Synopsis "Battle for Young Minds: Five Words God Gives Young Men"
There is a battle going on for the minds of young men. This is evident from Hawkins new book to teenagers, Outgrowing God and in the Western Education system having roots John Dewey's pragmatism. Where he believed that reality must be experienced and thus truth is what works for you. In the first book of this series we look at what I taught my two teenage sons a key message to them from God: FIVE WORDS GOD GAVE TO YOUNG MEN. Out of all the things God could have said to young men, he kept it really short. Shorter than what was said to older men, older women, and young women. Sometimes being short with young men is important like the phrase "suck it up" when teaching responsibilities. That phrase never would work with my daughter and 30 minutes of talking really helped her. But with sons, that long talk would have diminishing returns - their brain goes defensive.So what are God's five words? Five Greek words in the original language of the Bible, eight in English: Likewise urge the young men to be sensible. I looked at what it means to be sensible in the Greek and it gives the idea of making your mind sound and heart safe. Fathers looking at this will understand immediately why God would say this to young men, having been one once a long time ago. You know men are not sensible and love horseplay and fooling around. Some pretty embarrassing moments we'd like to forget. So how do you Biblical make the mind sound and the heart safe? Safe from what you might ask? How do you know what is unsound? And how can that be compact enough to guide your sons the rest of their lives? You may have used preachers, Sunday school teachers and other coaches to help them learn, but this is a finishing effort really best done by the parent. The book outlines several lessons but focuses on one central teaching like the constitution of the Bible. No doctrine or teaching should ever conflict with this constitution and my sons learned how to use this passage for the whole Bible, for life, deliverance from sin, and sanctification by Truth. No doctrine should conflict with this and you need to recognize the opposite of it. By looking at John 14:6 a basis of being sensible is anchored. The opposite of John 14:6 is also revealed to show real enemies exist out in life. Each chapter has at the end a "feedback" set of exercises to that the son can be tested for understanding. Like other book studies, the idea is for father to be familiar with the material and walk through the book with their son(s) and have them do the exercises. Then review the exercises and clarify items as needed. We met at times without conflicts like Sunday afternoons since they both were busy in High school. I can remember when my sons realized how brainwashed their education had already been when it came to truth. The surprise they had that it wasn't knowledge as the skill, but living by faith the target of their training. Both sons have their own families, recognize their spiritual headship, and are active for Christ in their churches and associations. Carlan is a medical missionary in Africa and John Mark an accountant in Southern California. I rejoice greatly that my children are walking in the truth. Jesus Christ being The Way, and the Truth, and the Life and the only authority to bring someone to the Father deserves the credit. The Father was right, "Listen to Him."
