866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
Christian homes that raise happy, healthy, dedicated Christian youth are homes that are filled with God’s Word and also filled with every blessing of life.
Consider R.A. Torrey, who was an evangelist who conducted worldwide crusades and also pastored Moody Church and was the head of Moody Bible Institute and later the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (Biola). He married Clara Smith in 1878, when he was 23, and they had four girls (Edith Clare, Blanche, Elizabeth, Margaret) and one boy (Reuben). All of the children served the Lord, and Reuben and his wife Janet were missionaries in China and Korea for 46 years.
The Word of God had first place in the Torrey home. Torrey loved to teach the Bible, and he continually taught it to his own family. So did Clara. She taught Sunday School and ladie’s’ classes, but her first and foremost pupils were her own children. There was an emphasis on church life. The children were taught to be faithful to the house of God and to be active in service. There was strict separation from evil things.
But the family also had a lot of all-around wholesome fun. (An emphasis on separation and rules without wholesome enjoyment tends to produce hypocrisy and rebellion. And an emphasis on fun apart from a priority on the Word of God and separation simply produces a “clean,” Christianized version of the world that results in lifestyles centered on having fun rather than on pilgrim lifestyles that are characterized by surrender, self-sacrifice, and a passion for fulfilling the Great Commission.)
Following is a description of the Torrey home:
“Torrey’s relationship with each member of his family was one of warmth, love, and enjoyment. They were a very closely knit household and were as happy as any family could be. Each member of the family, although widely differing in personality, was very devoted to both his or her father and mother. ...
“Torrey ruled his household with a firm but tender hand. He took heed to the injunction that ‘a bishop must then be blameless ... one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity’ (1 Ti. 3:2, 4). ... Family devotions were always held immediately after breakfast. ... He endeavored to instill within them a true love for the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God. He also kept a careful watch over the friendships the children formed realizing the tremendous influence of bad companions. ... He laid down a few principles of action but not a lot of laws as to what they should or should not do. He did not always explain the ‘why’ of these, as he wanted them to learn the principle of authority. ...
“The devoted attitude of the children toward their parents is reflected in an incident involving Blanche. ... Blanche was offered two tickets [to a Sunday gathering featuring President William McKinley and famous U.S. Navy Commodore Dewey], but she refused them. Her astonished teacher asked, ‘Did your father forbid you to go?’ ‘No,’ she replied, ‘but I don’t think it would please him if I did, so I am not going.’ The children gladly accepted the principles which their parents laid down for them.
“As Reuben in later years recalled, ‘We did not resent the fact that theaters, dancing, and the like were denied us, for two reasons. First, the reasons why these were not countenanced were fully explained. ... Second, we realized how continually our parents were endeavoring to meet the youthful craving for pleasurable activity and excitement by making possible good times that were wholesome and normal. What dance could compare with the thrill of meeting Father in Lincoln Park for an afternoon’s skate and the jolly tramp home as the old gas lamps began to twinkle? Who cared to sit in stuffy theaters when there were art galleries and museums to visit with one who appreciated them so keenly and knew so much of history and science.’
“Torrey scheduled certain times to be with his children on their time. On Saturday afternoon it was either hunting, fishing, swimming, hiking, canoeing, golfing, horseback riding ... picnicking, or tennis in the summer. Ice skating was the favorite in the winter. ... The family also enjoyed frequent visits to zoos, museums, art galleries, and other places of interest. Whatever his schedule, he scrupulously observed Monday night as a family time. How delighted the children were to hear their father tell them stories and play such then-popular games as Upjenks, Rook, Crockenole, and Pillow Dex. ...
“Torrey’s devotedness to his children was great, but it did not compare to the deep attachment which he had for his wife Clara. ... Whenever possible, she always went with him in his journeys. When he was away from her, the daily letter was a must no matter how pressing the duties. A birthday or wedding anniversary was never forgotten” (Roger Martin, R.A. Torrey, Apostle of Certainty).
- Receive these reports by email
- www.wayoflife.org
______________________
Sharing Policy: Much of our material is available for free, such as the hundreds of articles at the Way of Life web site. Other items we sell to help fund our expensive literature and foreign church planting ministries. Way of Life's content falls into two categories: sharable and non-sharable. Things that we encourage you to share include the audio sermons, O Timothy magazine, FBIS articles, and the free eVideos and free eBooks. You are welcome to make copies of these at your own expense and share them with friends and family. You may also post parts of reports and/or entire reports to websites, blogs, etc as long as you give proper credit (citation). A link to the original report is very much appreciated as the reports are frequently updated and/or expanded. Things we do not want copied and distributed are "Store" items like the Fundamental Baptist Digital Library, print editions of our books, electronic editions of the books that we sell, the videos that we sell, etc. The items have taken years to produce at enormous expense in time and money, and we use the income from sales to help fund the ministry. We trust that your Christian honesty will preserve the integrity of this policy. "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Timothy 5:18). Questions? support@wayoflife.org
Goal:Distributed by Way of Life Literature Inc., the Fundamental Baptist Information Service is an e-mail posting for Bible-believing Christians. Established in 1974, Way of Life Literature is a fundamental Baptist preaching and publishing ministry based in Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. Brother Cloud lives in South Asia where he has been a church planting missionary since 1979. Our primary goal with the FBIS is to provide material to assist preachers in the edification and protection of the churches.
Offering: Offerings are welcome if you care to make one. If you have been helped and/or blessed by our material offerings can be mailed or made online with with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Paypal. For information see: www.wayoflife.org/about/makeanoffering.html.
