Great Talent to defend the Bible is dangerous today but it is worth the risk
by Fernando Methelin Amudha
The reformers and their theological successors, the frequently ridiculed Puritans, were well aware of the price of discipleship. Luther lived in hiding for several years, facing the threat of arrest and certain death. Calvin used false names while fleeing across Europe in exile from government authorities. John Bunyan spent 12 years imprisoned, and Jonathan Edwards was dismissed from his church. Suffering is not uncommon; it is the calling of every Christian. Since the days of Paul, there has not been a more compelling illustration of suffering in defense of truth than the leading figures of the Reformation.
It's important for my children to understand that defending the Bible will lead them to clash not only with a culture that opposes it but also with many within the church. I want them to recognize that being a Christian means being a revolutionary, that even good people can disagree on significant issues, and that matters such as baptism and the Lord’s Supper—which some evangelicals consider trivial—are far from insignificant. The Reformers certainly did not see them that way, and many of my Baptist predecessors paid with their lives for their dissenting beliefs The reformers, including Luther the monk, Calvin the pastor, Bunyan the pot-fixer, and Carey the shoemaker, were ordinary men from humble backgrounds. Yet, it pleased God to use their teaching and suffering to turn the world upside down, much like he did through ordinary fishermen in the first century. While my pride may resist admitting it (we often envision our kids as the next great leaders), they will likely grow up to be ordinary adults like their father. A key lesson from the Reformation is the equality of all vocations. Whether a pastor, programmer, professor, or plumber, all are called to work for God's glory (1 Cor. 10:31). His glory often shines brightest in the ordinary (1 Cor. 1:26–29).
I want my children to understand that the gospel is everything. The heart of the Reformation was the recovery of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Justification by faith in Christ's substitutionary death is the essence of the gospel. Remove it, and the engine of eternal salvation derails. Remove it, and the body of Christ loses its beating heart. Remove it, and the Christian faith fades away. The gospel was the battleground of the Reformation, and it remains under attack in every generation by those opposed to the truth.
Without the gospel, life in a fallen world makes no sense. Without it, there's no hope in this life or the next, no real purpose to our existence. Calvin aptly said that justification is the hinge on which salvation's door swings. I want my children to guard that door closely.
Here are some things our family has done to teach these truths:
- Read biographies of major reformers like Luther, Calvin, Knox, Augustine, Edwards, and Bunyan.
- Study the five solas, covering one per week, with relevant Scripture passages.
- Study books like Romans or Galatians focusing on sin, grace, and justification by faith.
- Teach hymns that articulate the doctrines of grace.
- Attend Reformation-themed events or services.
- Start catechizing children using resources like the Westminster Shorter Catechism or the New City Catechism.
Some recommended resources for families include:
- "Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed the World" by Paul L. Maier
- "Christian Biographies for Young Readers" by Simonetta Carr
- "Courage and Conviction: Chronicles of the Reformation Church" by Brandon and Wendy Withrow
- "Reformation Heroes" by Diane Kleyn and Joel Beeke
- "Training Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechism" by Starr Meade
Is there enough evidence for us to believe the Gospels? Yes, despite skepticism, the Gospels are historically reliable, supported by vast evidences