Thinking at 4 am

I've heard this saying, "More is caught than taught" for many years from many preachers.  I'm beginning to find that I disagree with that. 

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

1Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. 3Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.

4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Note especially verse 7's command to teach the children diligently.  

We can move directly to Proverbs and read the number of times the author begs his son to hear the teaching that is being given.  Wisdom begs in the streets for us to listen.  

Why am I thinking about this at 4am?  A question about teaching religion to her childrencame up among a group of ladies that I know .  She wants to but she doesn't know how to.  It was a good question and it made me think.

We can stand all day and tell our children the "what's" of our religion, but that cannot accomplish what we want.  Our children will rebel over constant "what's."  They will never understand the heart of Christ if they only have the "what's."  If you give them the "why's" behind the "what's" you help them see Christ.  You help them know how to know God.  

When the Christian life was still new to me, I was taught that asking why was a form of rebellion.  What I am learning is the asking why and getting a good answer enhances understanding and allows me to follow with my heart.  

I've been watching so many young people turn away from the faith of their fathers and I've sought a long time for answers.  I have a couple of reasons, I think.  One reason is that we don't have their hearts.  Another reason is that we expect obedience without knowledge.  

But maybe those two reasons are parts of the same puzzle piece.  Maybe we don't have their hearts because we aren't taking the time it requires to teach them why.