The Hamilton Corner on American Family Radio is in dark times
Abraham Hamilton III Darkness is not an affirmative force. It simply reoccupies the space vacated by the light.
Abraham Hamilton III This is the, Hamilton Corner on American Family Radio.
Abraham Hamilton III It should be uncomfortable for a believer to live as a hypocrite, delivering people
Abraham Hamilton III out of the bondage of mainstream media and the philosophies of this world.
Abraham Hamilton III God has called you and me to be his ambassadors even in this dark moment. Let's not miss our moment.
Abraham Hamilton III And now the Hamilton Corner.
Abraham Hamilton III Good evening everyone. Welcome to the Hamilton Corner here on American Family Radio. I'm your host, Abraham Hamilton iii. Delighted to be on the air with you again. I'm, joined by producer extraordinaire, often imitated, never duplicated, the real J. Mac. And we're ready to rock and roll with today's edition of the program.
At this very moment, many of you are making transition from part time jobs
At this very moment, many of you, if not most of you, are making your transition from your part time jobs where you generate an income to your full time jobs where you cultivate an outcome. And as you do so, I want to remind you to do so with intentionality, understanding the primacy that God places on family and allowing the truth of his word to guide, to govern and to guard your engagement so that as you do so that you're able to engage in victory, that you are able to engage in such a way to where you are involved in executing the King's commission starting right in your own homes. And I know all around the country, many of you, your social media feeds are filling up with back to school pictures and it's that time again and all these kind of things that are happening. And as you are doing that, I want to simply encourage you to consider, does God have an opinion about this? You know, I've talked at length and I will encourage you if you have not done so yet, to get my brother Israel Wayne's book Education. Does God have an Opinion? You will not regret getting that book. It is one of, if not the most important books on this topic other than the Bible. I would say it is the most important book in this area. because I truly believe we have to reconsider our expectations of ourselves as parents, reconsider our expectations of our children and have a re establish a new norm for what we envision when the word youth is utilized. And I'm going to dig into the word of God in a few moments here to explain that, in a bit more detail, in a bit more detail. but rest assured, the reason why I'm saying that is because of what the Lord affords us in His Word you've heard me say, time and time again that when we look around our nation, we look at things that are happening where you see kind of this ascendancy of young people's openness to things like Marxism. Where did that come from? And that the exact same time there is a surge in Islamism in our country. you want to dig into a little bit to what things look like. You know, Hamtramck, Michigan is the first majority m Muslim city in our nation. Have you seen the recent city, council votes they've taken there, things that they're seeking to legalize there?
Abraham Hamilton III I think it's worth considering. It's certainly worth considering. And while I'm saying all of these things, I want to remind you that none of the things that we're confronting have caught our God off guard. In fact, he so prepared himself for this time that he's ordained a portion of his people to be appointed for this particular time. That the fact that we are alive right now and the fact that we live where we live is not a mere coincidence. It's a feature of God's divine design. So when you take full scope of all of those things, it shows that man, God has ordained us for this moment and we do not. I don't for sure. And I know that you don't, because many of you wouldn't be listening to this program, otherwise. You do not want to miss your moment. And so, all hands have to be on deck. Every member of the Lord's bride needs to supply. We don't need to try to be identical, clones of one another. We need to fill the role that God has ordained for us within his body. But we have to fill the role, not play with the role, not flirt with the role, not, you know, double Dutch, act like we're going to jump in, but never jump into the role. The time is now to be about our Father's business.
The body of Christ has got to have an adjustment in terms of expectations
To the word of God we go. First Timothy, chapter four. First Timothy, chapter four, verses 11 and 12. The two verses I want to go to. And this is going to give you a biblical grounding, anchoring for what I was talking about of ah, reconsidering our normalized expectations when we employ the term youth. And as you always know, I say this all the time. The world is going to world. So I'm talking about what our expectations should be within the body of Christ. And this is what God's word says. First Timothy, chapter 4, verses 11 and 12. This is the Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, a man who Paul met earlier in Timothy's life when Timothy was a younger man. Timothy had matured and ultimately becomes an elder in the church at Ephesus. And so the Apostle Paul is, encouraging, if not, not, if not, and exhorting Timothy as he functions in this eldership role in the church. But do not m. Conflate eldership with older in age. And the Scripture is going to tell you why. And this is what the Scripture says. Prescribe and teach these things. Paul addressing Timothy by the Spirit of God, Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. Show yourself an example those who believe. I'm going to read that again. Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. Show yourself an example of those who believe. Now again, I explained the context. Paul is talking to Timothy in this letter inspired by the Spirit of God, which has efficacy for the entire body. Body of Christ. Okay. And Timothy, sorry, Paul is encouraging Timothy as he's as he stepped into a leadership role in the Lord's church. But remember, Paul met Timothy when Timothy was a young man. And Paul is presenting to Timothy a contravention to the established 1st century norm expectation for a person of Timothy's age. Which is why by the Spirit of God, Paul says to Timothy, let no one look down on your youthfulness. Rather, rather in your youthfulness, you, Timothy, should be an example in speech, an example in conduct, an example in love, and an example in faith. An example in purity, an example of those who believe. I believe with every fiber of our being that this is, is guidance for how we should engage in the ministerial investment called parenting. Yes, you heard me right. The ministerial investment. Because parenting is not merely a, relational context. It's not merely the biological product of, of husbands and wives coming together. Parenting is a station of mission. Fatherhood and motherhood are stations of mission. God has invested us as parents in the lives of our children to cultivate this reality. That's why I often refer to Daniel and his friends, Daniel, Azariah, Hananiah, and Misael. when they arrived as children in Babylon, they were sufficient to give advice to heads of state that they were wise and they understood science or learning. The body of Christ has got to have an adjustment in terms of what we expect when the term youth is employed.
There must be a transformation in how we as adults engage with the youth
Because if you haven't noticed it yet, I'm pretty sure most of you. If you're watching this show and listening to the show, you have noticed it. By and large, youth in the church look just like youth in the streets. There are exceptions, of course, but generally speaking, there's really not much a difference when I. When I read off those qualities. Right. When you think about youth in the church where you live, do you think, yes, our youth will be examples in speech. Examples? What kind of examples? Examples of those who believe what it looks like for believers. An example of what a believer should look like in speech. Yeah, our youth are like that. That's how our children are. Our children are examples of how believers should speak. Is that your expectation? How about this one? That our children are examples of what believers should look like in their cond. okay, let's go for it. That our children are examples of what believers should look like in the way that they demonstrate love. The way they love. This is how believers should act. That's how our youth are. How about this one? Our youth are examples of what believers should look like in faith. That our youth are examples of what faith should look like in the life of a Christ follower. Y' all see? How about this one? In the year of our Lord 2026, in the 21st century. That our youth are examples of what believers should look like in purity. Not merely abstinence, but in purity. Still don't see how. Guys, I submit to you that this is what God would expect of us. To have a recalibration of what we anticipate, what we accept, what is normal for his body when we employ the term youth. Now, because I live in this world, I know what I'm saying is not most people's expectation of youth, but doesn't mean that that should be our, expectations. And let me tell you something else. While I am talking about youth, don't think I'm speaking only about youth. Because in order for this to become the expectations that the body of Christ has when the term youth is employed, that there must be a transformation in how we as adults engage with the youth. For far too long, we have succumbed to the phenomenon that the Lord warned us about through the Apostle Paul. His Romans, chapter 12. The apostle Paul warning believers in Rome. Believers, be aware that the potential exists for you to be conformed to the world around you. That the way that things happen in the world, that the expectations that are prevalent in the world, that the. The normative manner of engagement and functioning that exists in the world becomes normal for you while you're professing to be a Believer, the Lord knows about that, which is why he warned the believer, don't be conformed to this world. Instead of being conformed to this world, squeezed into the mold of something that you are not, following the pattern of something that is foreign to you. Instead of that occurring, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. I've explained numerous times that word transformation comes from the Greek word metamorpho, where we get our English word metamorphosis. The way the metamorphosis occurs is by our minds being renewed. The evidence of mind renewal is that we think differently. You see, we think differently when things before did not register on our radar as being concerning or problematic or desirable. Now that we have been metamorpho and by our minds being renewed, there were things we used to think were not desirable. Now these are the things that we yearn for. And there were things before that we thought were okay, that now we loathe to think. Man, I didn't recognize that that was something that was problematic. One of those things I would suggest to you is that the body of Christ, and I don't think anybody has done this intentionally, but this has been the product of living in this fallen world that we've allowed the world to establish for us what should be expected as normal for youth. And I want to say that we should reject that. That for the remnant, for the body of Christ, for the peculiar that our expectations that our youth are examples of what believers look like who have faith that our youth can be examples of what purity looks like, not merely abstinence. And I keep making that distinction because you can abstain from something while yearning for it with every fiber of your being, whereas purity is an internal heart condition. In order for that to be real, though, we have to have, dare I say it, a reformation of what we anticipate, what we allow, what we expect. In the Lord's bride. Though I know this is a common experience. We don't have to have all the young folks sitting together on the back row in the service, like arms leaning back, couldn't be bit more bothered by what's going on. Man, I sure can't wait till I get out of here. But actually, we can have young people who yearn to beat the adults, to find their seats to worship with the Lord's saints because they are alive unto God and they found the transcendent value and splendor of, what it means to take full advantage of every opportunity that we have to inhale and exhale our Lord's oxygen to live for his purposes.
Walker Wildmon Jesus Christ never once said, you delusion defines you. Keep it up. Christ, in fact, peeled the scales away from Paul's eyes. Paul identified as a judge and jury theologically to go out and kill Christians. And then Jesus struck him blind on the road, introduced himself, I'm Christ who you're crucifying, peeled the scales back, and Paul never returned to that life of sin.
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Walker Wildmon weekdays, 12pm Central on AFR.
Abraham Hamilton III Shining light into the darkness. This is the Hamilton corner on American Family Radio.
Abraham Hamilton III explores whether defensive parenting is sufficient for homeschooling
Abraham Hamilton III Welcome back to the Hamilton Corner. Abraham Hamilton III here. And I've invited my favorite guest to join me to have this conversation because as I mentioned in the first segment that this is the time where I'm pretty sure many of your social media feeds, for those of you who social to the media, are filled with back to school pictures and things of that nature. And it, because I've seen some and it stirred really a conversation in my heart whether we are pursuing an affirmative vision for our families or are we employing kind of a, Gary Payton parenting approach. You know, Gary Payton, you know, Jeff, you might recall this, he was numerous times a defensive player of the year in the NBA. You know, so he was known for playing great defense. And while defense is important, you don't win games solely by playing defense.
Maria Hamilton That's right.
Abraham Hamilton III Nor do you win championship solely by playing. You gotta put some points on the board. So I wanted to have that conversation because even in, in the homeschool community there's been a significant change and a lot of it followed. the boy, I'm telling you, with the revelations from Anthony Frauchee, the fraud chi, and how all of the lies and stuff, he, he, he told that the, the national response to shmovid was so unnecessary. But a lot of people for the first time in their experiences finally learned what it was their children were being exposed to through affirmative pedagogical offerings. You know, what the lessons were, you know, not to mention what they're learning from their peers in the hallways and things of that nature. And so some people made the decision, well, I don't want that for my child. But the question I want to evaluate, to navigate in this time is whether or not defensive parenting in and of itself is sufficient or should that be superseded and preceded by an affirmative vision as anchored, I, should say an affirmative vision that is rooted in the truths of God's word. And whether or not we're considering if God has an opinion on this matter first and secondarily should we seek and heed that opinion.
Paul tells Timothy to teach scripture actively and affirmatively continuously
So to begin this conversation, when you hear that, and you heard what we talked about in the first segment.
Abraham Hamilton III What are some of your immediate thoughts? Because I see you fired up over there. Bible out highlights is rolling.
Maria Hamilton I see you fired up because man, you can't start with the Bible and then just, you know, not that you do this, you don't do this, but we can't start with the Bible and then be like, so let's just talk, go back like in the scriptures like you said just now, like are we going to heed the scriptures or are we going to human reason our way toward what we prefer? Right. And so I just. If you go down to verse 15, like the same chapter you read.
Abraham Hamilton III So first Timothy, chapter four, verse 15.
Maria Hamilton Yeah. And it says, and again Paul's still talking to Timothy. He's telling them, take pains with these things, be absorbed in them so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching. Persevere in these things. For as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. So going Back to verse 15 though, Paul is very intentional to tell him, hey, really focus on this. And actually when you read verse 11, when it says prescribe and take these things, prescribe and teach these things. And teach. Sorry. Yeah, and teach these things. The prescribed there is like intentionally teach these commands like it's in the affirmative. Right. Like be intentional about this. And then you scroll down to verse 15 and he's saying be intentional about these things, persevere in them. Ensure that you are teaching scripture actively and affirmatively continuously to the people that God has put under your authority. For in this case he's an elder at the church. Right. Well when he says, you will ensure salvation both for yourself and, and for your. And for those who hear you. It's not a works based attaining of salvation. What he's saying is that there is a rescue from shipwreck.
Maria Hamilton There is a, there is a. Destruction is ahead. If we play defense, we're going to lose. That's right. If we play defense, only then there is destruction ahead. So he's saying persevere actively teach and as a command, you know, affirmatively to avoid shipwreck for yourself and for those around you and those in just your care. And one thing that I was going to mention too is that when we're thinking about our witness being evident to all, like you were highlighting the conduct and the speech and how rare it is for teenagers today to have these qualities, in them. We may unfortunately reduce it to what people think of them. Like, make sure that you have a good reputation amongst.
Abraham Hamilton III No, we're talking about for the glory of God.
Maria Hamilton That's right. We're talking about for the glory of God. We're saying, can we raise a generation of believers that are Christlike, period, Like,
Abraham Hamilton III thoroughly comprehend, not based on this is not the outsiders given like a, scantron sheet? Oh, look, your children. Check this box. This is how they are. No, no, no. This is the internal truth of who they are.
Maria Hamilton Right. And I used to doubt that that was possible. I remember having conversations with you. I was like, man, there's no way, like, where I don't see them, where are they? And I didn't grow up in church, but the, that I had to church in my late teens and then early 20s. It was, these kids are, I mean, I was one of them, 16, 17 year olds sitting back like, man, I can't wait for this to be over, to go do whatever. And so that is so common that we're like, is it really possible to heed this? Like, is it really possible for God, which is so crazy, to ask it this way, for God to actually.
Abraham Hamilton III And that's how you ask it. That's why you should ask it.
Maria Hamilton Yeah. Like, is it really possible for God to actually hold his end of the bargain? Like, is he actually going to be faithful and, and actually, you know, raise people by his spirit who are, who are Christ, like in conduct and speech and character.
Maria Hamilton Yes. Because of who he is, not because of our work alone.
Abraham Hamilton III Yeah.
Maria Hamilton Our duty is to obey. And so we should.
Abraham Hamilton III Yeah. You know, you and I, because I know you, I'm married to you and I live with you. we talk a lot about things like Psalm 127 and we talk about the simile that the Lord included, in the scripture. Psalm 127, it says children are like arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior. And we talked about how that arrow has the capacity to accomplish the purpose for which it has been forged. Yet in order for that arrow to be effective, it requires trajectory, trajectory and direction from the skilled warrior. When we talk about this, it's very easy to focus on, you know, what the youth are, what the youth aren't. But doesn't this communication that we're having right now require an adjustment and what the adults around the youth, and more particularly the parents should have as a terms of establishing what are we trying to accomplish with these children.
Maria Hamilton Yeah, yeah. What it. Okay. Do you. Man.
Christian family's command is to be fruitful and multiply
So if we go back, though, why do we even have children? Like, why do we bring people into the world? What is the Christian family's command? Be fruitful and multiply? What does that. What does that mean? Like, why. Of course, if we embrace the world's perspective, which we shouldn't as believers, but if we do, it's because we want. It's like a handbag that we just want to add.
Abraham Hamilton III It's an accessory to our lives.
Maria Hamilton It's an accessory.
Abraham Hamilton III It makes our lives better. Makes our lives better.
Maria Hamilton I want the house.
Abraham Hamilton III Oh, you have your boy and your girl, and your life is complete, right?
Walker Wildmon Yes. Right.
Maria Hamilton That's why the question is, oh, you're good. Right? Because now you have the little boy and the little girl. Why do we have kids? Is it for us? Is it because we want to be called mom, be called dad? Like, why did we have children? And so.
Abraham Hamilton III But that requires a little bit of pause and reflection and introspection because what truly is the answer, you know? And a lot of times we find ourselves taking our marching orders from the world around us. Have we considered what is God's design, purpose for blessing husbands and wives with the potential, the capacity, then the opportunity to bring children into the world, to be a part of his plan, to fill his world with bearers of his image?
Maria Hamilton Yeah. Not only are they blessings when they're here, like, not only are they, like, a blessing and not, you know, a burden like the world wants to sell, but. But there is a mission. Like, these are human beings. Like, once, such were some of us, like, we were brought into this world for a purpose and a reason. There's that identity in Christ that we have. So. So the same way, the same perspective we should have toward these humans that God has blessed us with. Yes, they're a blessing, but they are placed in on this earth because God desired for it to be so. And with a mission from God for them to accomplish so, we have the blessed privilege to have been given the stewardship over these children, like God is entrusting them to us. And so when we come into parenting from that paradigm, and I understand it's rare, but it's biblical, so we have to, like, undo and redo, rebuild biblical worldview in regards to having children. And once we do that, and we come to the realization that, man, these children are God's children that I'm stewarding, and what. Who are they, Lord? Like, Lord, who is this child that you have blessed me with? Who Are these children? And of course, you know, the number, the blessings of how many. That's all. It should be up to the Lord as well. And so then we can go to the Lord to say, okay, Lord, then who is this child? What have you put in him? What are the strengths? What are the weaknesses? What areas need to be refined? And then with that perspective foundationally, then we can have directory, I mean, sorry, trajectory and direction. Now we can affirmatively instruct and guide in Christlikeness, comprehensively as far as character and speech and conduct, but also in aim. Like, where are they going in this life? What were they placed in this earth to accomplish for the glory of God and for the advancement of the kingdom of God? I think we have to just start at the right foundation though, you know.
Abraham Hamilton III Yeah, I agree.
We are addressing life circumstance concerning those who have struggled with infertility
And as we're talking about this, I understand we live in a fallen world. And I know that there are people who struggle in different areas, even some who have maybe struggled with infertility and other things of that nature. I don't want anybody to feel like, this conversation is meant to be, the end all, be all of all conversations. And that there's no room for those who struggle in these various areas as well in God's economy. That is not what we're saying at all, not in the slightest bit. And God is the one who knows far beyond. We could ever even articulate on the airwaves the depths of what you're experiencing. But we are endeavoring to address, the life circumstance concerning those who have been, who are at the life stage and are at the position in their lives where they have children.
Have we considered what it means to be parents in God's economy
Have we considered what it means to be parents in God's economy? Have we considered what God has ordained for us? And so, one of the major things that requires an adjustment is that those, many who enter into parenthood, sometimes we do so prayerlessly and thoughtlessly and we just kind of fold into what is prevalent in the world. And we may not find any off ramp, if you will, to that worldly conformation when we desperately need it at the earliest stages.
Maria Hamilton Yeah. And then the next step to that will be, well, I don't want them to be exposed to this, or I don't want them to suffer this. And I know my traumas and I don't want them to be, you know, have to have those traumas and have to heal from those things. And so it's like, how can we protect them? Even though there is protection in parenting, how can we protect them from all the Big bad wolves outside of our home or outside of our spheres, you know, of influence that we place them under. How do we protect them from little Johnny down the street who has, you know, bad habits? How do we protect. How do we keep them from these things, man? Instead of how do we equip them? How do we build them up? How do we shore them up in their identity in Christ? How do we help them to understand who God is and therefore who then is mankind? Like who is God and then who therefore are you then, child? Right. And the same thing applies to us. Who is God? And then therefore, since who God is, who he is, then that dictates or, influences. I don't know the word there. for us answering the question who we are, right, it's rooted in who he is. It's not just who we are because God is good to us. It's because of who he is. And therefore we can define who we are. So if we do that with our children, then we can shore them open identity. And then we are then adding, not in a fleshly sense, but the Holy Spirit is leading us and supernaturally equipping them to be built up, to be and to advance not only physically and naturally, like advancing in achievements, but also advancing in light, conquering darkness in their own hearts and then in their environments, you know.
Abraham Hamilton III So how would you say we get to that point? Because there are lots of people who are listening to us and they would say amen to what we've said so far. but who have gotten to the place where they recognize man. I don't want my child to do this. I don't want my child to be, engrossed and deviant. instruction concerning human sexuality. I don't want, people normalizing.
Hamilton: Children today are being groomed to be confused sexually
I mentioned earlier Marxism for my child. How do we get to where, we progress from merely identifying the big bad wolves that we don't want to huff and puff and blow our houses down to on toward pursuing an affirmative vision for our child generally. And then for the children that we have specifically, how do we make that transition?
Maria Hamilton So there's a lot to say to that question. But because each stage of the development of the child, it will take a different approach. but if we want to start from when they're very little, we have to lay a proper foundation biblically. They have to understand who God is and who got made humans to be right. And we can go back to, you know, with. With the lies of, Children today are being groomed to be confused sexually. So we start unfortunately. You know, you remember in the 80s and 90s, we didn't really have to be talked about, if you will, about sexuality or sexual confusion is what I call it, you know, with the, gender stuff. but now we got to teach them when they're little because you have Muppet babies trying to introduce it or Paw Patrol or whoever. And so we have to start young. So with the little ones, there has to be a foundation of who God is and who God says you are. You are a boy, because God does not make mistakes. And he has fearfully and wonderfully made you. And everything that was in you was in you at conception. And man, that DNA is a miraculous reality that God has put in this, in this physical world. And for the glory of God, you've been placed here, and then you build from that. If a child has been exposed to things, let's analyze, the stimulus, if you will, the thing that they are being exposed to. from a biblical perspective, why is it that we say that that is wrong? Is it because it's a boogeyman or is it because God says that is sin and leads to destruction? Right. And so shoring them up along the way. There is, There needs to be protection, but protection alone, without the instruction affirmatively, then they're just like, no, no, afraid of all things. No, everything is bad. And then they go out into the world and they're shipwrecked. And there has to be a protection. And then an affirmative instruction. And we have anecdotes we can tell if you want to go there. But there is an affirmative instruction that must be given and that is part of the formation of the child.
Abraham Hamilton III Yeah. So what I hear you saying is, that it's never too early to begin establishing a biblical worldview.
Maria Hamilton Not at all.
Abraham Hamilton III And you don't have to, pick every rival notion as opposed to articulating affirmative. This is God's view. This is what God has designed. This is who you are. This is who God is because of who God is. This is we who. This is who we are as mankind. And this is who you are specifically that. Having that, that, that, that affirmative presentation to be involved in what you're doing, you are protecting in the defensive sense, while at the exact same time casting an affirmative vision for what is true. What is reality based on? the one who determines what is true.
Maria Hamilton That's right.
Abraham Hamilton III Which is the holy word of God. And yes, we want it, Want to get into, some anecdotes, but it's kind of like, well, we run out of time. Let me pick it back up after this disrespect ends because of that music. Just as disrespectful right now.
Walker Wildmon When you look at the fundamental priorities that this administration has, rebuilding the American family through the various priorities, ensuring religious freedom is alive and well and flourishing in America, having a Department of justice that is actually focused on enforcing the laws of the land, I have a hard time disagreeing with any of them.
Abraham Hamilton III Join Walker Wildmon and Rick Green at the The Core 1pm Central weekdays on AFR or on the AFR app.
Abraham Hamilton III The Hamilton Corner podcast and one minute commentaries are available at afr.net back to the Hamilton Corner on American Family Radio.
Abraham Hamilton III talks about affirmative teaching instruction and disciple making
Abraham Hamilton III Welcome back to the Hamilton Corner, Abraham Hamilton III with my lovely wife Maria Hamilton. And we're having a conversation about affirmative teaching instruction and disciple making as opposed to exclusively engaging his parents from a defensive posture. And it's very similar. Some of you may relate to what I'm about to share, some of you may not relate to this, but, growing up as a young man who grew up largely going to church, not largely my entire childhood, thank the Lord. my parents were intentional about bringing me, to gather with the Lord's people for, for worship and to be at the church all the time. And one thing that was consistent in my upbringing was you. As I matriculated into the teenage years, was a lot of conversations about, you know, don't fornicate, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't fornicate. because simply put, a lot of the people who were teaching us, were teaching us from their own paradigms.
Maria Hamilton Yeah.
Abraham Hamilton III In their own experiences, you know, as opposed to casting a complete vision from the whole counsel of God's word. So a lot of, you know, people who grew up in church, like me, grew up here and don't fornicate. But they did not get, presenting an affirmative, did not get presented with an affirmative vision for physical intimacy between a husband and wife and how that is something that is glorious, how it is something that God has designed and how he's designed that even to be enjoyable between husbands and wives. You don't, you didn't really get an affirmative vision for that. And so that left a lot of people that if they're going to get any insight, they get it from the world and get it from the streets. And so that's what, that's what we're talking about in a broader sense in terms of approaching this station of mission that's called parenthood that God has wisdom for us in his word, to allow us to affirmatively present what he asked for us to provide these arrows with trajectory and direction as opposed to merely being Gary Payton parents.
Maria Hamilton Yeah. And, you know, so when you were saying that, I was thinking, is it really more effective? Is it. Do we. Do we see the fruit of it when we just say don't, don't, don't, don't, don't. Because even though I didn't grow up in church, I grew up in a conservative culture in Puerto Rico. And so kids were not having sex and teenagers were not having sex. And so it was like a big no, no. Then I come to Texas and my peers are having sex, and then it's like, oh, God. So. But I am m in my. In my self. I was like, oh, that's bad. That's bad. But it wasn't biblical. It was just cultural. Right, Right. But that doesn't stop us because sin is there. Right. So it's not. I don't see. And you can answer this. I don't see the fruit of what we actually want, which is holiness by just saying, don't, don't, don't, don't do it.
Walker Wildmon Right.
Maria Hamilton So then the affirmative approach, which is actually the biblical approach of equipping, is, fruitful, gives us the results that we're looking for that God desires. Right. Which is holiness at a heart level. So.
Abraham Hamilton III And it's not mere holiness. I won't say mere. It is holiness at a heart level. But it is a disciple who is comprehensively invested in seeking to glorify the Lord with all that we. We are, including our physical bodies.
Maria Hamilton That's right.
Abraham Hamilton III That our physical bodies are an aspect or a vessel by which and through which that we glorify our Lord. And that is a part of our comprehensive commitment to glorify the Lord with all that we are.
Maria Hamilton That's right.
Abraham Hamilton III That is what we're looking for. Not merely refrain from this conduct we are looking for. No, you are a person who's been made to glorify the Lord with all. All that you are. That includes your speech. That includes your thoughts. That includes how you use your time, it includes how you hang out with your friends. And it includes how you utilize your body, man.
Maria Hamilton Right. So. So when it comes to purity. Right? And we. We comprehensively can understand that ourselves live it out. But then also Ra, you know, like, raise a child that way with that understanding. And they. And the Holy Spirit miraculously captures their heart. Because remember, it is not our doing that Gets them in either saved or sanctified. It is the power of the Holy Spirit.
Abraham Hamilton III I probably would say not mirac. I would say supernaturally, not miraculously.
Maria Hamilton Okay. Yeah. And you know what I mean when I say.
Abraham Hamilton III I do know what you mean, because I don't want to unintentionally communicate that it's rare.
Maria Hamilton That's right.
Abraham Hamilton III Well, most people think miracles. They think uncommon experiences. Uncommon instances when. Whereas supernature is a ready phenomenon for
Maria Hamilton the Lord is common. Right.
Abraham Hamilton III So from God's perspective, just like salvation is supernatural. You know that's correct. It is the product of the spirit of God drawing men to himself.
Maria Hamilton Yes.
Abraham Hamilton III And so having this type of sanctification is a supernatural phenomenon that takes place.
Maria Hamilton Yes.
Abraham Hamilton III In the lives of believers and young
Maria Hamilton believers and older believers, trusting God that he will do that, because that's what he says he does. Right.
So. I was terrified of this because all I knew was, don't do
So. But then, like, you have, like, the reality. And I was terrified of this. I was terrified of this because all I knew was, don't do. Don't do, don't do. Don't even bring out the topic, because if you bring the topic, they're gonna start getting curious in. In regards to purity, as if there
Abraham Hamilton III are no answers in the Lord, as if there are no answers in Scripture, as if there are no guidance.
Walker Wildmon Right.
Maria Hamilton So I was so guilty. I was so immersed in, like, the way I learned about it. Again, projecting our own experience onto our children. I learned about it in the filthy way. I learned about it in the wrong way. I realized at some point in my walk with the Lord that it was filthy and wrong. I repented, and now I'm, like, terrified of it. Instead of, like, wait, Lord, then. Then teach me affirmatively how I'm supposed to think of this. And so not to take a lot of time, but long story short, we ended up. You helped because I was like, babe, you're the one. I don't know. I mean, I was really terrified about it. And you took the lead by.
What we now encourage is remember that anything else is a counterfeit
Praise God, when our son, who was 14 at the time, 15 now. Well, he had started asking questions before about literally the, you know, the birds and the bees or whatever, however you call it.
Abraham Hamilton III Well, specifically, he was asking about how babies are made.
Maria Hamilton How babies are made? Yeah, how babies are made. And how is it that, you know, the mommy. The baby grows inside of the mommy, but, you know, how does the daddy's DNA get inside of the baby? Literally, he said, how does the daddy's DNA get inside of the mommy's tummy? Like, I was like, oh, Lord, son, so, we waited for you to get home and all that, and we talked to him, but. But when we laid the man, it's so beautiful. When we laid God's original design and purpose for human sexuality within the marital union, with the commitment already and the desire to glorify God and obey him in all things, he literally leaves the conversation by saying, ho, that is awesome. Look at the majesty of God. And then we don't have to say, son, don't, don't, don't. What we now encourage is remember that anything else is actually, a counterfeit. Remember that anything else, Anything else, whether it's, I mean, not to say, not to be graphic, but whether it's pleasure to oneself or whether it's, you know, outside of the marital covenant, whatever it is, it is. All of that is a downgrade from the beauty that God put into this. So it's not just like, abstain, abstain in the name of purity or cloaked in purity in the church lingo, but it is, do you see who God is and what he's done for us and what he's calling us to live out when it. In regards to human sexuality with our spouses, like, man, anything else will be like, like eating, you know, dog scraps when you have filet mignon on the table.
Abraham Hamilton III This is why the apostle Paul describes fornication in the context of a man being united to a harlot. Yes, that's why he describes it that way. Because you're taking what has been ordained for this, this, this glorious, trans, the transcendent experience in the Lord and you're downgrading it to just base, guttural, fleshly pursuits.
Maria Hamilton If I would have had that perspective, like, I would have been able to, you know, with the, with the knowledge of Christ, not like, just generally speaking, human reasoning of this topic, but like, if I would have had this foundation that we're saying, I would have. I would have not wanted to. Like, it wouldn't have been like, I'm just going to obey Mommy and Daddy. I'm just not going to. Because I'm a Christian. I'm just not going to. No, it is. Oh, I don't, I don't want that. So then they buy in.
Abraham Hamilton III And that's what God desires for all believers.
Maria Hamilton Amen.
Abraham Hamilton III Because the desire of any believer would be, yes, I want to glory. Like, when I say any believer, I'm talking about somebody who's genuinely been born again. Yeah, I'm not talking about a churchian. I'm talking about a person who's been born again. The desire is that, yes, I want to glorify the Lord in this fashion. I want to glorify the Lord in this manner. And these are the things that the enemy is trying to, what I'm saying, these are the things like the glorious picture of how the intimacy between a husband and a wife is. Is involved. And this is the only human institution that's illustrative of Christ in his church. but the enemy wants to interrupt that and to introduce counterfeits as early as possible, which is why you have things like Muppet Babies and these cartoons and other things that are trying to introduce confusion and all kind of things at the earliest stages. You know, and these are things like, we're humans, we have family, we live in this world, and we deal with these things as well. You know, we had an experience with one of our children having a cartoon to introduce something to us. And this is a cartoon that we vetted. We thought we'd vet it thoroughly. And this is one that's kind of a remix from our childhood Muppet Babies. And so we didn't have an expectation that they would, take it where they took it in this episode, but they did.
Parents have a responsibility to screen what their children watch, says M. M.
You want to talk about that a little bit?
Maria Hamilton Yeah. I mean, and honestly, you know, we. We are protecting. Right. We're protecting. We. We. We even homeschool now. We really protect it.
Abraham Hamilton III Right?
Maria Hamilton And so. So we're protecting. And. And my son comes to me and says, mommy, there's this episode on Muppet Babies. He was maybe 6 or 7 at the time. And, he says, mommy, there's this episode of Muppet Babies that I watched another son.
Abraham Hamilton III But. Yeah, go ahead.
Maria Hamilton Yes. and he says, but. But Gonzo dressed as a girl. And I was like, what? No way. Like, no way. Because I trusted that cartoon. I mean, our older kids watched it. We, like you said, we watched it growing up. And so, I was like, no way. Show me. Sure enough, Gonzarella. And I'm sure you guys have heard it probably moms for, 1 million moms probably has went on, wrote articles about it. Anyway, so we had to sit him down and go through why this is wrong. But here's the.
Abraham Hamilton III Explain what it was, then explain how it wrong briefly, like, what it was. It was like Cinderella and where Gonzo. Who's a boy.
Maria Hamilton Yeah.
Abraham Hamilton III Was trying to dress up as Cinderella.
Walker Wildmon Yes.
Abraham Hamilton III In the cartoon.
Maria Hamilton That's right. And everybody. Ah, Piggy at first was like, no, Gonzo, this is wr. Through the episode. The entire Purpose was to convince, Piggy that it was okay because Gonzo wanted to express himself and he just preferred dresses over tuxedos. So. But here's. Here's where I want to. What's really important.
Abraham Hamilton III And let me say this, too. This was like five years ago. Yeah, six years ago.
Maria Hamilton If we were just protecting our kids and playing defense, my son would have snuck and not told me that he watched it because of fear of being punished. M. If I told them, in this house, we don't watch this stuff. We don't want. In this house, we don't do that. And left it at protection. Because from our end, we're protecting. Right? When we say don't. This is not. We're not doing this here. Then we're just protecting. He would have snuck. He would have watched it and not told me, knowing that it was wrong because Mommy said it's wrong or Daddy said it's wrong and then not told us because what is the consequence when you disobey when we said don't watch it? If we said don't watch it. You know what I mean? Then it's. Nah, I'm not gonna say nothing. Yeah, that is. That is not parent. That's unequipping.
Abraham Hamilton III And let me say this. And we do, as parents, have a responsibility to screen what they watch. Of course, we should be, you know, overseeing what it is they watch. But here's the reality that there are sometimes some things that we're not going to see.
Maria Hamilton That's right.
Abraham Hamilton III We won't be able to have 100% on the screening. That's just the reality.
Maria Hamilton You live in a cave with no TV or anything.
Abraham Hamilton III And because our desire, even if you live in a cave in this day and age with the technological innovations of things, this. That's the reality. So our desire is we want to rear disciples who will be faithful to the Lord even when Mommy and Daddy are not physically present.
Maria Hamilton So then how does that. Because do we really trust our kids? And if we're playing defense, we cannot trust them. That's the bottom line. Because they're not equipped yet, Right? They're not being equipped. And therefore they're not mature yet. So we can't trust them. I want to be able to trust my children. I want to be able to trust them at 8 and 9. I'm not talking about perfection. I'm talking about trust.
Gary Payton: Biblical teaching on obedience to parents should not be optional
Walker Wildmon Right?
Maria Hamilton So my son brings that to us. He brings it to us because he doesn't expect us to, like, beat him for it. He also, he also realizes we
Abraham Hamilton III don't spit a ride now.
Maria Hamilton That's right, that's right. so biblically, praise God. So. But he brings it to us and he is saying to us, mommy, this is so bad. Now, I'd never convinced him that that was bad. Yeah, I never sat him down and say, son, at that point, he already had that coming in. He watched the show and discern and rightly identify that that was bad. Why, why is it that he's saying, ah, this is not a good message for me or for anybody. Why? Because there's been a foundation laid literally by the grace of God where he is understanding. Counterfeit, Counterfeit. Warning. Counterfeit. And then we said, see? Do you see? Okay, so that episode we're not going to rewatch because they're trying to convince you of a lie, son. It's a lie, isn't it? Yes. So then when they grow up, of course they're maturing and all that. I'm not talking about perfection, guys. I'm just saying that there is a reality that they can grow in maturity because they want what God wants. They want to love what God loves and hate what God hates for themselves, not because of us. That's how we can leave them, you know, and trust that when you and I are doing this show right now and we say no TV until 4, that there's not going to be a TV on when I get back home. Well, how do I know that? Not because they're perfect children. Not because, you know, we're so great at the Hamilton, household. It's because they know. Not that they're afraid of punishment, but they know that obedience to God should be ever present for a disciple of Christ with mommy and daddy there or not. But that's, that's the disciple, right? God is invisible. But we still honor him. We still obey him. Not because he's going to come with a lash or, you know, it's because he is worthy of obedience.
Maria Hamilton So can we, can we raise a. Raise a generation of believers that really
Abraham Hamilton III believe that the Scripture says. Not only that we can. That we were expected to do so? Yes.
Maria Hamilton Yes.
Abraham Hamilton III The Scripture says, fathers Ephesians 6:4, do not exasperate your children, rather rear them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord affirmatively?
Maria Hamilton That's an affirmative instruction.
Abraham Hamilton III That's an affirmative instruction. Description. Likewise says children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, as it is the first command, with promise that these are things that the scripture expects. And in the opposite direction. Romans, Chapter one, second Peter three the Scripture highlights among the laundry list of what may be described as Hollywood sin, sexual immorality, murder, covetousness, envy. Guess what's also listed Disobedience to parents. And for Romans 1 and 2nd Peter 3, I'm sorry, 2nd Timothy, chapter 3 and so what we're talking about is not something that should be optional. That's right for the family of God. The world is going to world. But that should not be the standard within the family of God. And so it should not be our expectation nor should we normalize it. But what we should seek is that as we are actively following the Lord as parents, that we are rearing disciples to come along with us in that similar investment so that those arrows grow to become fellow warriors standing shoulder to shoulder with us as we contend against the enemies at the gates. No Gary Payton, Parenting by God's Grace But Affirmative Vision Pursuit According to Scripture,
Maria Hamilton the views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
The Hamilton Corner on American Family Radio is in dark times
Abraham Hamilton III Darkness is not an affirmative force. It simply reoccupies the space vacated by the light.
Abraham Hamilton III This is the, Hamilton Corner on American Family Radio.
Abraham Hamilton III It should be uncomfortable for a believer to live as a hypocrite, delivering people
Abraham Hamilton III out of the bondage of mainstream media and the philosophies of this world.
Abraham Hamilton III God has called you and me to be his ambassadors even in this dark moment. Let's not miss our moment.
Abraham Hamilton III And now the Hamilton Corner.
Abraham Hamilton III Good evening everyone. Welcome to the Hamilton Corner here on American Family Radio. I'm your host, Abraham Hamilton iii. Delighted to be on the air with you again. I'm, joined by producer extraordinaire, often imitated, never duplicated, the real J. Mac. And we're ready to rock and roll with today's edition of the program.
At this very moment, many of you are making transition from part time jobs
At this very moment, many of you, if not most of you, are making your transition from your part time jobs where you generate an income to your full time jobs where you cultivate an outcome. And as you do so, I want to remind you to do so with intentionality, understanding the primacy that God places on family and allowing the truth of his word to guide, to govern and to guard your engagement so that as you do so that you're able to engage in victory, that you are able to engage in such a way to where you are involved in executing the King's commission starting right in your own homes. And I know all around the country, many of you, your social media feeds are filling up with back to school pictures and it's that time again and all these kind of things that are happening. And as you are doing that, I want to simply encourage you to consider, does God have an opinion about this? You know, I've talked at length and I will encourage you if you have not done so yet, to get my brother Israel Wayne's book Education. Does God have an Opinion? You will not regret getting that book. It is one of, if not the most important books on this topic other than the Bible. I would say it is the most important book in this area. because I truly believe we have to reconsider our expectations of ourselves as parents, reconsider our expectations of our children and have a re establish a new norm for what we envision when the word youth is utilized. And I'm going to dig into the word of God in a few moments here to explain that, in a bit more detail, in a bit more detail. but rest assured, the reason why I'm saying that is because of what the Lord affords us in His Word you've heard me say, time and time again that when we look around our nation, we look at things that are happening where you see kind of this ascendancy of young people's openness to things like Marxism. Where did that come from? And that the exact same time there is a surge in Islamism in our country. you want to dig into a little bit to what things look like. You know, Hamtramck, Michigan is the first majority m Muslim city in our nation. Have you seen the recent city, council votes they've taken there, things that they're seeking to legalize there?
Abraham Hamilton III I think it's worth considering. It's certainly worth considering. And while I'm saying all of these things, I want to remind you that none of the things that we're confronting have caught our God off guard. In fact, he so prepared himself for this time that he's ordained a portion of his people to be appointed for this particular time. That the fact that we are alive right now and the fact that we live where we live is not a mere coincidence. It's a feature of God's divine design. So when you take full scope of all of those things, it shows that man, God has ordained us for this moment and we do not. I don't for sure. And I know that you don't, because many of you wouldn't be listening to this program, otherwise. You do not want to miss your moment. And so, all hands have to be on deck. Every member of the Lord's bride needs to supply. We don't need to try to be identical, clones of one another. We need to fill the role that God has ordained for us within his body. But we have to fill the role, not play with the role, not flirt with the role, not, you know, double Dutch, act like we're going to jump in, but never jump into the role. The time is now to be about our Father's business.
The body of Christ has got to have an adjustment in terms of expectations
To the word of God we go. First Timothy, chapter four. First Timothy, chapter four, verses 11 and 12. The two verses I want to go to. And this is going to give you a biblical grounding, anchoring for what I was talking about of ah, reconsidering our normalized expectations when we employ the term youth. And as you always know, I say this all the time. The world is going to world. So I'm talking about what our expectations should be within the body of Christ. And this is what God's word says. First Timothy, chapter 4, verses 11 and 12. This is the Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, a man who Paul met earlier in Timothy's life when Timothy was a younger man. Timothy had matured and ultimately becomes an elder in the church at Ephesus. And so the Apostle Paul is, encouraging, if not, not, if not, and exhorting Timothy as he functions in this eldership role in the church. But do not m. Conflate eldership with older in age. And the Scripture is going to tell you why. And this is what the Scripture says. Prescribe and teach these things. Paul addressing Timothy by the Spirit of God, Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. Show yourself an example those who believe. I'm going to read that again. Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. Show yourself an example of those who believe. Now again, I explained the context. Paul is talking to Timothy in this letter inspired by the Spirit of God, which has efficacy for the entire body. Body of Christ. Okay. And Timothy, sorry, Paul is encouraging Timothy as he's as he stepped into a leadership role in the Lord's church. But remember, Paul met Timothy when Timothy was a young man. And Paul is presenting to Timothy a contravention to the established 1st century norm expectation for a person of Timothy's age. Which is why by the Spirit of God, Paul says to Timothy, let no one look down on your youthfulness. Rather, rather in your youthfulness, you, Timothy, should be an example in speech, an example in conduct, an example in love, and an example in faith. An example in purity, an example of those who believe. I believe with every fiber of our being that this is, is guidance for how we should engage in the ministerial investment called parenting. Yes, you heard me right. The ministerial investment. Because parenting is not merely a, relational context. It's not merely the biological product of, of husbands and wives coming together. Parenting is a station of mission. Fatherhood and motherhood are stations of mission. God has invested us as parents in the lives of our children to cultivate this reality. That's why I often refer to Daniel and his friends, Daniel, Azariah, Hananiah, and Misael. when they arrived as children in Babylon, they were sufficient to give advice to heads of state that they were wise and they understood science or learning. The body of Christ has got to have an adjustment in terms of what we expect when the term youth is employed.
There must be a transformation in how we as adults engage with the youth
Because if you haven't noticed it yet, I'm pretty sure most of you. If you're watching this show and listening to the show, you have noticed it. By and large, youth in the church look just like youth in the streets. There are exceptions, of course, but generally speaking, there's really not much a difference when I. When I read off those qualities. Right. When you think about youth in the church where you live, do you think, yes, our youth will be examples in speech. Examples? What kind of examples? Examples of those who believe what it looks like for believers. An example of what a believer should look like in speech. Yeah, our youth are like that. That's how our children are. Our children are examples of how believers should speak. Is that your expectation? How about this one? That our children are examples of what believers should look like in their cond. okay, let's go for it. That our children are examples of what believers should look like in the way that they demonstrate love. The way they love. This is how believers should act. That's how our youth are. How about this one? Our youth are examples of what believers should look like in faith. That our youth are examples of what faith should look like in the life of a Christ follower. Y' all see? How about this one? In the year of our Lord 2026, in the 21st century. That our youth are examples of what believers should look like in purity. Not merely abstinence, but in purity. Still don't see how. Guys, I submit to you that this is what God would expect of us. To have a recalibration of what we anticipate, what we accept, what is normal for his body when we employ the term youth. Now, because I live in this world, I know what I'm saying is not most people's expectation of youth, but doesn't mean that that should be our, expectations. And let me tell you something else. While I am talking about youth, don't think I'm speaking only about youth. Because in order for this to become the expectations that the body of Christ has when the term youth is employed, that there must be a transformation in how we as adults engage with the youth. For far too long, we have succumbed to the phenomenon that the Lord warned us about through the Apostle Paul. His Romans, chapter 12. The apostle Paul warning believers in Rome. Believers, be aware that the potential exists for you to be conformed to the world around you. That the way that things happen in the world, that the expectations that are prevalent in the world, that the. The normative manner of engagement and functioning that exists in the world becomes normal for you while you're professing to be a Believer, the Lord knows about that, which is why he warned the believer, don't be conformed to this world. Instead of being conformed to this world, squeezed into the mold of something that you are not, following the pattern of something that is foreign to you. Instead of that occurring, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. I've explained numerous times that word transformation comes from the Greek word metamorpho, where we get our English word metamorphosis. The way the metamorphosis occurs is by our minds being renewed. The evidence of mind renewal is that we think differently. You see, we think differently when things before did not register on our radar as being concerning or problematic or desirable. Now that we have been metamorpho and by our minds being renewed, there were things we used to think were not desirable. Now these are the things that we yearn for. And there were things before that we thought were okay, that now we loathe to think. Man, I didn't recognize that that was something that was problematic. One of those things I would suggest to you is that the body of Christ, and I don't think anybody has done this intentionally, but this has been the product of living in this fallen world that we've allowed the world to establish for us what should be expected as normal for youth. And I want to say that we should reject that. That for the remnant, for the body of Christ, for the peculiar that our expectations that our youth are examples of what believers look like who have faith that our youth can be examples of what purity looks like, not merely abstinence. And I keep making that distinction because you can abstain from something while yearning for it with every fiber of your being, whereas purity is an internal heart condition. In order for that to be real, though, we have to have, dare I say it, a reformation of what we anticipate, what we allow, what we expect. In the Lord's bride. Though I know this is a common experience. We don't have to have all the young folks sitting together on the back row in the service, like arms leaning back, couldn't be bit more bothered by what's going on. Man, I sure can't wait till I get out of here. But actually, we can have young people who yearn to beat the adults, to find their seats to worship with the Lord's saints because they are alive unto God and they found the transcendent value and splendor of, what it means to take full advantage of every opportunity that we have to inhale and exhale our Lord's oxygen to live for his purposes.
Walker Wildmon Jesus Christ never once said, you delusion defines you. Keep it up. Christ, in fact, peeled the scales away from Paul's eyes. Paul identified as a judge and jury theologically to go out and kill Christians. And then Jesus struck him blind on the road, introduced himself, I'm Christ who you're crucifying, peeled the scales back, and Paul never returned to that life of sin.
Abraham Hamilton III Hear Todd Herman on a Disciples view
Walker Wildmon weekdays, 12pm Central on AFR.
Abraham Hamilton III Shining light into the darkness. This is the Hamilton corner on American Family Radio.
Abraham Hamilton III explores whether defensive parenting is sufficient for homeschooling
Abraham Hamilton III Welcome back to the Hamilton Corner. Abraham Hamilton III here. And I've invited my favorite guest to join me to have this conversation because as I mentioned in the first segment that this is the time where I'm pretty sure many of your social media feeds, for those of you who social to the media, are filled with back to school pictures and things of that nature. And it, because I've seen some and it stirred really a conversation in my heart whether we are pursuing an affirmative vision for our families or are we employing kind of a, Gary Payton parenting approach. You know, Gary Payton, you know, Jeff, you might recall this, he was numerous times a defensive player of the year in the NBA. You know, so he was known for playing great defense. And while defense is important, you don't win games solely by playing defense.
Maria Hamilton That's right.
Abraham Hamilton III Nor do you win championship solely by playing. You gotta put some points on the board. So I wanted to have that conversation because even in, in the homeschool community there's been a significant change and a lot of it followed. the boy, I'm telling you, with the revelations from Anthony Frauchee, the fraud chi, and how all of the lies and stuff, he, he, he told that the, the national response to shmovid was so unnecessary. But a lot of people for the first time in their experiences finally learned what it was their children were being exposed to through affirmative pedagogical offerings. You know, what the lessons were, you know, not to mention what they're learning from their peers in the hallways and things of that nature. And so some people made the decision, well, I don't want that for my child. But the question I want to evaluate, to navigate in this time is whether or not defensive parenting in and of itself is sufficient or should that be superseded and preceded by an affirmative vision as anchored, I, should say an affirmative vision that is rooted in the truths of God's word. And whether or not we're considering if God has an opinion on this matter first and secondarily should we seek and heed that opinion.
Paul tells Timothy to teach scripture actively and affirmatively continuously
So to begin this conversation, when you hear that, and you heard what we talked about in the first segment.
Abraham Hamilton III What are some of your immediate thoughts? Because I see you fired up over there. Bible out highlights is rolling.
Maria Hamilton I see you fired up because man, you can't start with the Bible and then just, you know, not that you do this, you don't do this, but we can't start with the Bible and then be like, so let's just talk, go back like in the scriptures like you said just now, like are we going to heed the scriptures or are we going to human reason our way toward what we prefer? Right. And so I just. If you go down to verse 15, like the same chapter you read.
Abraham Hamilton III So first Timothy, chapter four, verse 15.
Maria Hamilton Yeah. And it says, and again Paul's still talking to Timothy. He's telling them, take pains with these things, be absorbed in them so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching. Persevere in these things. For as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. So going Back to verse 15 though, Paul is very intentional to tell him, hey, really focus on this. And actually when you read verse 11, when it says prescribe and take these things, prescribe and teach these things. And teach. Sorry. Yeah, and teach these things. The prescribed there is like intentionally teach these commands like it's in the affirmative. Right. Like be intentional about this. And then you scroll down to verse 15 and he's saying be intentional about these things, persevere in them. Ensure that you are teaching scripture actively and affirmatively continuously to the people that God has put under your authority. For in this case he's an elder at the church. Right. Well when he says, you will ensure salvation both for yourself and, and for your. And for those who hear you. It's not a works based attaining of salvation. What he's saying is that there is a rescue from shipwreck.
Maria Hamilton There is a, there is a. Destruction is ahead. If we play defense, we're going to lose. That's right. If we play defense, only then there is destruction ahead. So he's saying persevere actively teach and as a command, you know, affirmatively to avoid shipwreck for yourself and for those around you and those in just your care. And one thing that I was going to mention too is that when we're thinking about our witness being evident to all, like you were highlighting the conduct and the speech and how rare it is for teenagers today to have these qualities, in them. We may unfortunately reduce it to what people think of them. Like, make sure that you have a good reputation amongst.
Abraham Hamilton III No, we're talking about for the glory of God.
Maria Hamilton That's right. We're talking about for the glory of God. We're saying, can we raise a generation of believers that are Christlike, period, Like,
Abraham Hamilton III thoroughly comprehend, not based on this is not the outsiders given like a, scantron sheet? Oh, look, your children. Check this box. This is how they are. No, no, no. This is the internal truth of who they are.
Maria Hamilton Right. And I used to doubt that that was possible. I remember having conversations with you. I was like, man, there's no way, like, where I don't see them, where are they? And I didn't grow up in church, but the, that I had to church in my late teens and then early 20s. It was, these kids are, I mean, I was one of them, 16, 17 year olds sitting back like, man, I can't wait for this to be over, to go do whatever. And so that is so common that we're like, is it really possible to heed this? Like, is it really possible for God, which is so crazy, to ask it this way, for God to actually.
Abraham Hamilton III And that's how you ask it. That's why you should ask it.
Maria Hamilton Yeah. Like, is it really possible for God to actually hold his end of the bargain? Like, is he actually going to be faithful and, and actually, you know, raise people by his spirit who are, who are Christ, like in conduct and speech and character.
Maria Hamilton Yes. Because of who he is, not because of our work alone.
Abraham Hamilton III Yeah.
Maria Hamilton Our duty is to obey. And so we should.
Abraham Hamilton III Yeah. You know, you and I, because I know you, I'm married to you and I live with you. we talk a lot about things like Psalm 127 and we talk about the simile that the Lord included, in the scripture. Psalm 127, it says children are like arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior. And we talked about how that arrow has the capacity to accomplish the purpose for which it has been forged. Yet in order for that arrow to be effective, it requires trajectory, trajectory and direction from the skilled warrior. When we talk about this, it's very easy to focus on, you know, what the youth are, what the youth aren't. But doesn't this communication that we're having right now require an adjustment and what the adults around the youth, and more particularly the parents should have as a terms of establishing what are we trying to accomplish with these children.
Maria Hamilton Yeah, yeah. What it. Okay. Do you. Man.
Christian family's command is to be fruitful and multiply
So if we go back, though, why do we even have children? Like, why do we bring people into the world? What is the Christian family's command? Be fruitful and multiply? What does that. What does that mean? Like, why. Of course, if we embrace the world's perspective, which we shouldn't as believers, but if we do, it's because we want. It's like a handbag that we just want to add.
Abraham Hamilton III It's an accessory to our lives.
Maria Hamilton It's an accessory.
Abraham Hamilton III It makes our lives better. Makes our lives better.
Maria Hamilton I want the house.
Abraham Hamilton III Oh, you have your boy and your girl, and your life is complete, right?
Walker Wildmon Yes. Right.
Maria Hamilton That's why the question is, oh, you're good. Right? Because now you have the little boy and the little girl. Why do we have kids? Is it for us? Is it because we want to be called mom, be called dad? Like, why did we have children? And so.
Abraham Hamilton III But that requires a little bit of pause and reflection and introspection because what truly is the answer, you know? And a lot of times we find ourselves taking our marching orders from the world around us. Have we considered what is God's design, purpose for blessing husbands and wives with the potential, the capacity, then the opportunity to bring children into the world, to be a part of his plan, to fill his world with bearers of his image?
Maria Hamilton Yeah. Not only are they blessings when they're here, like, not only are they, like, a blessing and not, you know, a burden like the world wants to sell, but. But there is a mission. Like, these are human beings. Like, once, such were some of us, like, we were brought into this world for a purpose and a reason. There's that identity in Christ that we have. So. So the same way, the same perspective we should have toward these humans that God has blessed us with. Yes, they're a blessing, but they are placed in on this earth because God desired for it to be so. And with a mission from God for them to accomplish so, we have the blessed privilege to have been given the stewardship over these children, like God is entrusting them to us. And so when we come into parenting from that paradigm, and I understand it's rare, but it's biblical, so we have to, like, undo and redo, rebuild biblical worldview in regards to having children. And once we do that, and we come to the realization that, man, these children are God's children that I'm stewarding, and what. Who are they, Lord? Like, Lord, who is this child that you have blessed me with? Who Are these children? And of course, you know, the number, the blessings of how many. That's all. It should be up to the Lord as well. And so then we can go to the Lord to say, okay, Lord, then who is this child? What have you put in him? What are the strengths? What are the weaknesses? What areas need to be refined? And then with that perspective foundationally, then we can have directory, I mean, sorry, trajectory and direction. Now we can affirmatively instruct and guide in Christlikeness, comprehensively as far as character and speech and conduct, but also in aim. Like, where are they going in this life? What were they placed in this earth to accomplish for the glory of God and for the advancement of the kingdom of God? I think we have to just start at the right foundation though, you know.
Abraham Hamilton III Yeah, I agree.
We are addressing life circumstance concerning those who have struggled with infertility
And as we're talking about this, I understand we live in a fallen world. And I know that there are people who struggle in different areas, even some who have maybe struggled with infertility and other things of that nature. I don't want anybody to feel like, this conversation is meant to be, the end all, be all of all conversations. And that there's no room for those who struggle in these various areas as well in God's economy. That is not what we're saying at all, not in the slightest bit. And God is the one who knows far beyond. We could ever even articulate on the airwaves the depths of what you're experiencing. But we are endeavoring to address, the life circumstance concerning those who have been, who are at the life stage and are at the position in their lives where they have children.
Have we considered what it means to be parents in God's economy
Have we considered what it means to be parents in God's economy? Have we considered what God has ordained for us? And so, one of the major things that requires an adjustment is that those, many who enter into parenthood, sometimes we do so prayerlessly and thoughtlessly and we just kind of fold into what is prevalent in the world. And we may not find any off ramp, if you will, to that worldly conformation when we desperately need it at the earliest stages.
Maria Hamilton Yeah. And then the next step to that will be, well, I don't want them to be exposed to this, or I don't want them to suffer this. And I know my traumas and I don't want them to be, you know, have to have those traumas and have to heal from those things. And so it's like, how can we protect them? Even though there is protection in parenting, how can we protect them from all the Big bad wolves outside of our home or outside of our spheres, you know, of influence that we place them under. How do we protect them from little Johnny down the street who has, you know, bad habits? How do we protect. How do we keep them from these things, man? Instead of how do we equip them? How do we build them up? How do we shore them up in their identity in Christ? How do we help them to understand who God is and therefore who then is mankind? Like who is God and then who therefore are you then, child? Right. And the same thing applies to us. Who is God? And then therefore, since who God is, who he is, then that dictates or, influences. I don't know the word there. for us answering the question who we are, right, it's rooted in who he is. It's not just who we are because God is good to us. It's because of who he is. And therefore we can define who we are. So if we do that with our children, then we can shore them open identity. And then we are then adding, not in a fleshly sense, but the Holy Spirit is leading us and supernaturally equipping them to be built up, to be and to advance not only physically and naturally, like advancing in achievements, but also advancing in light, conquering darkness in their own hearts and then in their environments, you know.
Abraham Hamilton III So how would you say we get to that point? Because there are lots of people who are listening to us and they would say amen to what we've said so far. but who have gotten to the place where they recognize man. I don't want my child to do this. I don't want my child to be, engrossed and deviant. instruction concerning human sexuality. I don't want, people normalizing.
Hamilton: Children today are being groomed to be confused sexually
I mentioned earlier Marxism for my child. How do we get to where, we progress from merely identifying the big bad wolves that we don't want to huff and puff and blow our houses down to on toward pursuing an affirmative vision for our child generally. And then for the children that we have specifically, how do we make that transition?
Maria Hamilton So there's a lot to say to that question. But because each stage of the development of the child, it will take a different approach. but if we want to start from when they're very little, we have to lay a proper foundation biblically. They have to understand who God is and who got made humans to be right. And we can go back to, you know, with. With the lies of, Children today are being groomed to be confused sexually. So we start unfortunately. You know, you remember in the 80s and 90s, we didn't really have to be talked about, if you will, about sexuality or sexual confusion is what I call it, you know, with the, gender stuff. but now we got to teach them when they're little because you have Muppet babies trying to introduce it or Paw Patrol or whoever. And so we have to start young. So with the little ones, there has to be a foundation of who God is and who God says you are. You are a boy, because God does not make mistakes. And he has fearfully and wonderfully made you. And everything that was in you was in you at conception. And man, that DNA is a miraculous reality that God has put in this, in this physical world. And for the glory of God, you've been placed here, and then you build from that. If a child has been exposed to things, let's analyze, the stimulus, if you will, the thing that they are being exposed to. from a biblical perspective, why is it that we say that that is wrong? Is it because it's a boogeyman or is it because God says that is sin and leads to destruction? Right. And so shoring them up along the way. There is, There needs to be protection, but protection alone, without the instruction affirmatively, then they're just like, no, no, afraid of all things. No, everything is bad. And then they go out into the world and they're shipwrecked. And there has to be a protection. And then an affirmative instruction. And we have anecdotes we can tell if you want to go there. But there is an affirmative instruction that must be given and that is part of the formation of the child.
Abraham Hamilton III Yeah. So what I hear you saying is, that it's never too early to begin establishing a biblical worldview.
Maria Hamilton Not at all.
Abraham Hamilton III And you don't have to, pick every rival notion as opposed to articulating affirmative. This is God's view. This is what God has designed. This is who you are. This is who God is because of who God is. This is we who. This is who we are as mankind. And this is who you are specifically that. Having that, that, that, that affirmative presentation to be involved in what you're doing, you are protecting in the defensive sense, while at the exact same time casting an affirmative vision for what is true. What is reality based on? the one who determines what is true.
Maria Hamilton That's right.
Abraham Hamilton III Which is the holy word of God. And yes, we want it, Want to get into, some anecdotes, but it's kind of like, well, we run out of time. Let me pick it back up after this disrespect ends because of that music. Just as disrespectful right now.
Walker Wildmon When you look at the fundamental priorities that this administration has, rebuilding the American family through the various priorities, ensuring religious freedom is alive and well and flourishing in America, having a Department of justice that is actually focused on enforcing the laws of the land, I have a hard time disagreeing with any of them.
Abraham Hamilton III Join Walker Wildmon and Rick Green at the The Core 1pm Central weekdays on AFR or on the AFR app.
Abraham Hamilton III The Hamilton Corner podcast and one minute commentaries are available at afr.net back to the Hamilton Corner on American Family Radio.
Abraham Hamilton III talks about affirmative teaching instruction and disciple making
Abraham Hamilton III Welcome back to the Hamilton Corner, Abraham Hamilton III with my lovely wife Maria Hamilton. And we're having a conversation about affirmative teaching instruction and disciple making as opposed to exclusively engaging his parents from a defensive posture. And it's very similar. Some of you may relate to what I'm about to share, some of you may not relate to this, but, growing up as a young man who grew up largely going to church, not largely my entire childhood, thank the Lord. my parents were intentional about bringing me, to gather with the Lord's people for, for worship and to be at the church all the time. And one thing that was consistent in my upbringing was you. As I matriculated into the teenage years, was a lot of conversations about, you know, don't fornicate, don't, don't, don't, don't, don't fornicate. because simply put, a lot of the people who were teaching us, were teaching us from their own paradigms.
Maria Hamilton Yeah.
Abraham Hamilton III In their own experiences, you know, as opposed to casting a complete vision from the whole counsel of God's word. So a lot of, you know, people who grew up in church, like me, grew up here and don't fornicate. But they did not get, presenting an affirmative, did not get presented with an affirmative vision for physical intimacy between a husband and wife and how that is something that is glorious, how it is something that God has designed and how he's designed that even to be enjoyable between husbands and wives. You don't, you didn't really get an affirmative vision for that. And so that left a lot of people that if they're going to get any insight, they get it from the world and get it from the streets. And so that's what, that's what we're talking about in a broader sense in terms of approaching this station of mission that's called parenthood that God has wisdom for us in his word, to allow us to affirmatively present what he asked for us to provide these arrows with trajectory and direction as opposed to merely being Gary Payton parents.
Maria Hamilton Yeah. And, you know, so when you were saying that, I was thinking, is it really more effective? Is it. Do we. Do we see the fruit of it when we just say don't, don't, don't, don't, don't. Because even though I didn't grow up in church, I grew up in a conservative culture in Puerto Rico. And so kids were not having sex and teenagers were not having sex. And so it was like a big no, no. Then I come to Texas and my peers are having sex, and then it's like, oh, God. So. But I am m in my. In my self. I was like, oh, that's bad. That's bad. But it wasn't biblical. It was just cultural. Right, Right. But that doesn't stop us because sin is there. Right. So it's not. I don't see. And you can answer this. I don't see the fruit of what we actually want, which is holiness by just saying, don't, don't, don't, don't do it.
Walker Wildmon Right.
Maria Hamilton So then the affirmative approach, which is actually the biblical approach of equipping, is, fruitful, gives us the results that we're looking for that God desires. Right. Which is holiness at a heart level. So.
Abraham Hamilton III And it's not mere holiness. I won't say mere. It is holiness at a heart level. But it is a disciple who is comprehensively invested in seeking to glorify the Lord with all that we. We are, including our physical bodies.
Maria Hamilton That's right.
Abraham Hamilton III That our physical bodies are an aspect or a vessel by which and through which that we glorify our Lord. And that is a part of our comprehensive commitment to glorify the Lord with all that we are.
Maria Hamilton That's right.
Abraham Hamilton III That is what we're looking for. Not merely refrain from this conduct we are looking for. No, you are a person who's been made to glorify the Lord with all. All that you are. That includes your speech. That includes your thoughts. That includes how you use your time, it includes how you hang out with your friends. And it includes how you utilize your body, man.
Maria Hamilton Right. So. So when it comes to purity. Right? And we. We comprehensively can understand that ourselves live it out. But then also Ra, you know, like, raise a child that way with that understanding. And they. And the Holy Spirit miraculously captures their heart. Because remember, it is not our doing that Gets them in either saved or sanctified. It is the power of the Holy Spirit.
Abraham Hamilton III I probably would say not mirac. I would say supernaturally, not miraculously.
Maria Hamilton Okay. Yeah. And you know what I mean when I say.
Abraham Hamilton III I do know what you mean, because I don't want to unintentionally communicate that it's rare.
Maria Hamilton That's right.
Abraham Hamilton III Well, most people think miracles. They think uncommon experiences. Uncommon instances when. Whereas supernature is a ready phenomenon for
Maria Hamilton the Lord is common. Right.
Abraham Hamilton III So from God's perspective, just like salvation is supernatural. You know that's correct. It is the product of the spirit of God drawing men to himself.
Maria Hamilton Yes.
Abraham Hamilton III And so having this type of sanctification is a supernatural phenomenon that takes place.
Maria Hamilton Yes.
Abraham Hamilton III In the lives of believers and young
Maria Hamilton believers and older believers, trusting God that he will do that, because that's what he says he does. Right.
So. I was terrified of this because all I knew was, don't do
So. But then, like, you have, like, the reality. And I was terrified of this. I was terrified of this because all I knew was, don't do. Don't do, don't do. Don't even bring out the topic, because if you bring the topic, they're gonna start getting curious in. In regards to purity, as if there
Abraham Hamilton III are no answers in the Lord, as if there are no answers in Scripture, as if there are no guidance.
Walker Wildmon Right.
Maria Hamilton So I was so guilty. I was so immersed in, like, the way I learned about it. Again, projecting our own experience onto our children. I learned about it in the filthy way. I learned about it in the wrong way. I realized at some point in my walk with the Lord that it was filthy and wrong. I repented, and now I'm, like, terrified of it. Instead of, like, wait, Lord, then. Then teach me affirmatively how I'm supposed to think of this. And so not to take a lot of time, but long story short, we ended up. You helped because I was like, babe, you're the one. I don't know. I mean, I was really terrified about it. And you took the lead by.
What we now encourage is remember that anything else is a counterfeit
Praise God, when our son, who was 14 at the time, 15 now. Well, he had started asking questions before about literally the, you know, the birds and the bees or whatever, however you call it.
Abraham Hamilton III Well, specifically, he was asking about how babies are made.
Maria Hamilton How babies are made? Yeah, how babies are made. And how is it that, you know, the mommy. The baby grows inside of the mommy, but, you know, how does the daddy's DNA get inside of the baby? Literally, he said, how does the daddy's DNA get inside of the mommy's tummy? Like, I was like, oh, Lord, son, so, we waited for you to get home and all that, and we talked to him, but. But when we laid the man, it's so beautiful. When we laid God's original design and purpose for human sexuality within the marital union, with the commitment already and the desire to glorify God and obey him in all things, he literally leaves the conversation by saying, ho, that is awesome. Look at the majesty of God. And then we don't have to say, son, don't, don't, don't. What we now encourage is remember that anything else is actually, a counterfeit. Remember that anything else, Anything else, whether it's, I mean, not to say, not to be graphic, but whether it's pleasure to oneself or whether it's, you know, outside of the marital covenant, whatever it is, it is. All of that is a downgrade from the beauty that God put into this. So it's not just like, abstain, abstain in the name of purity or cloaked in purity in the church lingo, but it is, do you see who God is and what he's done for us and what he's calling us to live out when it. In regards to human sexuality with our spouses, like, man, anything else will be like, like eating, you know, dog scraps when you have filet mignon on the table.
Abraham Hamilton III This is why the apostle Paul describes fornication in the context of a man being united to a harlot. Yes, that's why he describes it that way. Because you're taking what has been ordained for this, this, this glorious, trans, the transcendent experience in the Lord and you're downgrading it to just base, guttural, fleshly pursuits.
Maria Hamilton If I would have had that perspective, like, I would have been able to, you know, with the, with the knowledge of Christ, not like, just generally speaking, human reasoning of this topic, but like, if I would have had this foundation that we're saying, I would have. I would have not wanted to. Like, it wouldn't have been like, I'm just going to obey Mommy and Daddy. I'm just not going to. Because I'm a Christian. I'm just not going to. No, it is. Oh, I don't, I don't want that. So then they buy in.
Abraham Hamilton III And that's what God desires for all believers.
Maria Hamilton Amen.
Abraham Hamilton III Because the desire of any believer would be, yes, I want to glory. Like, when I say any believer, I'm talking about somebody who's genuinely been born again. Yeah, I'm not talking about a churchian. I'm talking about a person who's been born again. The desire is that, yes, I want to glorify the Lord in this fashion. I want to glorify the Lord in this manner. And these are the things that the enemy is trying to, what I'm saying, these are the things like the glorious picture of how the intimacy between a husband and a wife is. Is involved. And this is the only human institution that's illustrative of Christ in his church. but the enemy wants to interrupt that and to introduce counterfeits as early as possible, which is why you have things like Muppet Babies and these cartoons and other things that are trying to introduce confusion and all kind of things at the earliest stages. You know, and these are things like, we're humans, we have family, we live in this world, and we deal with these things as well. You know, we had an experience with one of our children having a cartoon to introduce something to us. And this is a cartoon that we vetted. We thought we'd vet it thoroughly. And this is one that's kind of a remix from our childhood Muppet Babies. And so we didn't have an expectation that they would, take it where they took it in this episode, but they did.
Parents have a responsibility to screen what their children watch, says M. M.
You want to talk about that a little bit?
Maria Hamilton Yeah. I mean, and honestly, you know, we. We are protecting. Right. We're protecting. We. We. We even homeschool now. We really protect it.
Abraham Hamilton III Right?
Maria Hamilton And so. So we're protecting. And. And my son comes to me and says, mommy, there's this episode on Muppet Babies. He was maybe 6 or 7 at the time. And, he says, mommy, there's this episode of Muppet Babies that I watched another son.
Abraham Hamilton III But. Yeah, go ahead.
Maria Hamilton Yes. and he says, but. But Gonzo dressed as a girl. And I was like, what? No way. Like, no way. Because I trusted that cartoon. I mean, our older kids watched it. We, like you said, we watched it growing up. And so, I was like, no way. Show me. Sure enough, Gonzarella. And I'm sure you guys have heard it probably moms for, 1 million moms probably has went on, wrote articles about it. Anyway, so we had to sit him down and go through why this is wrong. But here's the.
Abraham Hamilton III Explain what it was, then explain how it wrong briefly, like, what it was. It was like Cinderella and where Gonzo. Who's a boy.
Maria Hamilton Yeah.
Abraham Hamilton III Was trying to dress up as Cinderella.
Walker Wildmon Yes.
Abraham Hamilton III In the cartoon.
Maria Hamilton That's right. And everybody. Ah, Piggy at first was like, no, Gonzo, this is wr. Through the episode. The entire Purpose was to convince, Piggy that it was okay because Gonzo wanted to express himself and he just preferred dresses over tuxedos. So. But here's. Here's where I want to. What's really important.
Abraham Hamilton III And let me say this, too. This was like five years ago. Yeah, six years ago.
Maria Hamilton If we were just protecting our kids and playing defense, my son would have snuck and not told me that he watched it because of fear of being punished. M. If I told them, in this house, we don't watch this stuff. We don't want. In this house, we don't do that. And left it at protection. Because from our end, we're protecting. Right? When we say don't. This is not. We're not doing this here. Then we're just protecting. He would have snuck. He would have watched it and not told me, knowing that it was wrong because Mommy said it's wrong or Daddy said it's wrong and then not told us because what is the consequence when you disobey when we said don't watch it? If we said don't watch it. You know what I mean? Then it's. Nah, I'm not gonna say nothing. Yeah, that is. That is not parent. That's unequipping.
Abraham Hamilton III And let me say this. And we do, as parents, have a responsibility to screen what they watch. Of course, we should be, you know, overseeing what it is they watch. But here's the reality that there are sometimes some things that we're not going to see.
Maria Hamilton That's right.
Abraham Hamilton III We won't be able to have 100% on the screening. That's just the reality.
Maria Hamilton You live in a cave with no TV or anything.
Abraham Hamilton III And because our desire, even if you live in a cave in this day and age with the technological innovations of things, this. That's the reality. So our desire is we want to rear disciples who will be faithful to the Lord even when Mommy and Daddy are not physically present.
Maria Hamilton So then how does that. Because do we really trust our kids? And if we're playing defense, we cannot trust them. That's the bottom line. Because they're not equipped yet, Right? They're not being equipped. And therefore they're not mature yet. So we can't trust them. I want to be able to trust my children. I want to be able to trust them at 8 and 9. I'm not talking about perfection. I'm talking about trust.
Gary Payton: Biblical teaching on obedience to parents should not be optional
Walker Wildmon Right?
Maria Hamilton So my son brings that to us. He brings it to us because he doesn't expect us to, like, beat him for it. He also, he also realizes we
Abraham Hamilton III don't spit a ride now.
Maria Hamilton That's right, that's right. so biblically, praise God. So. But he brings it to us and he is saying to us, mommy, this is so bad. Now, I'd never convinced him that that was bad. Yeah, I never sat him down and say, son, at that point, he already had that coming in. He watched the show and discern and rightly identify that that was bad. Why, why is it that he's saying, ah, this is not a good message for me or for anybody. Why? Because there's been a foundation laid literally by the grace of God where he is understanding. Counterfeit, Counterfeit. Warning. Counterfeit. And then we said, see? Do you see? Okay, so that episode we're not going to rewatch because they're trying to convince you of a lie, son. It's a lie, isn't it? Yes. So then when they grow up, of course they're maturing and all that. I'm not talking about perfection, guys. I'm just saying that there is a reality that they can grow in maturity because they want what God wants. They want to love what God loves and hate what God hates for themselves, not because of us. That's how we can leave them, you know, and trust that when you and I are doing this show right now and we say no TV until 4, that there's not going to be a TV on when I get back home. Well, how do I know that? Not because they're perfect children. Not because, you know, we're so great at the Hamilton, household. It's because they know. Not that they're afraid of punishment, but they know that obedience to God should be ever present for a disciple of Christ with mommy and daddy there or not. But that's, that's the disciple, right? God is invisible. But we still honor him. We still obey him. Not because he's going to come with a lash or, you know, it's because he is worthy of obedience.
Maria Hamilton So can we, can we raise a. Raise a generation of believers that really
Abraham Hamilton III believe that the Scripture says. Not only that we can. That we were expected to do so? Yes.
Maria Hamilton Yes.
Abraham Hamilton III The Scripture says, fathers Ephesians 6:4, do not exasperate your children, rather rear them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord affirmatively?
Maria Hamilton That's an affirmative instruction.
Abraham Hamilton III That's an affirmative instruction. Description. Likewise says children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, as it is the first command, with promise that these are things that the scripture expects. And in the opposite direction. Romans, Chapter one, second Peter three the Scripture highlights among the laundry list of what may be described as Hollywood sin, sexual immorality, murder, covetousness, envy. Guess what's also listed Disobedience to parents. And for Romans 1 and 2nd Peter 3, I'm sorry, 2nd Timothy, chapter 3 and so what we're talking about is not something that should be optional. That's right for the family of God. The world is going to world. But that should not be the standard within the family of God. And so it should not be our expectation nor should we normalize it. But what we should seek is that as we are actively following the Lord as parents, that we are rearing disciples to come along with us in that similar investment so that those arrows grow to become fellow warriors standing shoulder to shoulder with us as we contend against the enemies at the gates. No Gary Payton, Parenting by God's Grace But Affirmative Vision Pursuit According to Scripture,
Maria Hamilton the views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
0:00 - 15:00. 1 Timothy 4:11-12 (NASB95). We should reconsider what we expect “youth” to be.
15:00 - 31:00. Affirmative generational vision or Gary Payton parenting: which describes your approach?
31:00 - 48:00. God has provided the guidance we need for life and godliness in His Word.
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