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Parenting is a huge topic. Within the pages of this magazine we have only scratched the surface. There is no doubt in my mind that parenting today is a greater challenge than in the past. In a society that can’t define right from wrong and makes decisions based on what is politically correct, parents are sadly no longer the authority figure in the lives of their children.
God has given society principles to live by. The first principle is God is the ultimate authority, “For the Lord Most High is awe-inspiring; He is a great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). God created governments, parents and marriage and it is God who holds parents responsible for instructing and disciplining their children.
Christian parents must not use the values of society to dictate how they should instruct and discipline their children. Choosing Biblical truths is the best choice when deciding how to shape the lives of one’s children. I admonish every parent not to conform to the anti-parent wickedness and lies of the world in exchange for God’s truth, “insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents…” (Romans 1:30). When parental authority disintegrates, the family unit falls apart and ultimately society as a whole becomes dysfunctional.
When reflecting on my style of parenting, I realized my focus was on developing strong character in my children. I wanted them to grow up to be kind, generous and responsible adults. The goal was to mold and shape two women who realized that while their lives mattered the world did not revolve around them. My desire for them was to live productive satisfying lives not self -centered, selfish lives. While I did not always parent perfectly, following God’s standard of being an authoritative parent helped to achieve the goal.
With authority, reasoning, fairness and love, God disciplines each of us. Following God’s example, we should do the same with our children; create and define the rules, consistently enforce them firmly, have a zero tolerance for disrespectful behavior and realize you are not perfect.
With great care God has chosen you to take care of your children. “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just…” (Genesis 18:19). Following God’s standard you will rear godly children and be greatly blessed for it.
Sincerely,
Noni McVey
Editor in Chief
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