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Last updated on
May 17, 2004
Family Faith Transmission
Delivered May 9, 2004
by Pastor Werner De Jong
Text: 2 Timothy 1:3-7
Main Idea: Families have a vital role to play in the transmission of faith from one generation to the next.
Purpose: To encourage parents and grandparents that they can still have significant influence on their children's faith development, even in our pluralistic age. To challenge parents and grandparents (and others who have significant relationships with children) to teach their children at home, and to live as good examples before the children.
Introduction: The apostle Paul found himself in prison again, near the end of his lengthy missionary career. He didn't entirely mind the confinement, for it gave him time to think and reflect on his thirty years as a follower of Jesus. Ever since he had met the risen Christ in that vision on the road to Damascus, he had worked to proclaim the good news of Jesus all over the Mediterranean world. He had told the good news of Jesus' resurrection to Jews and Syrians and Cypriots and Cretans and Asians and Greeks and Romans. He had helped to plant churches in many of the leading cities of the Roman Empire. He wasn't always received kindly, in fact he suffered a great deal on behalf of his Lord, but he considered it an honour to suffer for the one who had suffered for him.
But now, as Paul sat in prison, realizing that the end of his life was near, one of the things that preoccupied him was the question of how the newly born Christian faith could be transmitted from one generation to the next. Almost all of the believers in the churches then were first-generation Christians. God had blessed Paul's missionary work in a remarkable way, and many who had never before heard the name of Jesus now worshipped and obeyed him. But what would happen to the churches after Paul died? How would future generations of people come to learn and know the love of God? Paul realized that the future of the church depended on the faithful transmission of the good news from these first Christians to those who would come after them. But what would that look like? How would the torch be passed?
Transmission of Faith: One answer, of course, was that these first believers must also take seriously their Lord's commission to go into all the world and make disciples. Wherever Paul went he urged this very thing. He carefully instructed the fledgling Christians to strengthen their wings and fly into the world on the wind of the Holy Spirit, even as Paul did. The church still has that mandate today, to go in the power of the Spirit and proclaim Christ. But that is not the only strategy Paul considered. Missionary work would help to spread the gospel to new areas and new people, but what about the children of those first believers? From the text we read today it is evident that Paul also envisioned the vital role that families could play in nurturing the faith of their children. If the church only concentrated her attention on new horizons, her own children could easily fall through the cracks. If only evangelism was stressed, and not the education of children, the church may not grow at all. It would make gains in some areas, but within a generation most of those gains could be lost.
Transmission of faith to children: A crucial question then for Paul was this: how can children in Christian homes best learn about the love and holiness of God? The natural answer that came back to him was through their own families. What better place could there be? He therefore encouraged parents not to overlook the importance of training their own children. Rather, he instructed them to "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4).
Paul didn't have to cast his eyes very far to find an excellent model of family faith transmission. His best friend and young travelling companion Timothy came from a godly home. Our text today consists of part of a letter that the imprisoned Paul wrote to Timothy. The letter begins by Paul thanking God for Timothy's faith and friendship. In that thanksgiving section Paul writes: "I know that you sincerely trust the Lord, for you have the faith of your mother, Eunice, and your grandmother, Lois" (2 Tim. 1:5).
Timothy's family: Paul was personally acquainted with both Lois and Eunice, and he undoubtedly spent time in their home. Therefore he was able to discern the very significant part they played in nurturing Timothy's faith, and in helping to produce such a godly man and Christian leader. Although the reference to Lois and Eunice is brief, this is a remarkable verse which we shouldn't quickly skim over. It points to the tremendous potential of families in transmitting faith. Faith first lived in the grandmother, Lois, then in the mother, Eunice, and finally in Timothy too. In giving credit to Timothy's mother and grandmother for their role in his faith development, Paul begins to tell a story that has been told hundreds and thousands of times since, the story of how caring family members can shape and mould a young life.
Our families: We too can make a difference: Paul's reference to Lois and Eunice should greatly encourage Christian parents and grandparents, and other family members, everywhere. Sometimes we may wonder what influence we can have over our children, our grandchildren, our nephews, our nieces, in a world where hundreds of different voices clamour for their attention. Many of those voices are seductive and dangerous; they seek to convince our children that life and excitement can be found anywhere but in Jesus. They tell our children that happiness is having lots of money, owning the right toys, keeping up with the latest in technological gadgetry, looking pretty enough, wearing the right clothes, being friends with the right people, experimenting with drugs and alcohol, and giving their bodies over to sexual pleasures. Now as a boy Timothy grew up in a world that had just as many opportunities to get into trouble as our own. Of all the centuries since the birth of Christ, historians tell us that the first century was in many ways the most similar to the present one. Temptations to greed, materialism and sexual immorality were just as blatant then as they are today. Many Roman cities were notorious for the many public vices easily available in them. And then as now there was also a smorgasbord of religious options to choose from. You could choose to worship the emperor, the pantheon of Greek and Roman gods, or any of hundreds of other local gods and idols. But despite all of that, Lois and Eunice helped to steer Timothy in the right direction. Their influence made a lasting impression and helped to fo
The good news is this: by the grace of God we can positively influence our children in the same way. It won't always be easy, it will require much prayer, love, discipline and perseverance, but with God's help we can be a tremendous influence for the good in the lives of our young people. And it does happen, many, many times. When we look around us today and see an active, mature follower of Jesus, one who is willing to take responsibility and a leadership role in the church, one who lives for God and cares for others, there is a very good chance that when we see him or her, we are also seeing a caring mother or grandmother, father or grandfather, who helped to form him or her. Just look around you this morning–many of us in this room had godly parents whose influence cannot be measured. Of course there are also those of us who grew up in secular homes, but even then God in his grace brought people into our lives to love us and lead us into a relationship with him. Faith doesn't have to be transmitted through families, but families are one wonderful way by which children can grow and learn about the holy one who loves us and created us all. It is the relational element which is all important, and the most natural relationships most people have are within their own families.
The special role of women: Mother's Day is a good day to hear about the positive impact we can have in the lives of our children. It is a day when we celebrate and honour mothers and all they do to help nurture their children. As the primary caregivers in most families, mothers tend to be the most influential person in the lives of their children. Paul's recognition of Eunice and Lois pays a wonderful tribute to mothers and grandmothers everywhere. It is an indication that from the very beginning of the church women played a key role in transmitting faith from one generation to the next. Throughout church history women weren't always allowed to teach or preach in public, but collectively, by the influence they have wielded in the home, women have probably done more than men to help ensure the future of the church. Much attention is given to large, public evangelistic crusades as a means of reaching others with the good news of God's love, and there is certainly a place for them, but much more influential still is the small-scale transition of faith that takes place within families, from a Lois to a Eunice to a Timothy.
It may be a cliche, but it is true that mothers are unsung heroes. In many ways they have been the backbone of the church. Usually it is far from glamorous to be a mother. Stay at home mothers often find their days occupied with mundane tasks like cleaning and cooking and breaking up quarrels and making sure homework is done and driving children to music lessons, sports events, and friend's houses, and teaching their children to share for the umpteenth time. Mothers don't get days off of work, they are always on call, and they receive little or no praise for their efforts. Mothers who work outside of the home may receive more recognition for their work, but when they arrive home they face the same challenges. But in all of this, in the daily give and take of family life, mothers have countless opportunities to relate to their children. Therefore they have profound potential like no one else has to shape the next generation, to help instill good and godly habits in their children.
None of this is to say that fathers shouldn't be involved in the lives of their children as well. Of course they should. Nor is it to suggest that fathers can't be just as influential as mothers. Of course they can. Neither is it a slight against the fathers in our own congregation–from everything I see, our fathers are actively involved in their children's lives. And that's how it should be. But it is an acknowledgement that throughout the history of the church the influence of women in the family has been second-to-none. As in the case of Timothy, men have often been absent, whether physically or spiritually, when it comes to nurturing their children. It is telling that Paul makes no mention of Timothy's father or grandfather. We shouldn't read too much into it, but it does mirror what has often happened. Today too the absence of the father is a major dilemma of modern society. Children need both parents, and both are capable of dramatically influencing their children.
I also think it is wonderful how Timothy's grandmother is highlighted by Paul. Simply put, the message it says is this: grandparents, don't underestimate the influence you have in the lives of your grandchildren! Stay involved with them, relate to them, they need you, you have a unique role to play in forming whom they will become.
Religious Instruction: In 2 Timothy 1 Paul points out, by means of Lois, Eunice, and Timothy, that families have a special role to play in the inter-generational transmission of faith. But he doesn't tell us how faith can be transmitted within the family. That is a crucial question: for our part what can we as families do to help form the next generation of Christians and Christian leaders? Paul may not shed any light on the subject in chapter 1, but he does in chapter 3. And once again he does so by referring to Timothy's family life. Let me read for you verses 14-15: "But you (Timothy) must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus."
From the time he was a young boy Timothy had been taught the Scriptures in his home. He gained his spiritual education from his mother and grandmother. And after that, from Paul himself. And all this teaching helped prepare him to place his trust in Jesus. But note again how it all began with religious instruction at home. This too is a verse we shouldn't quickly gloss over. Once again Paul credits Timothy's family for helping to shape and form him into the godly young man he was. Only this time he adds more detail, by relating something of how it took place, by the fact that Timothy's mother and grandmother faithfully taught him God's word. They weren't prepared simply to let the world around him form and shape and influence him; rather, they were pro-active and determined to plant the seed of God's holy Word within him, a seed which they hoped and prayed would grow and bear fruit. And it did.
The Old Testament provides the same model of family faith instruction in Deuteronomy 6. After Moses had delivered the commandments of God to the people of Israel, he said to them: "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey; when you are lying down and when you are getting home again. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates" (vv. 4-9). And Proverbs 22:6 says: "Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it."
Such instructions are given to us as a gift. They tell us that we can influence our children. They tell us how we can influence our children. They encourage us that our faithful teaching will bear results. They give us hope in a world where we may fear for our children's futures. But these words also challenge us. They challenge us not to make faith a private matter in our homes. They challenge us to talk about our faith in a natural way with our children and grandchildren as we go about our day to day activities. They challenge us to set aside regular time for studying the Scriptures, or what we may call family devotions.
Sometimes we may be tempted to doubt the value of teaching, but the Bible never does. Regular teaching helps to form young minds, and hopefully older ones too! If you think about it, our children are exposed for hours and hours every day to many different voices, to all kinds of thoughts and ideas, some good, some bad, whether at school or with friends, on television or the internet, or in the lyrics of the music they listen to. If we are going to help mould them into men and women of faith, who delight to obey God and serve others, then we need to be deliberate about teaching them God's word at home. We need to expose them regularly to an alternate way of viewing life. There is no better place to do this than in the home. As important as church and Sunday school are, our children are only here a few hours a week. Therefore they also need to hear God's truth in the home environment.
Good Example: But teaching is not enough. It was well pointed out in our last small group meeting that children often learn best by example. In Paul's first letter to Timothy he encourages his companion in ministry not only to teach but also to be an example to other believers: "Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, your purity" (1 Tim. 4:11-12). From these instructions it is evident that Paul sees teaching and example working hand in hand. The presence of each helps build the other up. Where there is teaching, it is wonderfully supported by good example. Where there is example, it is well explained by good teaching. But if we lack either of these, we cripple our attempts to help form our children. You can't build something up with one hand and tear it down with the other and expect to see good results. Teaching is not enough. If example is missing, the words we speak will ring terribly hollow.
When I think of the value of example in helping to transmit faith, I am reminded of my own family line. Some years ago my father passed a letter on to me that was written by my great-great-grandfather. It is dated in the late 1800's. He wrote the letter to his parents on the occasion of the tragic death of his young wife. In the letter my great-great-grandfather expresses his overwhelming grief and sadness at the passing of his wife. It is obvious from the words he writes that he is heartbroken. But the letter conveys more than his sense of pain. Amazingly, it was primarily written as a thank-you letter, thanking his parents for all the comfort they provided his wife and family during the time of her illness. He thanks God for them, for their practical help, for their prayers, and for their compassion. He credits them for helping him through such a dreadful time. Their example of mercy and kindness helped to strengthen his faith, and give him courage, even as an adult. For they didn't simply say, "look to God for help," but they also put hands and feet to their prayers.
When I think of example, I also think of my own parents. The first word that comes to mind when I think of their example is generosity. Not only have they always been generous with their money, but also with their time. I think of the example of Opa coming to live with us for a week here and a week there, in order to help work in the church basement, or in my yard. I think of Oma's generosity in letting him come, even though she probably has a rather long list of things for him to do at home! I think of how good it is that my own children can see this example. It is a great help to us in helping to form them. As parents, as grandparents, as aunts and uncles, that is what we also are all called to do. We are called to be good examples which demonstrate that we are followers of Jesus, our Servant King. It was Jesus himself who, after serving his disciples by washing their feet, said to them: "I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you" (John 13:15). When we follow Jesus' example and serve one another in love, including our children, it will certainly go a long way in helping to attract them to the love of Christ.
Conclusion: In conclusion then, as we consider the question of how to pass the flame of faith from one generation to the next, may we take heart from the example of Lois and Eunice. They remind us of the great value of family in a day and age when family values are often undermined. They demonstrate for us that it is possible, by the grace of God, to raise godly children in an ungodly world. They encourage us to turn to the great treasure trove of teaching that we have in God's word, to the invaluable wisdom and truth that will help prepare our children to receive Jesus. And they challenge us never to underestimate the power of good example. May God help us, like them, to raise children who love God, who delight to obey Jesus, and who seek to bring healing and hope to others. Amen.