Read this article first: The Covenant Seed is the Key to Kingdom Advancement
Kingdom expansion, covenant faithfulness and biblical education are the three interrelated themes discussed by the writer in this article. Kingdom expansion is the goal to achieve in time; the mechanism is the covenant, and; biblical education is the application. In a sentence, the growth of God's kingdom here on earth will be achieved if the people of God will be faithful to the covenant by training their children biblically. And then the writer gave us five practical steps to implement such training.
Our writer defines his terms. The kingdom of God "is God's righteous reign in the earth." By covenant, he defines it as " a sacred agreement, secured by oath, and often by a bloody oath." He thinks that covenant is multigenerational in nature.
As for practical steps, let me simplify them:
1. Think of your children biblically. They are God's gift, property, and among the elect (Psalms 127:3; Ezekiel 16:18-21; Genesis 17:17; Deuteronomy 10:15-16).
2. Take your children out of public schools and provide them biblical education.
3. Be part of a local church that treats your children as covenant members.
4. Let your children be baptized and participate in the Lord's Supper.
5. Instruct your children about their life's chief end.
Restoring this bibilcal vision for our time among Christians is not easy due to the popularity of a modern day heresy, "democratic individualism." This heresy is so destructive for it removes the foundation of representation in decision making, attacks the doctrine of original sin and disconnects the bond between Christian parents and their children.
And so we find these days that most Christians do not believe in the expansion of God's kingdom. Their idea of God's kingdom is too heavenly. They don't expect change in politics, economics and finance. Though they may affirm that the Bible has something to say about these aspects of human life, they may perhaps see such goals too idealistic. And besides, they may be at a loss about the concrete teaching and application of biblical principles in these spheres.
Covenant too is a concept strange for majority of Christians. The closest example I could think of is the contract. In fact, some theologians argue that the historical origin of modern contracts can be traced to biblical covenants. Unfortunately, even contracts these days are under attack through the programs of the State.
When it comes to education of their children, Christians consider sending them to public schools as normal. It never enter their mind that the Bible mandates parents that the education of their children is their primary responsibility.
And so I think though most Christians consider the message of the writer outdated, this doesn't change the fact that our modern society and education have serious problems. For God's people, a recovery of this vision for our time is most important and we must recommit ourselves to educate our children biblically. By doing this, we will see change in human society through gradual, incremental and generational expansion of God's kingdom in time and here on earth.
Guide Questions:
1. What is the main thesis of the article?
2. Define God's kingdom and the covenant. What is the meaning of the covenant's multigenerational nature?
3. What do you think of the five practical steps. Are they workable in our time? What made them difficult to implement?
4. According to the writer, what is the popular heresy that destroys the idea of the covenant in our time. What makes it destructive?
5. What is the dominant idea of most Christians about God's kingdom?
6. Why do you think the concept of covenant is strange among most Christians?
7. What is the most practical step you can do to educate your children biblically?
