“Gladly, The Cross-Eyed Bear”

by Micky Galloway

Picking up her small children after Bible class one Sunday morning, the mother asked what they had learned. Her youngest son answered, “About Jesus in the gravy and ‘Gladly,’ the cross-eyed bear.” Infuriated by what had allegedly been taught her young children in the Bible classes, she parked her car and went in search of the various leaders of the congregation. With these cornered she descended on the Bible class teacher, demanding what these people meant teaching such nonsense instead of teaching her children the Bible. Stunned at first, the teacher finally understood the difficulty. They had learned some new songs that day, including, “Low In The Grave He Lay” and “Gladly The Cross I’ll Bear.”

I don’t have a clue where I first heard this story, but it demonstrates the indifference many have toward the teaching of God’s word to their children. Had the mother taken the interest to come with her children she might have had an idea about what was being taught in the Bible classes. Better yet, if the parent had been actively involved with the class, she could have contributed to the honorable efforts of the teacher.

Israel was commanded to teach their children, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; cf. 20-25). They were to teach them the law of God (Deuteronomy 31:9-13), to know God and to fear him. The observance of the Passover was to be a means of reminding their children of the great works of God (Exodus12:24ff). So also were the twelve stones that Joshua set up in Gilgal as a memorial of God parting the Jordan river that the people may enter the land of promise (Joshua 4:20ff). They were to teach their children so that they would not forget God (Deuteronomy 6:10ff). This involved talking with their children as well as teaching by their example. Yet, we read in Judges 2:10, “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, that knew not Jehovah, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel.”

Specifically, fathers are charged with the responsibility of teaching their children. “And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Mothers are not exempt from that responsibility, for Timothy’s mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, were women of faith and had contributed greatly to Timothy’s understanding of truth (cf. II Timothy 1:5). In a world where the minds of our children are influenced by the degenerate teaching of worldly minded people, we must ask, “What are we teaching our children?” Brethren, we teach on the home and the family, but we are still missing the mark with our own families. Our failure will be seen in the next generation, but it will then be too late.

The Bible is the most wonderful and most available book in our age. Its message is from the mind of God (I Corinthians 2:10ff; cf. John 13:16). It contains the words of life (John 6:66-68; cf. John 12:49-50). That word was delivered to the apostles (John 17:8,14,18) and recorded by them on the pages of the New Testament (Ephesians 3:3). Its message is all sufficient (II Timothy 3:16-17) and complete (Jude 3). It is revealed in such a way that it is understandable (Ephesians 3:3; 5:17). We are commanded to read it, study it, and teach it to others (II Timothy 2:15; II Peter 3:18; I Timothy 4:13; II Timothy 2:2). Do our children see us spending time with this wonderful book? Do they hear it read and taught in our homes? Do they perceive our reverence and respect for the words of Almighty God? I will never forget the words of sister Lena Hope (wife of brother B.G. Hope) in Beaver Dam, KY. She said that while her children were just babies she would tell them that the big old book on the table in the living room (the family Bible) was God’s book. It was different from their story books. It contained the words of God. Perhaps we are just too busy to impress upon young minds the importance of understanding the words of God. Small wonder why many sons and daughters of Christians cannot find time to worship and serve God. They are worshiping and serving God, just as their parents taught them! I have great admiration for the parents of children, who are teaching their children reverence for Bible study, worship and the distinctiveness of what the church is.

We ARE teaching our children both verbally and by our example, but WHAT are we teaching them? Certainly, the next generation will tell. Consistently bring your children to Bible class and worship. Prepare with them at home. Teach them correctly the ways of God. In the words of Helen M. Young from the poem “Children Won’t Wait”…

“… I will not exchange this birthright for a mess of pottage called social position, or business or professional reputation, or a pay check. An hour of concern today may save years of heartache tomorrow. The house will wait, the dishes will wait, the new room can wait, but children won’t wait … May I know that no other career is so precious, no other work so rewarding, no other task too urgent. May I not defer it nor neglect it, but by thy Spirit accept it gladly, joyously, and by Thy grace realize that the time is short and my time is now. For children WON’T wait.”