This post is a little different than the usual content seen on Labor of Lilies! Today’s post is in association with The Blog About Blogger network. I’m excited to discuss a new title from Whitaker House, Raising Kids to Follow Christ, by Lee Ann Mancini.
This is a topic near and dear to my heart! While I am not a parent, I have had the privilege of teaching in a variety of settings, and feel very passionate about the role of the church in the lives of the children within their congregation. Parents are certainly the first line of defense in making sure faith is a priority in the home and guarding against that which seeks to destroy faith (in our culture, one doesn’t have to look to far to see those influences at work). We are blessed to have so many resources available at our disposal when it comes to teaching methods, personal testimonies, and advice from those who have raised kids with intentional emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
So, mom, dad, aunt, uncle, Sunday school teacher, pastor, friend- you matter in the lives of the little ones around you. Let’s all be part of that safe village it takes to raise a child who loves God!
Wisdom in the pages
The author does a great job setting the stage with several statistics that highlight the need for parents to instill Biblical doctrines at an early age, and remain consistent throughout their relationship with their children (and it is worth noting that this consistency remains important into adulthood!).
A major theme (and I would argue, the most important theme) in the book is the emphasis that is placed on the Bible and it’s authority. Setting Biblical expectations, teaching from scripture, and taking an active approach in the development of faith are points that are continually stressed throughout the book. I particularly appreciated the pages dedicated to making faith building and Bible learning fun. Making apologetics a priority and teaching children age appropriate arguments for their faith is so important.
There are many treasures within the chapters that parents, and those who work with children, can glean from! Whether you’re a seasoned believer who has worked with children for years, or a new believer, the ideas offered around learning scripture and building a foundation in apologetics are applicable.
Parenting
As with most books that deal with the subject of parenting, there are bound to be differences of option when it comes to approaches concerning discipline or what constitutes a biblical approach to training a child in the ways of the Lord. Some individuals may agree whole heartedly with the advice given around these parental choices, while others may not. It is important to note where opinions meet, and where opinions diverge from what is commanded within scripture. Given my own personal background and education, psychology can be a very mixed bag for me! While it certainly isn’t worth throwing the baby out with the bathwater, any piece of parenting advice that is not directly taken from the pages of scripture is worth bringing before the Lord. Sometimes, it can be a simple situation of: “it works for you because of the personality of your child, but it doesn’t work for mine.” And as believers, we should respect the sacred responsibility God has given to parents to make those choices based on their knowledge of their own kids.
There is one bit that I would be remiss if I didn’t address, and that is my discomfort with the Virtue Stone exercise. I sincerely wish that we lived in a society where an exercise like this could truly be a reflection of the heart’s intent (God gave us beauty in many forms, and some of those are precious stones!). However, because of the prevalence of New Age belief systems and the fact that many people assign these virtues/powers to precious stones, using this as a teaching aid gives me grave pause. The author includes a caution to parents to teach their children that the stones have no power, and to point to the Lord as the source of virtue! However, my own caution would be to stay out of that territory completely and avoid any confusion.
Final note
My heart is incredibly encouraged by the topic of raising godly kids! I am excited that Whitaker House is giving this important subject matter a platform within their books. I love apologetics, and was personally schooled in arguments for the faith from a young age. It is imperative that we provide young people with the tools they need to cultivate a faith in Christ, a personal relationship with their Heavenly Father, and the ability to offer a defense of their beliefs (even if it is simply for the protection of their own hearts!). The author is spot on when it comes to challenging parents and teachers to make the Bible fun, memorable, and age appropriate! I appreciate Lee Ann Mancini taking on this topic and providing Biblical advice, as well as speaking from her own experience and offering her take on so many of the issues parents face. This is a book that can definitely bring it’s own unique voice to this important conversation!
