Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Ephesians 6:4 . . . Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
LIVING LAW AND GOSPEL
We want our children to grow up with Christian values, becoming active church members and model citizens. But how is this accomplished?
Pitfalls to avoid: #1
It's easy to overanalyze and constantly criticize a child's every action. Without meaning to we can convey an attitude of rejection.
Pitfalls to avoid: #2
On the other hand, parents are tempted to refrain from needed discipline. Many parents, so concerned that their children like them, are afraid to enforce the rules. In these homes sin is not labeled for what it is, a serious breaking of God's holy law.
God has given Christian parents the tools of Law and Gospel. The Law confronts the sin of our children in a no-nonsense way. What's wrong is wrong. The Gospel comforts our sinful children with the truth of Christ's free and unconditional forgiveness. God loves them and calls them His own dear children despite what they've done.
Living the Law in our homes means that when a child, for example, talks back to his parents or deliberately disobeys the rules, we immediately label their behavior or attitude as sinful. Appropriate discipline follows.
Living the Gospel in our homes means that parents will take care not to attack the child as a person. "I can't stand you," or "I wish you were more like your sister", are not God's way of dealing with any of his children, whatever their age. The believing child of God is "chosen", "special", "dearly loved", and even "holy" in God's eyes. We live the Gospel in our homes when we assure our children of their wonderful status in God's family. We want to impress upon our children that their relationship with God is based solely on his love and forgiveness. "What you did was very wrong, but I still love you and so does Jesus." (Even when we must use the Law, our ultimate goal is to speak God's mercy and forgiveness.)
When we use Law and Gospel in the home we are allowing our Heavenly Father to mold the character of our children. We are letting God, in effect, take over the shaping of our children's values. Law and Gospel training frees our children to grow in their Christian life and faith.
