I am often asked by parents about strategies that can be used to raise children in this world where they freely have access to digital information beyond what we have even experienced before. The answer to this is quite complex as I am sure any group of parents could share ideas that would help all of us improve our parenting skills. This type of community is possibly the change we need to make, one where we work together to raise our children rather than our current model where as parents we do the majority on our own. In by-gone years, the load of parenting was a shared responsibility where together an outcome was created as we all had similar values and goals for our children and, most likely as friends and family, we would journey through life together.
Times have changed and we now live in a very busy, disposable world where the left over time is barely enough to complete our weekly chores. The time to sit and reflect on life and “chew the fat” has been diminished as we replace things with lifestyle distractions. Take the kids to this activity and then this one and then another, all while trying to balance our own careers and future dreams. It would be nice if life was a little simpler and that we could have the time needed to fit everything into the busy days we have. There is an answer that we seem to have lost along the way.
In Ephesians 6 we are given an insight into how to raise responsible young men and women;
'Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honour your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.' Ephesians 6:1-4
The instruction indicated here is that if we adopt a biblical model and bring our children up in the training and instruction of the Lord, then they will be best able to make a success of their life on this planet. The families that I have seen following this ideal seem to, in the main, have had great parenting success. This is partially due to the parents commitment to this task, but also to the fact that the training and instruction of the Lord is so natural to us. It hits directly at our core and immediately synthesises with our inner being. There may be many other strategies that we can adapt from a secular perspective, but all you need to do is start reading through Proverbs and you will very quickly understand the wisdom that is contained in the Bible and how parenting can be immediately transformed using this strategy.
The other unseen advantage is that when a cluster of parents adopt this strategy, you will all be on the same page and then parenting becomes far more aligned and supported. You see this in Churches where families work together to build the capacities of their children so that the load is shared. I know that Reedy Creek Baptist Church have an amazing families program headed up by their newly appointed Pastor, Andrew Reinecker – Nerida’s husband. If you would like to know more information about their programs, please contact us or RCBC and we will connect you to Andrew.
Blessings
Jeff Davis
Executive Head of College
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