Train up a child

Understand the intent of the teaching: when he is "old" that training will be remembered.

Understand that the natural condition of man is bent on sin, and sometimes the Lord Himself trains through withdrawing. This was true of the Prodigal Son, it may be true of your own Son.

And keep in mind that you are yourself older, and probably have regrets in the training of your child, the point being...you yourself were still in the process of being trained while you were still training yourself.

Children raised up in Christian homes understand clearly the standard set by Christ and Scripture. The parent is going to fail to meet that standard, I don't care who they are. This will be, I believe, one of the primary reasons many who grow up in "Church" or in Christian homes will walk away when they get to the age they make their own decisions.

However, there is hope built into that teaching, and we rely on God to fulfill His Word.

There is a saying, "When I was a child I thought my dad was the smartest man in the world; when I was a teenager I thought my dad was the dumbest man in the world; but now that I am older and have kids of my own...I see dad was as dumb as once thought."

Keeping that standard is getting easier for you now, my friend, now that you understand God and yourself better. Parenting while in the growth process may not be perfect, but I am sure along the way the seeds planted by your hand will be watered.

While we know that there will be those that ultimately reject the Lord, that does not negate the efforts that have gone before, nor the efforts yet in the future. It may be understanding will not be had by your son until he himself begins raising children, then, after walking in the shoes you once filled in his life, he may understand things better.


God bless.

 

EWF, the church has gotten off track and have taken from the parents the responsibility of nurturing children and pointing them to Christ. I like these excerpts from Paul Washer's 10 Indictments sermon:

 

Churches should be equipping parents to be the ones guiding children in their faith, this is the only way for true generational impact. Unfortunately, most parents don't care. Statistics show that what 80% of kids are leaving the church after high school? Parents will invest time and money in activities such as t-ball, little league, soccer, etc. But won't invest time in teaching their children about Christ in the home through routine family worship. Statistics show that 1% of high school baseball players actually make it to the major leagues. Nothing wrong with sports, activities, to make a child well rounded, but when time and money is spent on these things instead of preparing a child for their entire life ahead of them through helping them shape a biblical world view, then things are really upside down.

I have not read this, but plan too. Saw some quotes from it yesterday and looks to be interesting. This is the kind of stuff that our country was built upon, the principles and practices. Yet we've gotten away from that and wan't to complain, but think there is nothing wrong with how we do church!

http://www.sowersseedreprints.com/uploads/A_Family_Well_Ordered_-_Cotton_Mather.pdf

As for your son, you can't change the past, but you can still lovingly point him to Christ as you and your wife are being renewed day by day by God's grace. And in the event you have grandchildren you can apply new practices with them.

I know a family with a daughter that had multiple children out of wedlock my multiple men, those children were raised by their grandparents. The situation should have been a wake up call to the grandparents and those in the church that they attend. These children are now at the age where they are doing the same things their mother did. God gave these grandparents a second chance at making an impact for future generations, did they change their course?

 

Proverbs are wisdom literature and not meant to be interpreted as promises.

Too many parents put the blame on themselves and feel personal guilt for the sin of a wayward youth.

Rob

 

Clue : We ALL fail the test.

HankD

 

Keep pouring your heart out to the Lord about your burden, continue to seek wise council and wisdom from the scriptures on how best to fulfill your responsibility to your son at this stage in his life.

I like that bout the PB's. Kids can pick up a lot when sitting through a whole service, kids should be challenged more. Parents expect kids to throw a perfect fast ball, ace their SAT to get a scholarship, shine in a band or dance rehearsal, but fail to instruct them properly, and think they can't handle concepts like justification, santification, etc. We love to teach kids about Noah and the arky, arky and focus on all of the animals, or Jonah and the whale, but fail to emphasize God's wrath/judgement, his sovereingty, etc. Which is what these stories are really all about.

My child is still young, I cannot stand before God and claim ignorance of my responsibilities, and I do not want to stand before him as someone who was apathetic regarding these instructions.

 

Absolutely,of course!

HankD