Salute Our Future!

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Salute Our Future!

Preparing the next generation for real abundant living

At the Herbert W. Armstrong College (AC) graduation earlier this month, after all the seniors had assembled on stage, the ceremony concluded with these words: “Ladies and gentlemen, please join the Armstrong College faculty and administration in saluting our future—the senior class of 2010.”

As we’ve written before, the abundant life and peaceful unity that exists on our small campus in Central Oklahoma is only a small foretaste of what life will be like during the wonderful World Tomorrow, when Jesus Christ will establish God’s loving government on Earth.

Today’s world, on the other hand, is full of unhappiness and misery—competition and strife. It makes for a dangerous and evil world to raise children in. Most parents are failing miserably at this God-given task.

You’ve probably seen the pitiful results now streaming in from numerous studies about Generation Y—the self-indulgent, narcissistic generation to emerge out of the self-esteem movement. Their lives are empty and fruitless. They often fill their spirit-starved souls with every form of illicit indulgence.

Raising children in an age Jesus Christ compared to Sodom and Gomorrah isn’t easy. But it is possible. Here are four key ingredients every parent needs in order to raise mature, well-balanced, God-fearing youths who are prepared for the responsibilities of marriage and family—and life in God’s Kingdom.

Teach Them to Study

Animals have it easy; they don’t need to learn anything. Animals do not read or study; from birth, they are equipped with instinct. Human beings are not like dumb animals. We must learn, or we won’t advance much further than dumb animals.

In his Autobiography, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote, “Education comes from study—from books—from lectures—from contacts—from travel—from thinking about what you see and hear and read—and from experience.”

The Bible urges adults and young people alike to lead a studious life. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” For Timothy’s life to ever amount to much, he had to get into the habit of studying.

Another example of a studious young man was Solomon. When he was a youth, God offered him any gift of his choosing (2 Chronicles 1:7). What would most young people today ask for if God offered them anything they wanted? Solomon chose wisdom and knowledge rather than riches (verses 8-10).

What a mature request for such a young man!

Teach your children to be like young Solomon and Timothy. Get them into the habit of reading early and often. Put them on a reading program this summer. Challenge them to study Mr. Armstrong’s Autobiography—it can have the same impact on them that books like Ben Franklin’s autobiography had on Mr. Armstrong.

Encourage Physical Activity

Imagine a teenaged David, armed with only a sling and a few stones, standing in front of a giant—the champion of the Philistine army. Compared to Goliath, David might have looked scrawny and small (1 Samuel 17:42)—but he was no weakling! Like Jesus Christ as a teen, David was a powerful, agile young man.

He spent long days and nights tending his father’s sheep. On one particular occasion, when he saw a little sheep caught up in the jaws of a lion, David undoubtedly sprinted up from behind and, in one fluid motion, whacked that lion over the back of the head with his staff, grabbed hold of his beard and started clubbing him across the face. He was obviously acting in faith, relying on God—but don’t discount his superior physical attributes of quickness and strength.

David was also a young man of wisdom. When confronting Goliath, he didn’t grab one stone; he took five (1 Samuel 17:40). He refused to confront the giant with a sword and shield, Scripture relates, because he hadn’t yet proved those armaments. He was confident in fighting with what he used every day in the fields. Think of the many hundreds of hours David spent perfecting his aim with that little sling.

He ended up nailing that giant with just one shot!

This example highlights the importance of combining an educated, sound mind with a physically active and healthy body.

One of the best ways young people can stay in shape today is by participating in organized sports programs. Of course, parents must use wisdom here. Avoid sporting activities that put your children or their opponents in physical danger. But when the right kind of athletic event is offered as part of their overall education, what a character-building opportunity it can be!

In sports, young people see the benefits of hard work and learn how to deal with pressure. The lessons can be exhilarating—and humbling. Mr. Armstrong wrote in the March 1965 Plain Truth, “How many of our readers, I wonder, would realize that a basketball game … could be an important part of education?”

Expose Them to Uplifting Music

Just like with sports, learning to appreciate the right kind of music brings wonderful benefits. On the other hand, the wrong kind can be very destructive. Mr. Armstrong wrote in The Missing Dimension in Sex, “God equipped humans with the sense of hearing. How much inspiring, uplifting, pleasurable enjoyment we receive from beautiful music! But of course, this sense, too, may be used for good, or for evil. … Satan is the author of perverted, discordant, degenerated modern music—of a wail, a dirge, a moan, a squawk or a rhythmic erotic fast beat.”

During our summer youth camps, we expose our campers to plenty of godly entertainment and music. There is choir, hymn singing, group songs and chants on the way to activities, dorm songs and an entertainment night.

As parents, take it upon yourselves to help your children appreciate wholesome, uplifting music. At our camps, we play a variety of musical genres. But all of it is carefully selected and approved by our ministers. We try to stay within the guidelines Mr. Armstrong set forth in the quote above.

So pay attention to what your children are listening to. Expose them to godly music. If you can afford it, have them take music or dance lessons. Encourage them to join the band at school. This kind of exposure and education will go a long way toward helping them discern between right and wrong music as they grow older.

Instill Discipline and Hard Work Ethic

Mr. Armstrong wrote in The Missing Dimension in Sex, “Young people today are given nothing to live for! No hope! No future! They are more prosperous than ever before. They are bored! They are rebellious. The spirit of revolt is in the air! They resent all authority!”

Indeed, one of the latest studies about Generation Y found that they hate to be criticized. Forget about actual punishment. Most of them recoil at the thought of receiving constructive criticism!

What an embarrassment.

If children are misbehaving, or failing to work hard enough on their homework or lessons—if they’re disrespectful or rebellious toward authority—parents must correct them in love.

Don’t listen to the leading voices of the self-esteem movement—those who reject God’s instruction and ignore the overwhelming evidence proving we’ve failed our children! They may scream about all forms of punishment being immoral and harmful, but look at our broken society. Look at the facts! According to the Wall Street Journal, one recent study “found that those adolescents who were spanked as young children actually ended up having a sunnier outlook and were better students than those who were never spanked.”

That’s right—just do what God says to do, in faith and with love—and you and your children will reap the blessed benefits. Administer loving correction when your children veer off course. That’s what God’s Word teaches. In fact, God’s Word itself is corrective (2 Timothy 3:16).

If only more people would use it the way God intended it to be used.

Salute Your Future!

Young people interested in applying for AC sometimes ask me about what they might do to prepare for the experience, should they be accepted. Here is one way I answer that question: Armstrong College is an academic institution where students learn to study and acquire knowledge. That knowledge acquisition is based on the sure Word of God. In order to develop the whole man, the outside-the-classroom activities at AC are primarily concentrated in three additional directions: athletics, music and work!

So the more proficient they are in these areas—diligent study, physical activity, uplifting music and hard work—the better prepared they will be for life at Armstrong College.

Parents—we are preparing our children for something far more significant than a college career. We’re preparing them for life—for their careers; for their marriages and families; for their calling in the Kingdom of God.

Join me, won’t you, in saluting our future!