Parenting with Hope in the Worst of Times :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library

Last night Lindsey and I watched this sermon together from Dr. Piper. It's some amazing insight into a passage of Scripture in a part of Scripture that I haven't spent much time, the book of Micah. This isn't really a "how to" on parenting, but he discusses the depth of our depravity and riches of God's mercy. As he says in the beginning, this isn't just a message for parents. I would really encourage you to grab a spouse, friend or coworker and 50 free minutes to be challenged by what he has to share!

Parenting with Hope in the Worst of Times :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library

Saved Children

Tedd Tripp's Shepherding a Child's Heart is a must read for any parent who struggles to bring their children up "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). It is also for those of us who desire to be used by the Lord to not just raise well-behaved kids, but those who will understand and live out the truth that "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever."

Something in chapter 5, titled "Examining Your Goals," caught my attention. I've discussed this issue with a lot of people and this is the first time I've read something that clearly articulated what I believe about it. I think you'll figure out after reading this where I stand on this :). I'd love to get some feedback on this.

Saved Children

     I have met many parents whose preoccupation is getting their children saved. They focus on getting their children to pray "the sinner's prayer." They want him to ask Jesus to come into his heart. They take Johnny to Child Evangelism Fellowship functions, Good News Clubs, summer camps or anywhere else where someone will bring him to decision to trust Christ.

     They think that if their child would get saved, all the problems of living would be solved. Sometimes parents feel this way because, in their own experience, getting saved was a spiritual watershed. They want their child to have that experience too.

     This is a sensitive issue that must be tempered by two facts: 1) You can never know with absolute certainty whether your child is saved. Many passages such as the "Lord, Lord" passage at the end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:21-23) indicate that false faith can carry someone a long way. The heart can even deceive itself. Thus the Bible warns about the dangers of being self-deceived and exhorts you to test yourself to see whether you are in the faith. 2) A child's profession of faith in Christ does not change the basic issues of childrearing. The parent's goals are the same. The things the child is called to are the same. He requires the same training he required before. He will have times of tenderness and times of spiritual coldness. The parent's task does not change when the child makes a decision.

     There are many passages that teach the need to shepherd, to train, to instruct, and to discipline your children. None of these passages has getting a child to pray the "sinner's prayer" as its focus. 

Godly Sex

It's been a while since I've posted something so I thought I'd write something attention grabbing.

Something that is not attention grabbing for most people is the book of Leviticus. Filled with laws about worship and cleanliness in a time and place far removed from us, the modern reader often chooses to read something more "practical" for his or her life. Leviticus is mostly about a God who instructs His people how to be holy in their worship of Him because He is holy. Living holy lives before a holy God should affect every area of our lives, especially our sexuality.

Buried in the middle of this overly neglected book, in the 18th chapter, are some guidelines concerning unlawful sexual relations. But what is often overlooked is verses 3-4 which gives the real reason for these restrictions. Contrary to popular opinion, God is not trying to take away of our fun or control us. He is telling us these things for our protection.  These verses also contain some vital truths that should change our perspective on how we view God's law:

You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them; I am the LORD.

Check out the emphasis here. It is to not do as they did in the place where they were slaves. For New Testament believers, this obviously parallels our old life as slaves to sin. They are also told to not do as they do in the promised land of Canaan to which God was bringing them. Again, for us today the parallel is the still the ungodly world around us that we've been redeemed out of.

The Ten Commandments were given in this context at Mount Sinai. They were given after God called Israel to be faithful to his covenant and reminded them that they are his people, his treasured possession. The law came after slavery as a reminder not to go back to it and before being surrounded by rampant idolatry as a warning not to succumb to it. Without this understanding, the law of God, particularly those concerning unlawful sexual relations in Leviticus 18 make little sense.

God's plan and design for sex is 1 man and 1 woman in 1 monogamous relationship for 1 lifetime. The unbelieving world obviously has a huge problem with this. But God's word says that "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight" (Prov. 9:10). God's commands are for our protection and our benefit. If we will open our eyes and our hearts to rightly see this by fearing the Lord, then he will give us wisdom and insight to understand these truths.