Do Parents Need Help?

[Chris Field]

As we get started on this FORUM we expect that many parents have questions or helpful advice to give to others. But parenting ranges from the issues of a First Baby, to dealing with wayward adult children, who may themselves be grand-parents. It's a broad scope to deal with. In time we may create separate categories for Mums & Bubs, Parents of Teens, and so on.
For now, however, we are just getting started and so we will be directed by the questions people ask and the topics they wish to discuss.
Do Parents Need Help? We suspect they do. So give us a hand here. Tell us what you have observed or experienced about parenting or parents needing assistance. We'll use that information to guide our future development.

[Debbie]

I believe that the church today needs a great deal of help in knowing how to raise children in a solid Biblical manner.  I thank God for Dr Chris Field and his lovely wife Susan.  They have wonderful Biblical writings for raising godly offspring.

[lynn]

Parents definitely need help!!! There is no evidence to the contrary. Look at the marriages. Look at the children. Look at the teenagers. Do you hear Jesus weeping? I do.

Last night I went to an event orchestrated by a large Christian organisation that focuses on families. I was a little disheartened to hear that their ministry continues to expand in many outwardly impressive ways except to the church itself. They have indigenous programmes, public school programmes, Christian radio programmes etc. but none really address the bigger issue of Christian families floundering helplessly, bereft of sound Biblical teaching and practical wisdom on child raising. There are thousands of books, teaching videos and seminars but where is the fruit? Are those things the answer or part of the problem?

All around me I see Christian families crumble and collapse at a similar rate to the non-Christian ones. Children rebel, children shame their parents, children are emotionally neglected and yet worshiped at the same time. They are given everything except loving justice. They are handed over to hirelings and the foolishness of their peers. They are urged towards "independence" whatever that means to people.

None of us can afford to be "independent", especially children. We are part of a living body, one where accountability should be taken for granted and given freely. We need to teach our children dependence, not the great humanist lie "independence". We need to teach them to depend on the God of Abraham, who made heaven and earth and yet knows the hairs on their head! The God that we submit to in loving obedience. The God who directs our every step, the God who has a plan for their lives as He has for ours. Next we teach them to depend on us, their parents. Next we teach them to depend on the larger body of Christ, the Godly people we fellowship with and commit to for life. This life and the next.

With that solid foundation they can grow and flourish with firm boundaries and loving kindness and gentle teaching and when required, sometimes a stern rebuke, but always in love and with forgiveness.

Raising children starts with us, the parents. If we are humble and yet embrace the loving authority we have been given our children will rise up and call us blessed and walk in the faith of their parents with even greater conviction than we do. What a glorious inheritance!

Parents need practical support in child raising issues and they need it from experienced parents who have successfully raised Godly children to adulthood.

Sadly, there are many unqualified teachers with unsound teaching who lead people astray with vain philosophies and unscripturally based ideas. Look at their fruit before you listen to their teaching and advice. Their children hold the key, watch and listen carefully.

blessings to all
Lynn
mother of four aged 28-15 with another three angels in heaven, foster mother of one 14 year old, grandmother of three so far, career mother, home educator, volunteer, volunteer Christian community radio announcer, woman of principle, follower of Jesus Christ the King : )