"And what is it you do?"

When this question came up at social events, the young stay-at-home mom was never quite sure how to answer. Finally she went to God and asked him, "What is it I do?" From that day on, she responded confidently, "I am raising an army fit for the Lord."

The Bible often indicates believers are in a battle. Ephesians 6:11 directs us to put on our "whole armor." Paul asserts in 2 Timothy 4:7 that he "fought a good fight." The young mother's response draws on this analogy.

Still, the tough question for parents is, "In a world filled with temptation, how can we train our children to be good soldiers for Christ?" The military analogy might offer insight.

In Deuteronomy 6:7-9 the Israelites were instructed to teach God's law to their children at every opportunity. They were told to "Impress them on your children. Talk about them . . . at home . . . along the road . . . when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them . . . on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames . . . and on your gates."

We must continually feed our children the words of God. Consider these suggestions.

Keeping It Everywhere

• On The Walls and Shelves. We should fill our homes with God's Word. Display cross-stitch verses, framed calendar pages, Sunday school artwork, and inexpensive posters. Bible picture books, Christian magazines, and stories can supply a rich resource for families.
• In the Air. Play Christian radio, praise and worship tapes, or children's stories and songs containing truth.
• On the Screen. Wonderful videos are available that pass along godly principles as well as Bible stories for all ages.
• On Our Backs, "Gateposts," and Vehicles. Christian clothing, outdoor banners, and even bumper stickers can make statements for Christ.

Filling It with Fun

Plug in to the interests of your children. Study your youngsters to determine their inclinations, strengths, skills, and learning styles. Offer them wholesome materials to complement these areas.

Our oldest son enjoyed sports and history. We purchased the child's version of The Light and the Glory and From Sea to Shining Sea, books relating God's role in American history. He read adventure biographies of Christian martyrs. He also followed the stories of Dave Dravecky and "Pistol" Pete Maravich, athletes with a testimony for Christ.

Another son loved animals. He especially enjoyed African folk tales-animal stories with a spiritual application.

When our young children developed a fascination with dinosaurs, they were given picture books and tapes that fed them truth about God's creation and countered the theory of evolution.

Use celebrations and games as teaching opportunities. Holiday celebrations offer occasions to ground children spiritually. Many holidays have religious roots.

Celebrate the Fourth of July with a  small-scale patriotic parade complete with tricycles, bicycles, dogs, balloons, and streamers. Talk about God's guidance and blessings on America and his will for nations. Pray for our country.

On Halloween, carve a cross in your pumpkin. Our family counters the fear culture with notes on our goodies, reminding treaters that "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all" (1 John l:5).

Games are another fun way to put play into teaching children.

Walk the block and play "In the Beginning God." Talk about creation and identify the different things God made.

Ask "Who Came First?" on car trips or in waiting moments. Name two Bible characters and see if anyone knows something about them and who was born first.

Use your gifts. Some parents fill their homes with music, others emphasize literature, art, or drama. Still others gravitate to sports. While a balance is wonderful, whatever skills are present can be used in training our troops.

Pray for God's provision. A difficult childhood made it hard for me to incorporate spontaneous play into my parenting. But God put people around my children who loved to play. I was not creative with crafts, but I had a friend who was. "Nana" is musical and gives lessons to grandchildren. Team discipline and interest in sports were developed by Dad.

Ask God to supplement any weaknesses with the strengths of others.

Making It Practical

I explained to my three year old that we didn't watch soap operas by reminding him of the song, "Be careful, little eyes, what you see."

Help preschoolers gain an early awareness of right living with "one another" passages:

"Be kind . . . to one another" (Ephesians 4:32).

"Pray for each other" (James 5:l6).

"Keep on loving each other" (Hebrews 13:1).

We must teach our children to think in ways that honor Christ.

Guarding Their Minds

2 Corinthians 10:5 cautions us to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." The world will program the way our children think if we don't watch out. They will be taught a value system that conflicts with God's Word. Consider these worldly attitudes and the biblical principles that correct them.

• Things bring happiness and more things bring more happiness. "But godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6).
• All roads lead to God. "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
• Morality is "personal." "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity . . . because these are improper . . ." (Ephesians 5:3).

Equipping Their Minds

Romans 12:2 urges believers to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." We can help our children develop renewed minds in the following ways.

Age related resources available in church and home libraries can direct our children in biblical values and understanding.

Devotional activities give parents opportunity to communicate truth, answer questions, and interact to reinforce Christian principles.

I led two of my younger sons in a summer project called "50 Days to Welcome Christ to Your Neighborhood." We drew a map of our country subdivision (complete with birds and flowers), prayed for its families, and looked at Bible stories (such as the Good Samaritan) about relationships with neighbors.

My older son and daughter spent time learning how Jesus is seen in each book of the Bible. For example, in Genesis he is the Promised Seed; in Exodus, the Passover Lamb; and in Leviticus, the Scapegoat.

Teachable moments often provide unexpected opportunities to fill children's minds. Preschoolers are question machines that give us easy access to simple ways to share our faith.

My 11 year old wanted to know, after a series of family crises, if "God was mad at us." I assured him of my own sadness, but also of God's promise of his presence and his ability to make good out of tragic circumstances. What
a teachable moment!

Organized opportunities are another way to instill values in our youngsters' lives. Church camps, children's choirs, and mission activities are worthwhile memory makers and mind shapers.

Sensitizing Their Minds

Philippians 2:5 admonishes us to have the same mind as Jesus. Parents who are silent on tough issues will allow the world to shape their child's response. They need to know the God of the Bible is a loving, forgiving God who hates sin and desires righteousness.

Among other areas, this applies to homosexuality, sanctity of life issues, and pornography. Specific passages in the Bible address sexual sins, the shedding of innocent blood, and a love for violence and immorality.

Parents can also teach right living and sensitivity by responding to people with needs. Our oldest daughter (now with Jesus) was adopted as an infant. She was also physically challenged.

Shela's brothers participated in her care and helped with the needs of their great grandmother who came to live with us.
During this time, a family friend was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Although his condition detiorated, we continued to visit, have him over, and take him on outings. Our sons received lessons in compassion and service from these life events.

In What is a Family? (Baker, 1993), Edith Schaeffer asserts that families are to be a perpetual relay for truth. To effectively train troops for the kingdom, we must faithfully pass the baton of God's truth to our children. To do so will take time and commitment. As the young mother came to understand, there is no higher calling. 

Lettie Kirkpatrick Burress is a freelance writer in Cleveland, Tennessee.