I get so sad when I see the 'Christian Parenting' excuse for the child abuse advocated in this book.



As a Christ follower and a parent, I want to show my kids God's love, teach them God's ways, equip them with the wisdom to know God's path for them, and the courage to follow it. So let's chuck out all the hear-say and see what the Bible, God's word teaches:



Matthew 7:12:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (NIV 2011)

Galatians

I get so sad when I see the 'Christian Parenting' excuse for the child abuse advocated in this book.



As a Christ follower and a parent, I want to show my kids God's love, teach them God's ways, equip them with the wisdom to know God's path for them, and the courage to follow it. So let's chuck out all the hear-say and see what the Bible, God's word teaches:



Matthew 7:12:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (NIV 2011)

Galatians 5:22-25:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (NIV 2011)

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (NIV 2011)

1 John 4:8

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (NIV 2011)

Mark 10:13-16:

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed His hands on their heads and blessed them. (NLT 2007)

Matthew 18:6

If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (NIV 2011)



The Bible teaches that 'the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control' (Galatians 5:22-25). God tells us to 'keep in step with the Spirit' by living the fruit of the Spirit, not just when we go to church on Sundays, but everyday, perhaps most importantly, in our homes, as an example to our children.



God tells us that He is love, and he teaches us that "love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) God expects us to model this love, His love, to our children.



God gave us Jesus, His Child, to model and teach us His ways. Jesus values children (Mark 10:13-16), He values them A LOT. He does not treat them like 2nd class citizens that need to be disciplined and scolded into submission and conformation. Jesus got upset when His disciples wanted to send the children away. Jesus adjusted His schedule and made time for the children. He delighted in them. We need to follow Jesus's example.



God expects us to train up our children in His ways not just by teaching them how to act and do and behave, but, more importantly, by modelling God's ways, as Jesus did for me.



If I want my child to be a loving person I need to treat him with love. If I want him to be a joyful person I need to show him joy. If I want him to be peaceful, I need to be at peace myself. If I want to instill kindness, goodness and faithfulness in him, I need to treat him with kindness, goodness and faithfulness.



And if I want him to grow up to be a gentle man, with self control, I need to be gentle with him and with others, because he is part of, learns from, and mimics my daily social interactions with him and with others.



Of course this is a massive responsibility and all of this is impossible to do without God's help. And I must admit that I fall short dramatically when it comes to modelling the fruit of the Spirit all the time, but I do try, and try again. I follow my Leader with joy, knowing that He will not reject me when I fall and get up and try again, just as I will not reject my son Etienne.



My point is that the Bible teaches love. Not fear, anger, and child abuse. Love. A love that is patient, kind, is not proud, does not dishonour others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs. A love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. A Love that never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)