The Fifth Book of Moses, called Deuteronomy
Chapter 6
Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. Parents must teach their children about God and his Word.
An education without character training spells disaster! But suppose parents do not obey God’s command to teach their children spiritual values? A pamphlet published by the Houston Police Department reads, For Parents How to Make A Child into A Delinquent: 12 Easy Rules
1. Begin at infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way, he will grow up to believe the world owes him a living.
2. When he picks up bad language, laugh at him. This will make him think he’s cute.
3. Never give him any spiritual training. Wait until he is 21, and then let him “decide for himself.”
4. Avoid the use of the word “wrong.” It may develop a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe later, when he is arrested for stealing a car, that society is against him and he is being persecuted.
5. Pick up everything he leaves lying around, books, shoes, clothes. Do everything for him so that he will be experienced in throwing all responsibility on others.
6. Let him read any printed matter he can get his hands on. Be careful that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.
7. Quarrel frequently in the presence of your children. In this way they will not be too shocked when the home is broken up later.
8.Give a child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own. Why should he have things as tough as you had them?
9. Satisfy his every craving for food, drink and comfort. See that every sensual desire is gratified. Denial may lead to harmful frustration.
10. Take his part against neighbors, teachers, policemen. They are prejudiced against your child.
11. When he gets into real trouble, apologize for yourself by saying, “I could never do anything with him.”
12. Prepare for a life of grief. You will be likely to have it. Love Will Encourage (See Colossians 3:21 above). The child’s will must be broken not his spirit. Psychological abuse can break the child’s spirit. Physical abuse can crush a child’s spirit. Continual criticism will imprint on the child’s mind that he is unworthy and will not amount to anything in life.
Martin Luther said, Spare the rod and spoil the child true! But beside the rod keep an apple, and give it to him when he does well. Love Will Understand and Communicate Communication must be established and maintained. The child should feel welcome to come to the parents for advice and help. The parents must communicate that their love will not be cut off if the child does something wrong.
The child must never be rejected. However, bad behavior must be swiftly corrected. Love Will Respect The parents must respect their child. They are human beings, made in the image of God. They are God’s children, on loan to parents. The intelligent and talented child is not a thing to be exhibited. The headstrong or spoiled child is not to be placated, but transformed.
The child is not a piece of property to be used, exploited or abused! Conclusion Both parents and children each have biblically-defined roles. Too often, bad parents spawn bad children. But this tragic cycle can be broken with God’s help. All of us are children, and most of us will be parents. Therefore, let us both Honor Our Parents And Be Honorable Parents.