Years ago I tried to read Jim Berg's book, Changed Into His Image. I confess, I had a hard time following it. I have picked it again, however, and have discovered that as I have matured in my Christian life, so has my understanding - and now I have a hard time putting this book down.
This excerpt from the book struck me this morning, as I look at back at how we raised our children and now as I watch my children raise their children. I thought this was so appropriate - I know so many families that struggle with how God wants them to raise their kids, and I think Mr. Berg nails it on the head here:
"When God gives a child to a Christian couple, they must realize...Their biblical mission is to evangelize him and then to equip him for usefulness for Christ...Sadly, the goal of many Christian parents is merely "to raise a good kid." He may never cause them any real heartache, but still not be useful to Christ. His materialism, impatience, impulsiveness, anxiety, stubbornness, or any other fleshly attitudes and actions can disqualify him from usefulness to Christ...The biblical goal was not reached because their parenting efforts did not produce a disciple of Jesus Christ - someone like the Master and, therefore, someone useful to the Master."
He goes on to point out that often the child is not raised biblically because the parents themselves do not understand the biblical roles of the husband and wife/father and mother for themselves, and therefore cannot translate biblical goals to their children rearing methods.
God's Word may be an ancient book, people, but it's ancient because it has stood the test of time - and is still so very relevant for us today!!
