, with activities such as these:
“Who Said This?” Present your children with a biblical teaching and a teaching from the world and ask them to choose where the message comes from. As your children gain biblical knowledge, you can choose sayings from the world that almost sound like they could be in the Bible, like “God helps those who help themselves” and “If you take one step, God’ll take two.”
“What Would You Do?” Describe a scenario with a dilemma and ask them how they would handle it. You can leave the scenario open or present to them worldly and godly choices and have them select from those. After you hear their responses, help shape their response to a Christian worldview if necessary.
“What Have You Heard?” Ask your children what they have heard at school, in the media and elsewhere about different issues. Let one child share, perhaps over dinner, their “What Have You Heard” issue and discuss it with them at the table. Look up the issue in a topical bible or bible concordance to see what the Bible says.
You could use any of these ideas during family game night, in the car or as a bible study. Make it fun by offering incentives, like ice cream, a favorite meal or special TV time. Whatever within reason you know will help your children look forward to the time—including your excitement, you should do that.
Jesus told his disciples that He was going to send them out as sheep among wolves then said therefore “be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Jesus knew His disciples—we—would have to remember our own interests while witnessing to nonbelievers without following their ideas of morality. This is not easy, but armed with the knowledge from 2 Peter 1 we can help our children understand that moral wisdom is based on the person of Christ, not some manmade system that makes us feel satisfied. When we do this, we are working to put the Kingdom first.
Rhonda J. Smith is a former college speech instructor & communications coordinator turned full-time homemaker & journalist. The writing of this committed wife and mother who earned her Bachelor’s degree in journalism and a Master’s degree in communication from Wayne State University, Detroit, has been featured in The Detroit News, Newsday (New York), Chicago Tribune, Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI),Guideposts, and Charisma Magazine.
Rhonda frequently speaks at ministry functions, writes and edits newsletters for Christian ministries, and teaches public speaking workshops. Three times a week, she encourages women to lean on God's strength instead of their own through her blog, Musings of a (Recovering) Strong Black Woman. She, her husband and three sons attend Evangel Ministries in Detroit, where they live.
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