AntiChrist RZ 12/02 - Tomorrow's World

The Fifth Commandment
even more implicit faith and love than they do their earthly parents.
For the greatest lesson that a child or anyone can be taught is that of
fear and obedience to the One who set in motion all life in the first
place! Thus, children will be taught the habit of obedience. They
will learn to respect authority. In due time, if their minds are opened
to know the Supreme Father of all life, they will already have
learned the very basis of godly character—loving obedience to God,
and deep respect and reverence for all law and constituted authority.
Blessing for Obedience
The Apostle Paul reemphasizes the blessing attached to the fifth
commandment: “That it may be well with you, and you may live long
on the earth” (Ephesians 6:3). Obedience to the fifth commandment
automatically results in the building of habits and character that tend
to long life. A young person so trained will avoid the recklessness,
the violence, the wrong companionship and the rebellion against
authority that often result in untimely death. And, in its ultimate
meaning, those who learn to respect and obey their parents and
later—because of this training—God Himself, will certainly “live long
on the earth.” For, as Jesus said: “Blessed are the meek [the humble
and obedient], for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
There are also many everyday blessings to the obedient child.
Certainly not the least of these is a sense of security. As Judge
Leibowitz pointed out, a child is confused if he is not told the
bounds of his activities. But if a child is told what those bounds are
by his parents—and stays within them—he is then relieved of the
responsibility that he innately realizes his parents must shoulder.
Frustration is another problem that is alleviated. The disobedient
child is a frustrated child—for his mind is constantly plagued with
feelings of guilt and rebellion. A child who loves, honors and obeys
his parents is a blessed child indeed. He will tend to live a more
truly happy, carefree and purposeful life. And in his spiritual life,
he will pass through the natural and beautiful sequence from the
honoring of his parents to the joyful worshiping of his God!
Thus far we have dealt primarily with the application of the
fifth commandment to children and young people. But the origi-
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