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The Laws of Worldly Parenting
This morning we will be looking at our memory verse, .
How is this text to be applied to our daily lives?
In this series we have looked at singles, married couples, and children.
But what does biblical parenting actually look like?
As you turn there I’d like to start off with what I call “The Five Laws of Worldly Parenting”.
Yes, if you’ve ever wanted to know how to parent your children according to the world, here are the five laws:
Law #1: Do NOT teach them religion
First, Do not, and I repeat, do not, teach them Christianity.
That is brainwashing.
You can teach them Judaism, or Islam, or atheism, that’s fine.
That’s broadening their horizons.
And you can teach them science without reference to God.
That’s just teaching.
But teaching them Christianity?
Can there be anything more appalling?
I mean, really, if you sincerely believe that without trusting in Christ Jesus your children will face an eternity of deserved judgment, that’s on you.
But don’t warn them!
Law #2: Children are Mostly Incapable
Children have complex brains and have been shown to excellent thinkers and doers.
Therefore, don’t expect anything from them.
When I was a kid, I simply couldn’t have been able to memorize the Ten Commandments.
I could memorize the names of all 151 original Pokemon, in order, but the 66 Books of the Bible is a bridge too far.
Far better to let them huddle together and play Fortnite or Rocket League and leave them to their own business.
Law #3: Age-segregation is the Best Policy
Speaking of leaving them to their own business, that gets us to the third Law of worldly parenting: Age-Segregation is the Best Policy.
After all, adults have nothing to teach kids, and adults receive no benefit from being around kids.
That is why at any given function, the faster the kids and the youth can get separated and unsupervised, the better.
Law #4: Ask, Don’t Tell
Number 4! Dinner is ready, and the kids are still watching something on TV, I’m sure an educational documentary.
You want to eat dinner, but they are clearly having too much fun.
So you should tell them to come to the kitchen and eat, right?
Well, if you want to break the fourth law of worldly parenting!
Ask, Don’t Tell.
Never act like you have authority over them.
Treat them like an equal, or better yet, as an inferior.
Law #5: Psychologists Today Know Best
And finally we come to the fifth law of worldly parenting.
This is the ultimate law that goes before all others, which is why I’m listing it last.
Ready?
Psychologists Today Know Best.
Specifically, today.
Now, tomorrow is a different story.
Who knows what will be the best way to parent them tomorrow?
So hold on to these laws as absolutely essential…but change them at the slightest whim of whoever the world says is the preeminent child psychologist today.
Back to Reality
Alright, now of course I’m being tongue in cheek here.
This is all absolutely terrible advice.
But can we see how these thoughts have ravaged the world’s understanding of parenting?
Can we see how some of these have even infiltrated the church?
These five laws stem from one basic assumption: We Have No Instruction for Childrearing.
Therefore, they make up whatever they want.
But that assumption is false.
We have been given instruction.
We have been given God’s Word, and while it doesn’t tell us absolutely everything about parenting, the key principles are laid down for us in the Scriptures.
We see that a father and a mother is to have compassion on their children, and to love them dearly.
We see that they are to discipline their children, yet not to exasperate them.
And we see that they are to teach their children.
It is this last aspect we will focus on today.
So let us read :
Know the Things of God ()
First, verse 6. “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”
That command isn’t given to the child, it is given to the parents.
Fathers, if you are going to teach your children about God, you must know about God first.
You cannot teach what you do not know.
You cannot teach them beyond what you know.
So parents, I exhort you, and encourage you, know deeply the things of God! How do you do this?
Let me give you six actions you can take to know God more deeply.
(Oh, and by the way, those who aren’t parents will benefit from this list just as much!)
Read Scripture Diligently
First, and most importantly, is that you read Scripture diligently.
I recommend reading it daily.
Whether you want to use a plan or not, that’s up to you.
But the Bible is food for your soul, don’t neglect it!
And don’t stick to just the places you’re comfortable with.
Read the Prophets.
Read Ecclesiastes.
Read Leviticus, and Numbers, and Revelation, and Acts.
We are in the New Covenant and we have the New Testament, but that doesn’t mean we should unhitch ourselves from the Old Testament!
It is a precious treasure, and we should be reading it.
Read Theology
Scripture is our final authority, but we are not the first generation of Christians, and we very well may not be the last.
We live in a history of the Church, and that Church history has provided for us some absolutely brilliant writers.
From Ignatius of Antioch, to Gregory of Nyssa, to Augustine, to Bernard of Clairvaux, to Peter Waldo, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, to John Calvin, Nehemiah Coxe, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, B.B. Warfield, R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur, John Piper, Jim Renihan and beyond, that is just a short list of people whose writings God has blessed the church with.
Many of these men write contradicting things, but that is why we always go back to Scripture.
Take advantage of the rich works of theology that we have.
Read Creeds and Confessions
Beyond your general theology book, look at historic creeds and confessions of the church.
Over the last 100 years or so, Baptists have largely ignored the wealth of treasure in these documents.
Yet what clear doctrine is found in the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed!
Look at the historic Confessions of the Faith, particularly ones produced by Baptists such as the 1689 London Baptist Confession, and the New Hampshire Confession of Faith.
What is especially helpful about these is that these were not written by just one person, but by a large group, minimizing the chances of error.
Listen to Biblical Sermons
Looking beyond creeds and confessions, I recommend listening to biblical sermons outside of the Sunday morning gathering, and good quality podcasts.
There are so many good preachers to listen to and podcasts to subscribe to, honestly I don’t know how to start.
You can get with me after service, or we can talk about it sometime, but there’s just so many I’m gonna go ahead and move on.
Meet with Other Believers and Discuss Doctrine
Now, up to this point the introverts have been happy.
Stick your nose in a book or stick your ears into headphones and escape into theological paradise.
Well, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but we can’t do theology alone.
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