Radical Parenting
The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5
Today I find myself calling for radical parents who hold radical beliefs, who have radical purpose and who are committed to raising a radical generation that follows Jesus Christ wholeheartedly.
Be challenged to embrace things like the following:
*Radical selflessness - It's time for every Christian parent to prayerfully ask, Am I dying to self so that I can be the parent God wants me to be in raising the next generation?
*Radical objectives - Far too many parents are more concerned with their children's IQ than their CQ - their character quotient. I'm convinced that the primary reason children depart from the faith of their parents is that many dads and moms don't have this as their objective: to raise children who have a godly desire to love others and to live holy lives.
*Radical modeling - Children are like tiny radar units. They lock on. They track. They observe. And they imitate. You cannot lie and then demand the truth from your kids. You cannot cheat and then discipline a cheater.
*Radical involvement - This means getting down on the floor, hugging them, reading to them, affirming them. It also means initiating discussions with them about some of life's most challenging subjects - human sexuality, modesty, temptations, relating to the opposite sex.
*Radical expectations - Are you praying that your kids will grow up to be come mature soldiers for Christ, godly men and women equipped for a kingdom assignment? Are you challenging them with the great Commandment (see Matthew 22:36-39) and the great Commission (see Matthew 28:19-20)?
If you're going to raise children who live radically for Christ, you need a radical way of thinking, living and believing.
On a 1- to 10- point scale (1 being poor and 10 being outstanding), rate yourself as parents in each of the areas above.
Pray and ask God to make you radical parents and radical followers of Christ.
-Excerpted from "Moments With You" by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
Today I find myself calling for radical parents who hold radical beliefs, who have radical purpose and who are committed to raising a radical generation that follows Jesus Christ wholeheartedly.
Be challenged to embrace things like the following:
*Radical selflessness - It's time for every Christian parent to prayerfully ask, Am I dying to self so that I can be the parent God wants me to be in raising the next generation?
*Radical objectives - Far too many parents are more concerned with their children's IQ than their CQ - their character quotient. I'm convinced that the primary reason children depart from the faith of their parents is that many dads and moms don't have this as their objective: to raise children who have a godly desire to love others and to live holy lives.
*Radical modeling - Children are like tiny radar units. They lock on. They track. They observe. And they imitate. You cannot lie and then demand the truth from your kids. You cannot cheat and then discipline a cheater.
*Radical involvement - This means getting down on the floor, hugging them, reading to them, affirming them. It also means initiating discussions with them about some of life's most challenging subjects - human sexuality, modesty, temptations, relating to the opposite sex.
*Radical expectations - Are you praying that your kids will grow up to be come mature soldiers for Christ, godly men and women equipped for a kingdom assignment? Are you challenging them with the great Commandment (see Matthew 22:36-39) and the great Commission (see Matthew 28:19-20)?
If you're going to raise children who live radically for Christ, you need a radical way of thinking, living and believing.
On a 1- to 10- point scale (1 being poor and 10 being outstanding), rate yourself as parents in each of the areas above.
Pray and ask God to make you radical parents and radical followers of Christ.
-Excerpted from "Moments With You" by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
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