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Commentary on "The Blessings of the Prophetic Gift"
Day 3: Monday, March 16, 2009
The theme of today's lesson is Christian education.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deut. 6:4-7)
Parents are to diligently teach their children the word of God that comes from deep within their own hearts.
PROBLEMS
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
A 'Quarterly' lesson plan instead of the personalized Holy Spirit's revelation of God's Word is not how God intended we learn and understand his written word. Remember, the Holy Spirit indwells each and ever member of the Body of Christ. Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit that leads us into an understanding of God's Word.
Deut. 6:4-7 is a passage that is directed towards parents. They are the ones commanded by God to be teachers of their respective children. This role is not intended to be delegated to anyone else, be it government, church or whatever. The sending away of Adventist children to boarding academy is a flagrant violation of God's word.
The role of the church is to equip the Body of Christ through the collective administration of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is the will of our Savior that each and every local body of Christians receive these gifts for this purpose, to build up and support parents, who in turn , train their children in the 'heart' knowledge of God.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Eph. 4:11-16)
SUMMARY
The role of the Holy Spirit includes the mission of personally and directly enlightening each member with a knowledge and understanding of God's word. Since God intends that each child grow, in all respects, under the care of his/her parents it is wrong to send them to a boarding academy before they are adults themselves. The role of Christian institutions should be to assist parents, not replace their authority.
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