HOW DO I PREPARE MY CHILDREN TO STAND AS A WITNESS OF JESUS CHRIST & CONSECRATE THEIR LIVES TO GOD?
Martin Luther once taught, “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest expression every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace, if he flinches at that point.”
People often ask me: “How do I train my children to stand for Christ?” And as Martin Luther said—“so that they will not flinch at the very point where the devil is attacking?” This too was also a great concern for me as a young mother. Like all good Christians, I began with the basics—teaching my children how to pray, teaching them to turn to scripture for answers (even though I never really showed them where in scripture), and by attending our Sunday and mid-week meetings in hopes that one day they would ‘stand’. However, as they approached the teen years, I did not see my children professing boldly—let alone to the most critical and challenging points. Perhaps it was because they had parents who were cowards and who were themselves shunning the especially sensitive and current attacks of the adversary. My husband and I had been lulled to sleep with apathy—content in knowing that others were fighting those battles. I believe this was the attitude of my children too.
AS THE SAVIOR DRAWS NEAR
Throughout the scriptures, we find that the ‘Believers’ were persecuted and mocked for their faith in Jesus Christ. Their persecution came not only from individuals outside of the Church—but also from within. Some were even martyred, sacrificing their very lives for the cause of truth. Many times, the sources of their persecution would include their own families as well. As the Savior draws nearer to His return, it seems that persecution throughout the world is increasing. The parallels of our time with those in the Book of Mormon are very similar. In our preparation for what is to come, it is crucial for us to be aware of how many of our brothers and sisters are suffering and enduring for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Learning of, and studying, the examples of others who have walked a similar path can provide a new point of view on how to endure persecution with courage and grace, how to stand as a witness of Jesus Christ in all things, and what it means to consecrate our lives to the Lord as we prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior. Families not only need to know what is going on in the world RIGHT NOW, but we need to know that we have a responsibility to stand up and do our part to help relieve this suffering. Perhaps it is your family’s calling to teach correct principles and help correct the foundational problem, or maybe your mission is to work together directly with those who are persecuted. Whatever it is we are called to do, we must not sit idly by while so many are being attacked. Are we providing a sufficient ‘witness’ when we, as ‘believers’ who are blessed with a world-changing Gospel, draw back from opportunities to take a stand in a world that seeks to maim, kill, and destroy followers of Christ?
PREPARING OUR FAMILIES
When we first began our journey as a family — awakening from our time of being lulled and learning what real consecration meant—we were introduced to the idea of using movies to educate ourselves. Initially, I was a little hesitant, as the movies on the list of ‘Christian persecution’ movies given to us were far from the high-budget films I had been used to. I was certain there would be no way to get my family to watch them. The first movie that was shared with me — Flame in the Wind—I could not bring myself to watch for weeks; I honestly did not think we could learn from it. Little did I know that it would become one of my favorite movies, as I related so well to the main character. I actually felt changed after watching it and had a visual for what I am seeing in the world right now and in my own life. The movie depicts a young man who has a great desire to do good and to defend the Gospel—but the Gospel he wants to defend is under attack and being changed. Despite the danger, he can no longer remain silent. We likewise are seeing the same things as Religious freedoms are under attack and our own church history is being rewritten.
However, it was not until I watched the movie Tortured for Christ that I made the decision to stand up for Christ, regardless of the cost. The scene with Richard Wurmbrand and his wife, Sabina, sitting in church and listening to the Russian communist takeover, came across the screen. As the music in the background drops Sabina leans over and encourages Richard (a convert of only 3 years) to stand up for freedom. He responds that if he does take a stand, she will no longer have a husband. She explains to him that she did not marry a coward. This was when I chose to stand too. I did not want my spouse or children to think I was a coward in the Gospel. I wanted to set an example for them that they could follow, just as I was going to follow the example of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand.
Creating a Biblical Worldview
Using movies and books to educate can be powerful. Through the use of movies, we can effect change in our family culture to strengthen faith, initiative, creativity, and vision. I have found inspiring movies to be the quickest way to transform a humanistic worldview into a Biblical worldview. Our family began gaining a stronger Biblical worldview by gathering weekly to watch an uplifting movie. No longer is everyone in their own rooms, on their own devices. We quickly went through each of the movies on our list, and then repeated them more than a few times; we had begun to hunger for the principles taught in them. No longer did we care for the thrill, action, or expensive sets and high-paid actors. Watching someone burn at the stake for Jesus Christ stirred emotion and motivation that could not be found in a Marvel movie. The influence that had driven the real characters in the stories we were watching to do what they did was the same influence that drove our family to return to the living room weekend after weekend in a quest to understand why. Standing for Christ as they had done had become our mission too.
Many of those who were persecuted are now revered and remembered with great affection as outstanding men and women of God—passionate for the cause of Christ, powerful in evangelism, and having persevered in suffering for the sake of the Jesus they loved.
TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION
Now, as a grandmother, I want to teach my grandchildren that they too will be a target of persecution, and for everything else they will encounter in life, they must turn to Christ. My home is now filled with movies even for them on this subject. Every single movie on my shelf teaches about Jesus Christ–and His attributes. I want my family to know who I am and where I stand now by my movies – that life is not easy, that Christ is not a Superman or Santa Claus, because as soon as struggles or suffering come – and they will come – their faith could fall to the wayside. To counteract this, my grandchildren need a true and accurate understanding of our Savior and of His promises. Movies are one of the greatest inventions when used correctly to teach and to help pass down this faith.
MOVIES
ZionTube- https://josephsmithfoundation.org/tag/christian-persecution/
Recommended Booklist- https://ldsanswers.org/recommended-books-christian-persecution-joseph-smith-foundation/
Our family YouTube playlist-https://youtu.be/XHqBTBcHmMQ
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