Ben Zornes, Author at Ben Zornes

In Praise of the Serrated Edge

by Ben Zornes · Mar 31, 2025

Rhymes with Rug Gilson

I’ve been privileged to serve alongside of Pastor Doug Wilson now for almost a decade. One of the distinguishing marks of his ministry that I’ve only grown in appreciation for is his adept skill of saying true things in sticky ways. Many Evangelicals will pass around dog-eared copies of Future Men, Her Hand in Marriage, or Standing on the Promises, expressing appreciation for the practical Christian teaching found in them. But they will hasten to add, “I don’t agree with everything he says, and sometimes when he’s being polemical he says some things I wish he wouldn’t.”

But I’d like point out that the same skill that makes his teaching on practical Christian living so memorable and helpful is employed in his attack on various unbiblical teachings or ungodly opponents. The serrated edge, as he calls it, should not be thought of as an asterisk on an otherwise helpful teaching ministry. Rather, it is the serrated edge which has made it possible for his teaching ministry on things like parenting, marriage, and community life to flourish. Barbed wire around the ranch keeps the coyotes out, after all.

The principle in play here is that it is not an abdication of Scripture’s command to love our enemies to speak to them in such a way as to jostle their sensibilities, offend their vanities, and jar them out of their living at ease with evil. Wielding language in such a way as to make your point memorable is, in fact, a duty of ministers. This should be the case in crafting sermons, in how you counsel a failing marriage, and how you engage the enemies of the Gospel. In the case of the last example, it is actually an expression of love to not fight such enemies with a dull blade.

Like Cocaine Bear

Doug and others have made the case for the serrated edge elsewhere. Heck, Doug even wrote a book about it, which I heartily recommend. When we engage with opponents we are to do so like Christ. But Christ is not confined to a few sweet sayings. All of Scripture is our guidebook in how we are to fight evil, rhetorically speaking. And once you see it, you cannot help but see that the Prophets, Christ Himself, and the Apostles all, at times, spoke with all the delicacy of that one Tennessee bear that ate some cocaine. While Scriptural instances are numerous, my aim here is not to list out all the spicy rhetoric of Ezekiel. My point here is to simply insist that our sense of decency and politeness is not what should guide our apologetics, evangelism, or cultural rebuke. Scripture must.

So then, it shouldn’t surprise us when a sharp rebuke is actually more effective than nuanced evasions. A gentle answer does indeed turn away wrath. But we should remember that God’s gentleness includes tearing and smiting in order to heal and soothe. When in the course of our battles with vain philosophies we add an extra blob of jalapeño mustard, it is not simply out of preference. It is a particular act of faith and obedience. We must trust that in speaking bluntly we are aiming at the salvation of the enemies of the cross. Even in our bluntness, we ought to endeavor to say things in such a way so as to make that bluntness sticky.

Of Course it’s a Dangerous Tool

Now, it is worth pointing out that this tactic has dangers. But we could just as easily point out that the winsomeness of TGC has resulted in some pretty appalling abdications of truth. When anon accounts are blasting some opponent with vindictive ad hominem attacks they may think they are emulating Doug in his use of the serrated edge. But the problem is that the anon army has failed to demonstrate that their aim is restorative. They seem to take delight in having fiddled with the dial that controls their rhetorical serrated edge and can turn it up to 11. But just because you figured out how to start the chainsaw does not mean you are a skilled lumberjack. You may equally be a villain in one of those hokey Halloween movies.

So then, the serrated edge is not for children. Insolence is not the same as skillfully wounding an opponent in order that he would feel the smart. But the wound is not the point. The point is so that they might perhaps seek out the healing found in the left hand of the one who wounded them. Being good at insults doesn’t make you a Gospel warrior for truth and charity. Trolling people on the internet is child’s play. Meme-ing the boomers is low-hanging fruit. If you want to develop the skill of addressing folly and immaturity head on, start with your toddlers. If you want to realize a Christian Nation, start with a Christian marriage. These things require patience. Diligent and sacrificial service for those in your home and church community is your starting point for defeating principalities and powers.

The Glory of Steak Knives

Think of the serrated edge like your steak knives. The goal is not to mangle the poor steak. The goal is to cut it into pieces that can be swallowed. If you’ve ever assigned your young son to unload the silverware, you’ve probably caught him swinging mom’s steak knives around like swords. His ambition shouldn’t be dampened, but your job as his father is to join it with self-control. Teach him the telos of steak knives.

Thus, as you think about your own interactions with opponents of the Gospel, you should aspire to use all the tools available to the saints, and to use them well. Including the glorious tool of the serrated edge, or to use a more biblical term: the prophetic voice. But this comes with the duty to humble yourself when you gauge out a bystander’s eye because you failed to join your zeal for truth with the restraint of Christian charity.

You Shall Want No More

by Ben Zornes · Mar 31, 2025

Secular scientists are convinced that the world is slouching towards an inevitable demise. They speculate that the world’s ending may be a frigid dissipation of all heat and energy from the universe. Or they posit that it’ll all burn up in a final, splendid kaboom.

This world is not destined for death, however. It’s destined for glory. This is simply how the works of God are. God creates light on day one, but on day four He enthrones the light. The earth is not left void, it is gloriously ordered into sea, sky, and land. The land itself is glorified when God tenderly forms it into a man. That spiritless man is glorified when God breathes into him a spirit. The man is further glorified by being given a “same but sundered” helper: his bride Eve.

Abraham’s solitary son of promise is being glorified into a mighty heavenly host. The Passover feast was glorified into this meal, signifying to us all that is in Christ for us. But even this meal will one day be further glorified.

The Lord’s Supper is complete and sufficient; but it, too, is like a seed that will one day burst into flower. In the new heavens and earth we will taste the unbroken delight of Christ’s bodily presence. In that presence, you will finally know what it means to be satisfied.

In this life you have never experienced a moment without the pangs of unsatisfied desires. We hunger and thirst. We are tired or lonely. This meal invites us to see by faith that just as temporal food satisfies desires, we shall one day enjoy a two-fold glory. First, the everlasting satisfaction of Christ’s presence, and second, the absence of unsatisfied desire. You shall want no more, because as this meal promises the glory that awaits this world is this: Christ given to you.

So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…

Hard Law, Hot Gospel 6 | The Israel of God

by Ben Zornes · Mar 27, 2025

Introduction

Our justification is not by works. But our justification really does result in new life. In this new life, we find that, by the Spirit’s power, there is work for us to do. The work is heavy. The work might even make you bloody. The world will despise your work. But the work is glorious.

The Text

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. […]
Galatians 6:1ff

Summary of the Text

The liberty of the Gospel is not the removal of all restraint. As Paul says in Romans, “Should we sin so that grace may abound? God forbid!” Gospel liberty includes confronting a brother overtaken in a fault (v1), but this rebuke is to be done by those who are spiritual, literally Spirit-people. Confronting sin in others should be aimed towards restoring the brother, and guarding against falling into sin yourself (v1). The Law of Christ requires us to refuse the rugged individualism of modern thinking, and instead bear each other’s burdens (v2). This demands mutual humility (v3). Though we are a community, you must not coast on the work of others; your bushel will either be full of the works of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit (vv4-5).

The saints have a duty to be in fellowship with their teachers, and this means submission and loyalty to the truth he is obligated to teach (v6). The Belgic Confession remarks on this very thing: “Moreover, to keep God’s holy order from being violated or despised, we say that everyone ought, as much as possible, to hold the ministers of the Word and elders of the church in special esteem, because of the work they do, and be at peace with them, without grumbling, quarreling, or fighting (BC, Article 31).”

Sowing and reaping is inescapable (v7). It’s all a matter of whether you will sow fleshly seeds or spiritual seeds. One bears a harvest of corruption, the other a harvest of everlasting life (v8). But planting and harvest requires being unwearied in good works (v9). Our good works should be ordered, giving priority to the “household of faith”, but this does not absolve us from showing goodness to all men (v10).

As we noted at the beginning of this letter this is all deeply personal for Paul. He had been called by the Lord Jesus Himself, commissioned to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles, and he had suffered persecution for it. Paul closes this letter with a personal touch, he takes the pen from the scribe to add his signature and authentication to this letter (v11). Then he emphasizes that the troublers wanted the Galatians circumcised not out of love for the Galatians, but to spare themselves from persecution (v12). In all their zeal for law-keeping, they are in fact law-breakers, because they glory in the flesh (v13). True glory is in the shape of Christ’s cross; this is what Paul glories in, that he has died to the old world and it has died to him (v14). Christ’s cross has remade the world, and there’s no undoing it (v15). Walking according to this reality assures these Gentiles that they are the Israel of God (v16). This really should end the dispute, because Paul’s body is tattooed with the stripes of his sufferings for the Gospel (v17). Paul closes by blessing the brethren, with the grace of Jesus equipping their spirit to be this fruitful orchard (v18).

The Law of Christ

The Galatians had their work cut out for them. They had been bewitched by the Judaizer’s lies. It would take time to undo the spell, and thus patience with one another. Picture a part of your property overgrown with unwanted thorn bushes; you might need a hand loading the brush into the bed of the truck. Reformation takes time and patience; restoring fallen brethren takes the long-suffering which should mark us as “Spirit-people.”

Those of the flesh are burden givers, those of the Spirit are burden bearers. Think of Jesus’ rebuke of lawyers of his time: “And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers (Luk 11:46).” Fleshly men, who place their trust in the old world, are only doing so to avoid the persecution that arises from preaching the cross. Their only use for you is whether you’ll make them more glorious. They won’t get their own hand dirty, they won’t risk their own reputation.

Life in Christ makes sacrificial men and women. Look at Paul’s stigmata. Those who follow Christ joyfully lay down their lives for the sake of truth. Even in confronting those in sin, we are doing so for the sake of their restoration. Sin is living in the old world and according to the old man. But those in Christ live in the new world, living in certain hope for the final resurrection. Thus we bear each others burdens: confronting sin, laboring at good works, enduring persecution, comforting each other in our sorrows.

When the Law of Moses was given, it was followed by the Spirit filling God’s people to build the tabernacle (Ex. 31:3). They were equipped for service in building the house of God. The seed of the law of Moses had now flowered into the law of Christ, and now Gentiles were filled with the Spirit to serve in the construction of the house of God.

Mercy & Peace

Paul saw that Christ really had remade the world. It may not look like it by earthly sight, but by faith we see that this world is being made new. Paul’s benediction is rich with this confident faith that we have entered the new creation through Christ. Israel is being restored, not under the law, but by faith in Christ. Thus, the comfort to God’s people is that the everlasting mercy of God rests upon you. The peace of Israel’s God rests upon this new Israel: the church (Ps. 125).

The message which Paul has been hammering home in Galatians is that you are not brought into this abundant life through striving after law-adherence. You enter this new creation, this new Israel, by faith in the One who is the first-fruit of God’s great harvest. God planted a seed in Eden, and in the fulness of time it burst forth into the world. The seed of the woman crushed the seed of the serpent. God planted in Eden, but is now harvesting in all the world. Those who trust in Christ are a part of this great harvest of God. Are you in Christ? Well then, the shalom of Yahweh rests upon you. Not because you are circumcised, but because you are crucified with Christ.

So what of the Old Israel? Unbelieving Israel might be likened to the dwarves in Lewis’ The Last Battle. They will not open their eyes to see that they are not in the musty old stable, but are in a new world; a world in which the Messiah has come and obtained the promise given to Abraham. This should elicit our pity, not our contempt. But we must not join them in pretending that we are in the donkey’s stable. We have come to heavenly Jerusalem, through Christ and His cross.

The Cross & New Creation

The new world is cross shaped. This is your glory. But this glory takes time. It takes long-suffering and patience. It takes sowing to the Spirit. Paul sees by faith that in the cross he is crucified to the old world, but the opposite is true as well. The world is dead to Paul. The old world despises the new world. The flesh lusts against the Spirit. Ishmael persecutes Isaac. The cross comes before the crown. So then, do not grow weary. In the cross you died to the old world and its desires, and by faith you live in the shadowlands of everlasting life.

Charge & Benediction

To sum up Galatians is to say, “Do not go back into the immaturity.” Are you in Christ? Well, then by the Spirit you are to labor at good works, and not grow weary of those good works. But as one of the Wilson clan once said, “Baskets of fruit are heavy.” So, walk in the liberty of this new creation, and do not return to the prison cell of the old world and its sin and folly.

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. 18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Galatians 6:16-18

Recommended Galatians Commentaries

by Ben Zornes · Mar 25, 2025

Commentaries I found helpful as I preached through Galatians.

Galatians by Douglas Moo (Baker ECNT)

Galatians by Martin Luther (Crossway)

This essay by Derrick Olliff

I also got my grubby mitts on a pre-release of Douglas Wilson’s commentary of Galatians (Canon Press is releasing in the not too distant future).

A Commentary on Galatians by David Pawson (he’s an old school Methodist; had some interesting insights, a wonderful translation of his own, and some very methodist/holiness things to say).

The Story Retold’s chapter on Galatians by GK Beale.

(And I’m obliged to say, those are my Amazon affiliate links.)

My Sermon Series Through Galatians

Hard Law, Hot Gospel 5 | The Law of Love

by Ben Zornes · Mar 17, 2025

Introduction

We are not saved by the Law, or the works of the Law. But if the Gospel makes us alive, we really must ask the question, what are we made alive to do? What do those who receive this new life occupy their time with? Paul answers that question here in our text.

The Text

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. […]
Galatians 5:1ff

Summary of the Text

Contrary to the view of some expositors of the great St. Paul, he is not anti-Law. This chapter begins with the imperative: stand fast! The Judaizers were moving the goalposts of how Gentiles were to be ushered into the people of God; so Paul commands them to stand steadfast in the liberty that faith in Christ brings. Remember, Christ’s faith in God’s promise secured for all people from all nations the possibility of inclusion in the inheritance promised to Abraham, by faith in Christ. This is the liberty Paul insists the Galatians have received (v1). In contrast, if they submit to be circumcised, they are binding themselves to go through all the other hoops of an order which was passing away (vv2-3). Such a course of action makes Christ ineffectual, and guts grace of its potency (v4). The immaturity of looking at circumcision status is contrasted with trusting in what the Spirit does, namely, waiting in hope for the righteousness by faith (v5). Circumcision’s purpose in redemptive history had fulfilled its purpose; in its place was faith alone, full of love to God and neighbor (v6).

The Galatians had gone from running well to face-planting terribly (v7). Someone had persuaded them to disobey the truth, and this was worse than finding leaven in their Passover loaves (vv7-9). Paul denounces this troubler, and expresses his confidence that the Galatians will right the ship (v10). Nevertheless, it should be plain that the persecutions which Paul had and continued to endure were not the result of preaching circumcision; it came because of the skandalon of the cross (v11). In one of Paul’s sharpest remarks, he expresses the desire that the troubler would be totally emasculated (v12, Deu. 23:1).

Paul now elaborates on how the passing away of the “age of the Law” does not lead to lawless chaos. Through Christ we have been brought into the maturity of liberty, which means we must not treat liberty as if we were a child left alone in a candy shop (v13). Rather, love should be the prevailing motivation of those set free by Christ; Paul sums up the Law: love thy neighbor as thyself (v14). The flesh devours, but walking in the Spirit puts a stronger chain on our lusts than the Law ever could (vv15-16).

There is a great chasm between the sons of Hagar and the sons of Sarah. These sons are at war with each other, and cannot be reconciled. Sons of unbelief and sons of faith cannot have peace with each other (v17). The Spirit brings new creation, which the Law safeguarded until the time of Christ’s coming (v18). The flesh is an orchard full of rotten fruit, and those who bear such fruit are not citizens of Christ’s Kingdom (vv19-21). The Spirit bears the fruit of Eden’s tree of Life within us (vv22-23). The husk guards the seed, but once it sprouts it can no longer contain the tree (v23b). Once more, our union to this life is found by being crucified with Christ (2:20) and thus are dead to the deathly old way of being human (v24). The Spirit has begotten us by faith (justification) so now we ought to walk by the Spirit (sanctification); which rules out the vanity of the triangles which envy traps us in (vv25-26).

The Great War

Paul’s polemic is not a narrow attack on legalism and those silly enough to think they could impress God by shaving their beards a certain way, wearing skirts a certain length, or by avoiding the addicting power of syncopated beats. But neither is it an invitation to reject all rules. Sinners walk by unbelief in their elaborate false doctrines, and sinners walk by unbelief in grotesque debauchery.The Christian isn’t supposed to balance themselves in between the legalist and the libertine. Rather we should set both sorts of fools on one side and believers on the other.

Paul identified in the last chapter that this great war was between Hagar’s sons and Sarah’s sons. In this chapter the same strife is identified: Flesh or Spirit. Unbelief or Faith. Sinai or Calvary. Your righteousness or Christ’s. Man in Adam or man in the Last Adam. The great war divides mankind between those who walk by faith in Christ, or those who refuse to acknowledge Him as King of Heaven and Earth. Paul demonstrates how great the chasm is between those who are walking by the flesh and those walking by the Spirit. Walking by externals, or walking by the new life of Christ which has invaded the world.

The Covenant Sign

This is why, for Paul, the Judaizers’ insistence on the Gentiles being circumcised becomes a hill to die on. Rushdoony, in his typically insightful way, points out that circumcision was symbolic castration. It was given by God to be a sign of trust; not in human generation, but in heavenly regeneration. In Adam all die, but in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Cor. 15:22).

Man needed to be born again, and in Christ, by faith in Christ, this new birth is held out to you. Circumcision pointed Israel to hope for the new birth. This new birth would be accompanied by the washing of the Spirit (Cf. Jn. 3:5 – Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.). This washing had come and was signified by baptism. So then, the promise of the Spirit was to be received by faith as signified by baptism, not by the work of the circumcising knife.

This is why we must insist––even as we labor to reform society, even as we labor to worship the Lord decently and in order––on the absolute necessity of the new birth. We must never draw near the Lord with only our lips, while our hearts are far from Him. We have potent signs: baptism and bread and wine. But are you harboring secret sin? Are you indulging worldly lusts? Are stage four with the cancer of envy?

Fruit for Citizens

The Serpent was enticing the Galatians to grasp the fruit through fleshly willfulness instead of walking by trust in God’s clear Word. The Judaizers were enticing the Galatians to grasp after externals, instead of walking by certain faith that God’s promise had been fulfilled by Christ’s faithfulness. Paul’s Gospel invited them to taste the fruit of the tree of life, and enjoy the liberty of that life.

But that liberty was not aimless, or do as you will. Each of the nine-fold attributes of the fruit of the Spirit are easily connected to imperatives found elsewhere in Scripture. Love one another (Jn.13:34). Rejoice always (Phi. 4:4). Seek peace and pursue it (Heb. 12:14). Endure afflictions (2Ti 4:5). Let your gentleness be evident to all (Phi. 4:5). Maintain good works (Gal. 6:10). Shewing all good fidelity (1 Cor. 4:2). Shewing all meekness unto all men (Col. 3:12). Be sober-minded (1 Pt. 5:8). This liberty of new life brings us as citizens to imitate our King. All this was promised of old (Cf. Is. 32:15, Is. 57).

The Belgic Confession is worth quoting at length on this point:

We believe that this true faith, produced in us by the hearing of God’s Word and by the work of the Holy Spirit, regenerates us and makes us new creatures, causing us to live a new life and freeing us from the slavery of sin. Therefore, far from making people cold toward living in a pious and holy way, this justifying faith, quite to the contrary, so works within them that apart from it they will never do a thing out of love for God but only out of love for themselves and fear of being condemned. So then, it is impossible for this holy faith to be unfruitful in a human being, seeing that we do not speak of an empty faith but of what Scripture calls “faith working through love,” which moves people to do by themselves the works that God has commanded in the Word.

These works, proceeding from the good root of faith, are good and acceptable to God, since they are all sanctified by God’s grace. Yet they do not count toward our justification—for by faith in Christ we are justified, even before we do good works. Otherwise they could not be good, any more than the fruit of a tree could be good if the tree is not good in the first place. So then, we do good works, but not for merit—for what would we merit? Rather, we are indebted to God for the good works we do, and not God to us, since God “is at work in [us], enabling [us] both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Sin––at its root––is living as if Christ has not come. Sin is living in the old world. Sinful man prowls around looking for anything at all to give him meaning. It might look like sexual indulgence, or strict adherence to cultic rites. It may take the form of murder in blind rage, or the surgical deception of multitudes. All of it is the fruit of the flesh; it’s willful unbelief in the new creation work which Christ began.

But you are not of the flesh, but of the Spirit. If you have been born of the Spirit you are a citizen of this kingdom. Here is fruit to nourish you. From start to finish Your new life is marked by faith. Faith in the complete work of Christ, and faith in every act of love’s duties. The seed of the Law has burst forth into an oak tree of love.

Charge & Benediction

By faith you are brought into the new creation. You are thus empowered to truly walk according to the precepts of God’s Law. Justified through no works of your own, but sanctified unto good works. The Spirit brings you alive. And living people, full of the Spirit of the God who is Love, will act according to the law of love.

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. Amen.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Other Sermons in this series

A Catechism for Getting Ready for Church

by Ben Zornes · Mar 14, 2025

I usually go over these questions with my kiddos shortly before we head to church. Thought it might be useful for others. Enjoy and make it your own.

Who made you? God.
What else did God make? Everything.
Why did God make you and all things? For His own Glory.
Why do we go to church? To worship the Lord.
How do we worship the Lord? In Spirit and in Truth.
What does it mean to worship the Lord in Spirit? We worship Him from the heart.
What does it mean to worship the Lord in Truth? We worship Him according to the Bible.
Who do we worship the Lord with? All of God’s people.
Who are God’s people? Those who are baptized & believe.
Are you baptized? Yes.
What does your baptism mean? That I belong to Jesus.
Are you going to take the Lord’s Supper? Yes.
What does the bread & wine remind us of? Jesus body and Jesus blood.
Do you believe all this? Yes
Bonus Question. Should you wiggle or fuss? No!

Attentive Fathers

by Ben Zornes · Mar 12, 2025

Introduction

In the Jewish creed the Lord instructed Israel’s fathers to teach the words of God’s commandments diligently unto their children (Deu. 6:7). There is a rare, and surprising word used here for diligently. The word is the same word used elsewhere to describe a warrior sharpening/whetting his weaponry (arrows, spearheads, swords, etc.). To get a bit deeper into the Hebrew weeds, the word here is in the piel which, put simply, is a grammatical way of intensifying the action. An example would be the difference between “you broke” and the more intensified “you shattered.”

In short, the command to fathers is to treat their duty of instructing their children in the commandments of the Lord as a warrior sitting down to sharpen blunt edges, hone the edge until all dings and dents are removed, and bring the blade to excellent sharpness. A warrior who neglects his weapons is a danger to himself, his fellow soldiers, and those he’s fighting to defend. The imperative here is primarily aimed at fathers, and thus take it to heart that this diligent attentiveness to your children is not a duty to be lightly set aside. You must not procrastinate in this task. So, I wanted to look a bit deeper at at least three areas this should be applied.

Repetition

Perhaps the most important component in this duty to sharpen your children is the implied repetition. A weapon can be sharpened, but it will not stay sharp after use. A good teacher gives instruction, and then quizzes. This is what catechism is. It is teaching our children to add their voice to the truth which we confess about what we find in Scripture. This cannot be done by osmosis, or mere proximity to other families that are diligently teaching. Just because you live next to the saw-blade factory doesn’t mean your table saw is sharp.

Young children are sponges for this sort of training, and you would do well to make use of this window when their minds are magnetically drawn to repeating songs and sayings. But don’t imagine that this duty fades once your children leave the nest. Of course, a father showing up at his grown son’s house and trying to make him do Bible drills would be a bit awkward. But catechesis in their youth will mature into things like regular meetings, reading a book together, and deliberate conversations in their adulthood. Think now about how you want your relationship with your kids to be when they become your peers. You probably don’t want your relationship with your adult children to just be “did you see the latest sports-ball game?” Simply put, a father builds a broad foundation in his children’s youth that gives plenty of elbow room for conversation in their adulthood.

Your inclination will be to think that sharpening the blade once should last for at least a little while. But this text in Deuteronomy indicates that this instruction should be morning, noon, and night. In some sense, you can be attentive to your children even while moving through the ebb and flow of life. However, anyone who owns a prized knife knows that with use comes an obligation to devote the time necessary to restore the blade often. This takes devoting time to the task. Don’t just assume it will happen. The Apostle Paul wonderfully exemplified this when he wrote to the Philippians: Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe (Phl 3:1).

Don’t be discouraged if you find yourself repeating lessons you thought your kids know. Frustration is like taking your dad’s hatchet and smashing granite with it…something I once did, to my great shame! Also, as you add kids it’s easy to think because you taught your oldest child some doctrine, or virtue, or explained some rule to them that the other kids will somehow catch it like they catch the Logos plague. Instead, take the time with each child and as a family to form frequent pathways of character, doctrine, and humility.

Distinguishing

While repetition is the most prominent attribute of this duty to sharpen our sons and daughters, we shouldn’t neglect the fact that part of this repetitive attentiveness requires knowing which tool you are sharpening. You can’t treat each blade the same. You can’t treat each nick identically. There is a process for each weapon that are similar and dissimilar from the other weapons. Wisdom is knowing how to sharpen each blade rightly, and then devoting the appropriate time for each particular weapon.

Every child is different. Age and gender come immediately to mind. But you should keep in mind that each child will also have differing gifts and talents. There are temptations for one child that will be entirely foreign to your other children. Some things will trouble one child, that another child will be unfazed by. This requires that you, as the father of your children, know them each by name.

Here are some practicals. First, while each child may have a different “burn rate” when it comes to attention/affection from you, you must not think that you can put any of them on autopilot. This means identifying their strengths and weaknesses, and talking through those things with them, and then testing them on those points. You’re like a coach who wants his players to run the play a certain way and drills them until they get it right. Don’t settle for mediocre, but also don’t put success always out of reach.

Second, your home isn’t a manufacturing plant for concrete blocks. Take the time necessary to know what each child loves and fears, what questions are on their minds, and how they are processing things in the life of the family. Understand how they understand things. Of course, this could be summarized as taking biblical principles and figuring out the best method for applying those to your particular children.

Third, keep in mind that in your family are numerous combinations of relationships. To change to a different metaphor, you must be like a skilled chef in understanding how the ingredients (i.e. each person in the family) combines with the dish you are trying to cook. There is interplay between all the various subsets, and this too takes your time and attention to recognize, study, and perfect. For instance, say two of your children are constantly squabbling; there are principles of confession of sin and forgiveness that are unchanging. But you also need to be considering what is driving the wedge between them, and how to bring about a sweetness and unity between them. After all, blessed are the peacemakers.

Again, this diligence that you are called to implies repetition and the ability to rightly distinguish how that repetition should look for each child.

Restoration

Perhaps you’ve seen those youtube videos of guys who find old weapons and restore them to glory. This should always be your outlook when thinking about the power of God’s Word applied by a loving and attentive father. There are children who may seem to be rusted beyond hope of restoration. But you do not serve a semi-potent God. You do not serve the Father of some mercies. You serve the Living God who sent His Son in order that you might become His sons. So then, do not doubt the efficacy of being an attentive father until your dying breath, and—in a sense—beyond. Leaving an inheritance of both material and spiritual wealth is showing attentiveness to your children’s children even after you pass into glory. Plan for your funeral to be a poignant loss for your children and grandchildren.

But when it comes to “prodigal sons” you should assume that the potency of your attention to your child is able to scratch an itch that no one else can. Part of this may include asking forgiveness for your own sin in their childhood. If you laid a rotten foundation, or if you were an example of ungodliness, own that. Such confession is powerful. But don’t think it has to stay that way. Pursue your children from their youth on up. Give them your attention. They want it, they need it, and you are the only one that can ever give them their dad’s attention. To be attentive fathers is to be diligent, and this becomes particularly true if the blade seems beyond repair. All this, it should be plain, requires persevering faith in all of God’s promises to you and your children.