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| Q: | I am a WELS practicing Christian. I often think about raising children in this world and it scares me. It scares me more than anything. I know I should have more faith. I don't know what I would do if my child was kidnapped, or brutally murdered. I don't know what I would do if my child would grow up an unbeliever. My fears are so strong that they are a great hindrance to having children. I believe strongly that God makes us His children through baptism, and that the Holy Spirit keeps our faith alive, and that God gives us the strength to resist temptation. I know this. But what if my child grows up and is influenced heavily by a world which condemns our true Christian beliefs as "hate crimes" by just speaking out against homosexuality? Is my faith weak, or are my fears justified? Doesn't Revelations teach that the times will get "unbearable"? Sure, our names are written in the book of life, but aren't the "odds" against any human keeping his/her faith? | ||||||
| A: | Your concerns about raising children in a society that is indeed increasingly hostile to absolute truth in general and Christian truth in specific are very understandable. However, if we live as if the devil and those who do his will are in control of this world, we have missed a very important and comforting point of Scripture. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the victorious ruler of all things. For instance, the book of Revelation does indeed mention some very troubling and difficult times as the world grows closer to its end. But the beauty of that very book is that every vision of Revelation ends in the glory of heaven with a countless host of saints singing praise to God for the eternal victory they enjoy (Revelation 5:9-14; 7:9-17; 11:15-19; etc.). The message of Revelation is clear: no matter how dark it may look at times, and especially in the last times, God and his people always win. Or again in Matthew 24:24, after mentioning that there will indeed be many false prophets and false christs who will deceive many, Jesus promises us that those deceptions cannot deceive God's elect children. Or look at Psalm 2, as the nations rage against the Lord and his Messiah, what is God's reaction? "The One enthroned in heaven laughs" (Psalm 2:4). God laughs because no one can overthrow his Son and his kingdom. By faith, you and I are a part of that kingdom just as is every child washed in the water of baptism! Finally, remember, that as God's people, we are the salt and light of a decaying and dark world. And, if God let's this world continue for another generation, our children will be that salt and light in the next generation. Christian parents sharing the Word with their children is one tool God uses to give the gift of another generation of those who are salt and light to the world! | ||||||
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