Yesterday’s War
“The Children’s Crusade (1212) was one of the strangest and most tragic events in the history of the Crusades. Thousands of boys and girls from about 10 to 18 years old became convinced that they could recover Jerusalem [from the Muslims who had centuries before taken it violently in keeping with their goal for global domination]. They expected God to part the waters of the Mediterranean Sea so that they could cross safely to Jerusalem. None of the children reached the Holy Land. Many starved or froze to death…[some] returned home in shame….Others got aboard ships going to the East and either were drowned in storms at sea or sold into slavery by the Muslims” (World Book Encyclopedia, “Crusades”).
In the Harris’s book, Do Hard Things, a case is made for teenagers to dispel the modern, oppressive cultural lie of low expectations. It encourages teenagers to work hard, train, study, build, and create things for the good of mankind and the glory of God. Going to battle wasn’t mentioned. Why not?
God usually does not call children into battle, but rather He calls armed and trained men. In the nation of Israel, only men 20-years-old and older and who were able to handle a spear and shield were numbered to go to war (2 Chron. 25:5).
Today’s War
"Nothing short of great Civil War of Values rages today throughout North America. Two sides with vastly differing and incompatible world-views are locked in a bitter conflict that permeates every level of society…the struggle now is for the hearts and minds of the people. It is a war over ideas. And someday soon, I believe, a winner will emerge and the loser will fade from memory. For now, the outcome is very much in doubt” (James Dobson Children at Risk, p. 19-20).
Parents are commanded to raise and equip children until maturity in order to win the battle for truth and freedom of their own souls and that of their society. No matter what your 17-year old tells you, they are not fully mature (“At What Age is the Brain Fully Developed?” https://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/02/18/at-what-age-is-the-brain-fully-developed/). We mustn’t shortchange our children and send them into battle too soon, too unprepared as adults, or even worse, send them to the enemy for training while they are teenagers. The secular state will even offer “free” education to keep them out of the Lord’s training camp. Don’t be fooled!
We must use our time, treasure, and talent to fully “sharpen their axes.” If we send them into battle untrained, they may have their minds captured and enslaved by enemy philosophies and lies. In their immaturity, they are tempted to desert the priorities of Christ’s Kingdom and adopt self-focused worldly goals. In the Great Commission what did Jesus command? Are we to disciple the nation or is the nation to disciple us? We must disciple our teenagers in our homes and church.
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord… Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate” (Ps. 127:3,5).
Prepare Your Minds for Action! (I Peter 1:13)
Motto of Providence Extension Program www.pep1.org