Keeping Our Heritage
June 2nd, 2009Romans 3:1,2 (NAB) What advantage is there then in being a Jew…? 2 Much, in every respect. (For) in the first place, they were entrusted with the utterances of God.
It is an awesome thing that Abraham obeyed God, and his descendants are still being blessed today by his obedience. Many Jewish people today still practice the lifestyle and faith that their ancestors practiced. They have not lost their culture.
I am disturbed about our American heritage slipping away from us. Western Europe is in post Christian era. Much of Europe was Christian seventy-five years ago. Today it is very secular.
What can we do to perpetuate the great Judeo Christian heritage in America? We live in a climate of change. Morals and values are changing. Freedoms are slipping away.
Choices that you make not only affect you, but can affect generations to come. My mother and dad came to the Lord in 1934 when they had only been married for a few weeks. My mother became a follower of Jesus first and the next day my dad surrendered his heart and life to the Lord. They instilled values and a way of life in us that has benefited us all of our lives. We have passed this on to our children, and now they are passing it on to their children.
That is the secret. We cannot leave it to our schools to instill proper values. Parents must be examples to their children. Unhealthy music and television programs, etc. cannot be allowed in the home. These things have a terrible negative influence on children. Parents should not just tell their children the proper lifestyle to live, but they must model it before them. Grandparents also have a vital role to play. They can be great examples and influences upon their grandchildren.
Divorce has wrecked havoc upon the lives of millions of children. Parents make selfish choices without regard to the effect those choices have upon their children. I know many have gone through divorce and my purpose is not to condemn what is in the past. God can heal the wounds and minister to children who suffer from this. It takes a concerted effort for it not to damage children’s development and spiritual life.
The key to maintaining our heritage is the family. Prayer, Bible reading, wholesome music and entertainment in the home, church, and godly examples are needed to save our country from becoming secular like Europe has become.
We serve a great God Who can help us see that the great American traditions and way of life are carried on.