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The basics of biblical
parenting
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| An
excerpt from Pasugo article of the same title
September 2000 issue
The basics of
biblical parenting
Posted 22.July.2002
1
Don't be hard on your children.
Parents
should not rule over their children with iron fist and possess
the "Hey! You're just a kid" mentality. Parents
should not opress their children. Instead, they should be
reared properly by teaching and instructing them about the
Lord. So, instead of being hard on them, we should love and
raise them properly.
2
Start the child on the right road.
How parents train a child while he is young will determine the
kind of person he will grow up to be. In most cases, a child
will carry to old age whatever desirable or undesirable
attitude or trait he acquired in his childhood. Starting him
on the right road will give him a good foundation for a bright
future.
3
Discipline your children while they are young enough to learn.
" Spare
the rod and spoil the child," so the saying goes.
Punishments that are commensurate to the children's
miscounducts will do them more good than harm. While they're
still young, they should be given lessons on discipline before
it's too late. Of course, in giving disciplinary actions, the
welfare of the children should be first and foremost. Parents
must not vent their anger on the children, neither should they
abuse them. Disciplining a child is different from abusing
him.
4 Don't provoke your
children to anger.
Parents and children should be the best of friends. Ideally,
children should be able to share with their parents even their
most embarassing experience. Rapport must be such that both
enjoy each other's company. Hence, it would not be good for us
to irritate or provoke our children to anger. If we desire to
have children who are smart, then we should not discourage
them. Instead of making them lose heart, we ought to be
supportive of them.
5
Parents should provide for their children.
Parents
will not always be around to support their children, neither
will they forever remain young and strong. For this reason, we
shoud provide for our children's future while we are still
capable. Parents should provide for their children's
needs--physical, emotional, social, educational, and above
all, spiritual.
6 Help children defeat
the evil one and the world.
Children who have been properly guided in the ways or words of
God are strong. They are capable of defeting the evil one. It
is the parent's obligation, therefore, to instill the words of
God in the minds and hearts of their children if they want
them to overcome all forms of evil.
7
Let children seriously take what you are telling them.
Many
promises await children who heed parental advice or
admonition. Long life, wisdom, and right living are among
them.
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