Radical Parenting!

What does the world tell us about raising children?  Children need the freedom to become who they want to be no matter if it is immoral.  Children are capable of making lifelong decisions, right!?!  Education will take them anywhere and must be priority.  Discipline of any form destroys children's self esteem.  They must be in every activity possible to feel like they have made accomplishments and so they can find out "who they are".  The list is endless.  When I start thinking about this, I am convinced that it is absolute nonsense.

For every book that tells you how to do one of these ideas, you will find another that contradicts it.  There is much confusion in the world over the best way to raise children to be healthy, "well adjusted" adults.  That confusion has infiltrated the churches, but it doesn't have to be that way. 

We don't have to try to chase these ideas to figure out the best way to raise our children.  The best book for child training has nothing that can contradict it.  The Bible is infallible.  Its words are proven through the ages.  This guide will never steer you wrong!

I heard it said my whole life that Christians need to read their Bible every day, but I knew few who actually did.  As an adult, I began to take on this wonderful task.  I love the Word of God.  It is life and breath!  The more I read, the more I love it.  Sister Linda Gilmore and I were talking at the Ladies Retreat.  She told me how much she loves reading the Bible and how she would have never made it through such hard times without it.  I told her that some days it is like eating chocolate cake.....it is just that good, and I can't get enough!    

A few years ago, I was convicted that I did not work very hard to instill a love for the Word of God in my children.  We went to church every time the doors were open.  We home school, so Bible stories and scripture are in their daily school work.  THIS WAS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH.  I did nothing to encourage them to have their own time with Our Savior everyday or take time to teach them to pray.  Maybe we think our kids will figure out how to do these things when they are grown.  Why do we allow them to miss out on years of precious time with Jesus and His Word?  

If we are to train our children, we must become instructors of scripture to them daily.  No matter your educational preferences, reading the Bible to your children is not an option.  (Well, it shouldn't be anyways!)  Memorizing scripture is just as important as reading it.  Psalm 119:11 says I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

We must not base our ideas of parenting on what others are doing around us, even if they are Christians.  Use scripture and trust the Holy Spirit to guide you.  If we are to be radical in our parenting, and to be intentional in raising Godly children, we must know what else The Word of God would say about this great task.   
         
Ephesians 6:4   Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.   

         

We must be reminded that we do not discipline out of anger or for the sake of making a child do what we want them to do.  We disciple, correct, and instruct our children so they will know what God wants them to do.  We are the Lord's tool to train the next generation of warriors.

 

 

Proverbs 29:15  The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.   

 

The small window of time we have with our kids goes by so quickly.  The sad thing is that most parents realize this all too late.  Technology and entertainment are no replacement for time spent with parents.         

Deuteronomy 6:7   You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.   

 

Diligence is defined as having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.  If you read the whole text it is referring to teaching scripture to your children and to love the Lord with all our heart and strength!  A radical parent takes every care to nurture a child's relationship, as well as their own, with Jesus and with the Word of God.           

Proverbs 13:24   Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.   

         

Proverbs 29:17   Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.   

         

Proverbs 22:15   Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.   

   

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible says this about Proverbs 22:15. That is, sin, the greatest of all folly; this is naturally in the heart of man; it is in the heart of a child, it is in him from his infancy; it is bound in his heart, it is rooted and riveted in him, being conceived in sin, and shapen in iniquity; it is what cleaves close to him, and he has a strong affection for and desire after: the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth, ( Genesis 8:21 ) ; so that he is not easily brought off of sin, or becomes wise; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him; the rod used by parents, for the correction of sin and folly, is a means of making children wise, and of restraining the folly that is bound up in them; and of reclaiming them from those sinful ways, which the folly of their hearts leads them to, and so in some measure of driving it far from them.       

Psalm 127:3-5   Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Above all, we must remember that our children are a reward for us.  They are a blessing.  If we want them to be a blessing to others, we must train them in the way they should go!