Allie was having a rough night. She had already been punished once for slapping one of the pastor’s sons and had just started over, this time her brother. His mother was humiliated and frustrated. Allie was angry, embarrassed, and desperate as she sat in her room, waiting for the consequences.
When her mother went to talk to her, Allie said, crying, “I don’t deserve to be there with my friends. “
How would you have responded to that?
Almost every parent on the planet has had a conversation with a child about the downsides of beating others. The question for Christian parents is not: “Should I correct this behavior?”The question is, “How does the gospel teach how I correct my children?Perhaps a more direct question is, “How is my fatherhood different from that of my Mormon neighbors?”
In one of the two direct commandments on the fatherhood of the New Testament, Paul writes, “And ye, fathers, do not provoke the wrath of your children, but raise them in the discipline and admonition of the Lord” (Ep 6:4). Entire books have been written about this verse: how parents can avoid provoking their children and what disciplines and instructions should look like. But in all the discussion in this verse, we may have forgotten the most important phrase: “of the Lord. “would have surprised Paul’s early readers because Ephesian parents trained their children in the discipline and instruction of Greek philosophers. Paul tells Christian parents that we must educate our children in the Lord’s discipline and instruction. What does that mean?
First, does the Lord’s fatherhood depend on grace. How does the Lord’s salvation come? (Jn 2. 9, NVI), we know that we are unable to transform our children’s hearts or make them believe, so instead of provoking, manipulating, afflicting, and demanding, Christian parents can rest in God’s grace, enjoy their children, and give by trying to do what only the Spirit can do.
Christian parents are also transparent, as Christians, we know that we are sinners. When it comes to justice before God, we are not superior to anyone, not even our children. We should never ask ourselves, “Why would my son do that?”We know the answer: he is the son of a sinner. The Gospel tells us that we are not at war with our children, but with them, fighting together against sin. It is not us against them, but parents and children against sin and disbelief.
Christian parents know the true role of God’s law in the lives of our children; God’s law makes them aware of their need for Christ, teaches their believing children to respond to the grace they have received, and makes them truly grateful for the perfect care of Jesus. . But that doesn’t make them good. It really can’t make them good, and we have to stop waiting for that to happen. Only the righteousness of Christ can bestow the blessing: “Are you good?”
If our fatherhood is truly Christian, linked to both the indications and imperatives of God’s Word, we must pray; we must pray because we need help connecting the gospel to your daily life; none of us do very well.
Christian parents must escape moralism and manipulation and take refuge only in the blood and righteousness of Jesus; we must give them the gospel, with grace and implacability, so that they may know that there is a God who is as good as he says. discipline them and tell them about Jesus.
Now let’s go back to our opening sticker. Allie had just said, “I don’t deserve to be with my friends. “How would the gospel transform your mother’s response?
Although his mother did not think of the gospel and did not want to take some time out of his company to correct his daughter or tell her about Jesus, the Lord used Allie’s words to melt her heart.
“You’re right, Allie. No you deserve to be with your friends. But neither do I. I was angry and ashamed. I don’t deserve God’s good gifts either. But God is very kind, He does not give us what we deserve. You know what mercy is, little one?Allie shook her head.
“Mercy is that God gives you good when you deserve punishment. And grace is God who gives you all the good things you could never deserve for being kind. God can give us grace because His Son has never slapped anyone. He can give us mercy” because His Son was slapped in our place. Jesus paved the way for you and I to experience God’s mercy instead of his judgment. Isn’t that good?
“Are you making me cry?” Allie said in tears
“Yes, God’s mercy also makes me cry,” the mother replied, “let us pray together that the Lord will help us remember his grace tonight. “
After discipline and prayer, Allie hugged her mother and said, “Mom, now I know that God really loves me. “
Christian upbringing is not a new method, it is to share the gospel you already know.