Yesterday’s Wars “The Children’s Crusade (1212) was one of the strangest and most tragic events in the history of the Crusades. Thousands of boys and girls from about 10 to 18 years old became convinced that they could recover Jerusalem [from the Muslims who had centuries before taken it violently...Islam's goal of global domination hasn't changed, by the way]. They expected God to part the waters of the Mediterranean Sea so that they could cross safely to Jerusalem. None of the children reached the Holy Land. Many starved or froze to death…[some] returned home in shame….Others got aboard ships going to the East and either were drowned in storms at sea or sold into slavery by the Muslims.” (World Book Encyclopedia, “Crusades”)
In the Harris’s book, Do Hard Things, a case is made for teenagers to dispel the modern, oppressive cultural lie of low expectations. It encourages teenagers to work hard, train, study, build, and create things for the good of mankind and the glory of God. Going to war wasn’t mentioned. Why not?
God usually does not call children into battle, but rather He calls armed and trained men.
In the nation of Israel, only men 20-years-old and older and who were able to handle a spear and shield were numbered to go to war. (2 Chron. 25:5)
Today’s War “Nothing short of great Civil War of Values rages today throughout North America. Two sides with vastly differing and incompatible world-views are locked in a bitter conflict that permeates every level of society…the struggle now is for the hearts and minds of the people. It is a war over ideas. And someday soon, I believe, a winner will emerge and the loser will fade from memory. For now, the outcome is very much in doubt. (James Dobson, Children at Risk, p. 19-20)
Parents are commanded to raise and equip children until maturity in order to win the battle for truth and freedom of their own souls and that of their society. We mustn’t short change our children and send them into battle as unprepared adults. We must use our time, treasure, and talent to fully “sharpen their ax.” If we send them into battle too soon, they may have their minds captured and enslaved by enemy philosophies and lies. We must disciple them in our homes and church.
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord…Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” (Ps. 127:3,5)
The Great Commission begins at home In the Great Commission, Jesus, the Great Teacher and possessor of all authority in heaven and earth, calls us to teach. Our most important students are our own children. But who is to disciple whom? Are we to disciple the nation or is the nation to disciple us?
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)
“Today the purpose of education in the States is the “transformation” (not education) of the child. This new purpose of education in America mirrors education as defined by the United Nations. In July of 2003, for example, UNESCO, an arm of the UN, called for changing the world by utilizing education as “the primary agent of transformation.” And how is “transformational education” defined by UNESCO? It is defined as changing the “values, behavior and lifestyle” of the child, not as the teaching of knowledge and academic skills [p. 4 of the draft statement for UNESCO's "Decade of Education for Sustainable Development"].” Transformation: Feb 24, 2008 by Allen Quist,
So how is the evangelical church doing at discipling the minds of our youth?
90% of youth from Christian homes, either in public schools or in Christian schools, are moving away from a Biblical view of life, and closer to the Humanistic view of life, as documented by PEERS Testing.
In the last decade, the study shows a steady move away from a Biblical understanding of the world.
Summary Test Results: Biblical Scholars: (several dozen) 87.8 Biblical Theism Humanists: (several dozen) -45.4 Socialism Christian school faculty: (500+) 52.9 Moderate Christian Homeschool students (700) 48.6 Moderate Christian Christian school students: (20,000+) 27.8 Secular Humanism Public school students: (2000+) 7.9 Secular Humanism
Key: Over 70-100 Biblical Theism 30-69 Moderate Christian 0-29 Secular Humanism <0 Socialism
Clearly, we are losing the battle. Just watch the news. At PEP, we do not believe in sending children to do a man’s job any longer. We are training future soldiers. The war of ideas and philosophies takes years of preparation, the most crucial years being age 12-20, (7th grade through 2nd year of college) after the parents have laid a basic spiritual foundation in the home. We don’t cut our “military budget” or training time of God’s soldier’s. Whether we win or lose this war in our generation will determine the freedom of our children and grandchildren. We need wake up.