Save the Date: 9/6 :)

Cookout on Labor Day Weekend...

Recap: Debunking

A Godly Home Guarantees Godly Kids

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. ~Proverbs 22:6
 
Train up a child in the way he should go.  We think that it means that if we raise up a child correctly, they will come back to God eventually.  That’s how this passage has been interpreted over time. Just train up a child in the way he should go, do the right thing in raising them, create the right godly environment by praying enough, set the right kind of example,and your child will walk with God. That’s what most people think is true.  2 problems with this…
 
1st Problem - That’s not what the passage says.  It says that if we raise up a child in the way he should go; literally, in the Hebrew, “according to the mouth of his way”… scholars believe this means… in accordance with his nature or his bent. It doesn’t mean spiritually correct. It means according to their unique nature and giftedness.

2nd Problem - A proverb is not a promise. The Bible has a lot of promises that you can take to the bank. But this is a proverb, a wise saying that gives us insight and direction, but isn't intended to be an ultimate statement that applies to every context without exception.

This myth is dangerous and potentially devastating because it can saddle parents with needless guilt (if their child makes bad decisions and suffers for them, the parent can feel like this is completely their fault) or foolish pride (taking credit for the walk and works of the child).

Truly parents have amazing impact and influence... but they don't have ultimate control. Every individual owns their own actions good and bad.... and while parents can certainly help or hinder - we all are responsible for our own stuff.

We took a look at what the Bible says about parenting and responsibility and here are 6 things we can do to improve our chances of success here:

1) Don’t be unreasonably strict.
2) Don’t embarrass kids with out of balance zeal.  
3) Protect them, but let kids face consequences.
4) Have a great marriage.
5) Model what you hope to get.
6) Adapt to their unique bent in the world.

A godly home doesn't guarantee godly kids... and an ungodly home doesn't guarantee ungodly kids. As parents we seek to be incarnational, meeting kids where they are and loving them where they are... but ultimately we don't control their destiny. God's grace is bigger than the things we get right or wrong, even in the most basic and human of relationships.

Check out the Debunking series here for this and other messages in this series...

Prayer for the Week

Read this with an open heart, to join us (and St. Francis) in Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

~In Jesus' Name...

Series Notes: SOTM