I grant that “train” may not be the best translation for the crucial verb in Prov. 22:6. May I suggest (dynamic equivalence) “baptize”? The verb is hanak. It is the verb from which we get the derivative Hanukkah, which means dedication or consecration. It refers to inauguration or dedication, usually in a cultic setting. The …
Outruning Your Own Headlights
As it happens, Justin Taylor just posted on a similar topic. You can read his careful treatment here. Yesterday, I compared the promises of God concerning our children to His promises to answer our prayers. I did not want to say that they are exactly parallel in every respect, but simply to illustrate how we …
Faith or Presumption in Child Rearing?
Because of the condition of our sinful world, words from God’s law are frequently “hard words.” But, for the same reason, but in a different sense, words of gospel and promise are even harder. In my books on family, I have often emphasized that the rearing of godly children is not accomplished “by works,” but …
Love Tanks
Over the years my wife and I have referred to the problem of a child having a “low tank,” meaning that it was time for us to pour on the affection. But this, like everything else in this sorry world, can be misconstrued and misapplied. When a kid has a low tank, he is low …
Grace Upon Grace
All Christian living, including the part of Christian living that we call parenting, is supposed to be based on this reality — being before doing. The perennial temptation is to try to scrap our way into being by doing. That is the death trap that the Bible calls “works.” If the Holy Spirit of God …
The Importance of Fathers
Most boys growing up need to be taught their strength, as when they are horsing around with their younger siblings. They are bigger, stronger, and much more influential let us say, than they think they are. But this need for teaching this lesson doesn’t disappear when boys get past the horsing around stage. In their …
Hard Truth and Soft Comfort
As you first start coming to grips with your responsibilities in your son’s defiance and rebellions, you will have sort through the attempts at comfort that many Christian friends will offer. You will also have to learn how to reject the same suggestions that proceed every human beings natural inclination to self-justification. That false comfort …
Chased into a Minefield
You have asked me how it is possible to have a rebellious and out-of-control son when you have not ever thought of yourself as an indulgent father. You are right to see that radical indulgence on the part of a father is a disaster for sons — boys need direction, counsel, admonition, and correction. Of …
Adversarial Fathers
When a son is out of control, this is because the parents have often made the mistake of slipping into an adversarial role, instead of what they ought to be occupying, which is a watchful and parental role. The first unfortunate step in becoming an adversary to your child is that of taking it personally. …
Hold Your Pride Under
I said earlier that in your troubles with Jon, you needed to seek out someone who could help you, humble yourself and ask for that help. There is one other point that needs to made about this. If the answer to your problem were obvious to you, then Jon wouldn’t be an out of control …