Religion in the Family
245
How Christ Is Brought Into the Home—When Christ is in the
heart, He is brought into the family. The father and mother feel the
importance of living in obedience to the Holy Spirit so that the heav-
enly angels, who minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, will
minister to them as teachers in the home, educating and training them
for the work of teaching their children. In the home it is possible to
have a little church which will honor and glorify the Redeemer
Make Religion Attractive—Make the Christian life an attractive
one. Speak of the country in which the followers of Christ are to make
their home. As you do this, God will guide your children into all truth,
filling them with a desire to fit themselves for the mansions which
Christ has gone to prepare for those that love Him
Parents are not to compel their children to have a form of religion,
but they are to place eternal principles before them in an attractive
light
Parents are to make the religion of Christ attractive by their cheer-
fulness, their Christian courtesy, and their tender, compassionate sym-
pathy; but they are to be firm in requiring respect and obedience. Right
principles must be established in the mind of the child
We need to present to the youth an inducement for right doing.
Silver and gold is not sufficient for this. Let us reveal to them the love
and mercy and grace of Christ, the preciousness of His word, and the
joys of the overcomer. In efforts of this kind you will do a work that
will last throughout eternity
Why Some Parents Fail—Some parents, although they profess to
be religious, do not keep before their children the fact that God is to be
served and obeyed, that convenience, pleasure, or inclination should
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not interfere with His claims upon them. “The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom.” This fact should be woven into the very life
and character. The right conception of God through the knowledge of
Christ, who died that we might be saved, should be impressed upon
their minds
26
Manuscript 102, 1901
.
27
The Review and Herald, January 29, 1901
.
28
The Signs of the Times, August 27, 1912
.
29
The Review and Herald, June 27, 1899
.
30
Manuscript 93, 1909
.
31
The Review and Herald, June 24, 1890
.