Book Review: Raising Children God’s Way

With the Iowa caucuses being held today, it is easy to hear many messages which promote change to our society.  Every presidential hopeful has an answer to what they would do in order to change society.  While they say much about taxes, health care, the war on terror, international experience, and education, I have not heard one talk about parenting.  What part do parents play in the fabric of society?  Would things be different in the word if parents parented differently than they currently do? 

Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers these questions and more in Raising Children God’s Way.  These five sermons from Ephesians 6:1-4 compiled by Banner of Truth Trust give great insight into how parents are to raise children for the kingdom of God.  Even though these sermons were given decades ago, they still are accurate with the trends of parenting today.  It goes to show that God’s Word is timeless.  Dr. Lloyd-Jones has given biblical precision concerning what the Lord requires from parents.  When one picks this book up they will immediately see the passion and concern he has for the family. 

Only 85 pages, Raising Children God’s Way is a short read, but it must be thoroughly digested.  It is packed with biblical truth applied accurately to the fallen conditions of man.  Those parents who are seeking to raise children who glorify God will be challenged and convicted by this book.  The church thirsts for books like this, which brings the light of the Word of God to shine on the family.  God has designed the family, instituted the family, and been an example to the family.  We can no longer ignore the problems of parenting or seek to remedy them with anything other than the Bible. 

Read a few excerpts from the book:

I believe that Christian parents and children, Christian families, have a unique opportunity of witnessing to the world at this present time by just being different.  We can be true evangelists by showing this discipline, this law and order, this true relationship between parents and children.  We may be the means under God’s hand of bringing many to a knowledge of the truth.  Let us therefore think of it in that way.

Whether we like it or not, a breakdown in home-life will eventually lead to a breakdown everywhere.

But the tragedy of today, with its superficial thinking, is to assume that the opposite of wrong discipline is no discipline at all.

There is no more important influence in the life of a child than the influence of the home.  The home is the fundamental unit of society, and children are born into a home, into a family.  There you have the circle that is to be the chief influence in their lives.  There is no question about that.  It is the biblical teaching everywhere; and it is always in so-called civilizations were ideas concerning the home begin to deteriorate that society ultimately disintegrates. 

Raising Children God’s Way is a must read for any parent.  It will help shape one’s thinking around the truth of God and convince him or her of the importance of the necessity of the family.  God’s design must not be forsaken and those of God’s church must uphold it for the glory of God and the testimony of Christ.  Raising children God’s way will make your family look different than the rest of the world, but think of the opportunity it opens for the proclamation of the gospel.  May the church encourage fathers and mothers to faithfully uphold the biblical standards of child rearing.             

Reading For Relationships

I snapped the above picture to demonstrate what books you might find stacked together at our house.  When I first saw this grouping of books it seemed funny.  Here are all these kid books with one big thick theology book in the middle.  As I thought about it more it became clear this stack of books has a profound message.  The message was that I read for relationships.  Another way I might say it is: I read to enhance my relationships. 

One of my favorite things to do with my son is read to him.  From the time he was only a few days old we have read together.  While he doesn’t sit as still as he did in those early days, it is enjoyable.  You can see some of the books we enjoy in this picture.  There’s Scrambled Eggs Super, The Sneetches, and Yertle the Turtle all authored by Dr. Seuss.  He also likes My Little Word Book and My Creation Bible, each with colorful pictures and drawings.  Why do I spend time reading these books to my son?  I read to him in order to build our relationship.  It is something we do together in our rocking chair which is fun and relaxing.  Reading is also a time of instruction, not from the books, but from me.  This closeness of reading together is something I cherished from my childhood and hope someday my son will cherish as well.  Now, he is bringing the books to me so we can read.

It might not be hard to understand why I read to my son.  But, how does reading The Doctrine of God: A Theology of Lordship by John Frame enhance relationships?  I think it builds relationships in two ways.

First, this kind of book builds my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a book centered on Him and His Word.  It seeks to instruct me from the Bible so I have a better understanding of who God is.  My desire is to know God.  Any book which drives this understanding deeper and makes it more comprehensive builds my relationship with Christ.  As my knowledge of Him grows, my worship grows, my love for Him grows, and so my obedience is strengthened.  I am not just reading this book for Systematic Theology 1 with Dr. Wellum.  Although, I will be accountable to him for its reading, I will be more accountable to God for how I used my time on this earth.  Time spent  growing  my relationship with God through books teaching me the Word of God is time well spent.

Second, this kind of book builds relationships with other people.  The building of these relationships is not as direct as reading to my son, yet they are still important.  In training for the ministry, my thoughts are often drawn to those people who I will minister to.  A book like The Doctrine of God builds into my relationship with the Lord, but through me will (hopefully) build into other’s relationship with the Lord.  By giving me a greater understanding and love of the Savior, my prayer is that the Lord will use me as an example to others.  Being an example is more than just having people watch your life.  It is about pouring your life into other people.  It seems like the buzzword around the SBTS campus is “gospel-centered.”  Think of this then as a “Gospel-centered pouring” of your life.  Can all this happen from reading a theological book?  I think it can and it must.  Forgetting this can quickly lead to prideful knowledge, this is dangerous for any believer.

So read, read , read, and read for relationships.