March 2005

What would you say if you saw a newspaper ad like this in the religious section of your local newspaper? You would probably have a reaction of utter disbelief and exclaim “are you kidding, what’s next”? Well, if we are completely honest and are “thinking and acting biblically,” we would fess up and say yes, our children are much like the world’s children, doing what they are naturally inclined to do, sin, rebel, buck authority and do what is pleasing to their own selfish desires and self-interest. Wow, that’s pretty tough language and a pronounced judgment on our children isn’t it? No, on the contrary, it’s not fluff, psychobabble or soapy sentimentalism, it’s biblical. It is what God’s Word says about children in their natural estate:

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

Thus, if we are biblical in our application of Scriptural principles and truth, we will say that we need help as parents, especially God’s help, so that we can nurture, train and discipline our children in a consistent and godly manner so that they will honor and obey us and bring glory to God in their lives. We don’t need a “Super Nanny” to train us how to be biblical parents in our training and discipline of our children. We have the “best” Super Nanny of all, God’s Word and it, and it alone, gives us the biblical answers to raise them in all of those good and godly attributes that will make them obedient children, good citizens and godly examples of a Christ-centered life.

On the other hand, if we are not biblical in our training but use the world’s methods, terms, psycho-applications, warm and fuzzy feelings of motherhood and child rearing, and other like-error, we will reap what we sow and especially so in the Church itself, both spiritual and corporate. Why is that? Because it takes our spiritual temperature and will speak volumes of whom we are as Christian parents. It will be a poor example to other Christians and the world of what a Christian child and family are and do and more importantly, it dishonors God and brings His Word and promises into question. It says, in essence, that being a Christian and raising children biblically makes no difference whatsoever and that the “ways of the world” in their Freudian thinking and practice is more successful and a “better” way to raise children. That, in itself, gives glory to the false, liberal thinkers and psychobabblers, agents of the evil one rather than to Jesus Christ, the Author of life and breath and the Providential God to whom we have to do.

So now you say, “What has this got to do with the Church corporate”? What it is saying is this: If we do not respect God in our homes by obedience to His Word and honoring our parents, it will reflect how we behave outside the home. We attend Church, the corporate worship of God with the brethren to worship, praise and adore our God. We come on His day with obedient hearts, minds and attention focused on Him in exercise of praise and worship. We come with a quiet and meek spirit, with confession and prayerful preparation. We come bringing Him our full attention so that we can worship Him as He has commanded. So then, as obedient and worshipful parents, we train our children to do likewise. We train them to listen, to worship, to praise, to confess and they show their love and obedience to God by obeying us in their behavior. It is our responsibility to train them for worship that is according to Scripture. We do not train them as the world trains their children, that all things are acceptable in religious worship, i.e., eating and drinking, playing with toys, talking and visiting, running around between pews, standing on their heads, not participating in singing or bowing their heads in prayer, or following along in Scripture readings. We train them that to take their attention away from worship with God’s family and God’s ministers bringing His Word to them, is to rob God of His offerings and is disobedience and an affront to our Holy God. We train them that true happiness and joy in their life is through obedience and especially obedience in the worship of their God who has given them life. We make this a priority in our own worship and in the worship practice of our children so that our great and loving God is honored and obeyed and we are blessed.

If we truly want what is best for our children, we will do it God’s way and if God’s way, there is no need for a Super Nanny, but rather obedient parents bringing their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord through His Word. If you truly want blessed children begin discipline in the nursery, in the home, in public places and carry it on into the corporate worship of God. Do not “spare for their crying” or be lazy in discipline but pursue diligently all of those things that God’s Word has commanded you to do as you train (catechize) your children. Train them, love them, be gentle and tender with them but discipline them as God has commanded. He has given you “super” responsibilities and support to be biblical trainers and godly examples to your children and placed them and the nurture of their souls in your hands.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Eph 6:1-4

For the glory of God…..for the life and joy of our family…for the good of the body of Christ….let it be so.

J.C. Ryle: “The Duties of Parents”
Sinclair Ferguson: “Little Innocents”
Jay Adams: “Christian Living in the Home”
William & Colleen Dedrick: “The Little Book of Christian Character and Manners”
Bruce Ray: “Withhold Not Correction”
Wayne Mack: “Your Family, God’s Way”
Donald Van Dyken: “Rediscovering Catechism”

Pro 13:1 A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
Pro 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. Pro 15:5 A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
Pro 23:13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
Pro 23:14 If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.
Pro 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Pro 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.