Q&A (Page 5)

Q.   My Dad is not a Christian and sometimes wants me to do ungodly things. How can I respect him and get out of doing wrong? A.   While it may be tough in your situation, it’s not impossible and it also provides you with an awesome opportunity to share your heart and the Gospel, as a son, with your Dad. The ideal picture God wants you, as a Child of God, to reflect is the relationship between you and your Heavenly Father.…

Q. My kids are driving me crazy. They are a law unto themselves and don’t listen to me. They’re growing up rotten. What can I do? A. Parents Contribute to Children’s DelinquencyI have visited many homes where a tragic scenario played out again and again. Mom, or sometimes Dad, says to Junior, ‘It’s time to go to bed,’ or whatever. Junior ignores his mother and continues to watch TV. After a few moments she says, ‘Junior, I told you to go…

Q. Having raised three children, under the benches so to speak, is enough to teach one that there is no off the cuff answer since every child is unique and different. It comes down to understanding this uniqueness and applying concerted training to your child. This applies to life itself, not only meetings. A. Training calls for repetitive instruction and guidance because a child’s retention capacity grows only slowly. This may cause embarrassment or frustration to a parent, so your…

Q. I want our kids to go to Sunday School but my unsaved husband wants to let them choose. They’re too young to choose! A. Try to reason with your husband, but if he is adamant about the children not going to Sunday School, don’t oppose him. There are a few positive things you can do: Honour your husband, as the head of your home, but don’t do this grudgingly; do it with faith as unto the Lord. Believe that…

Q.    How can I tell if I’m doing a good job as a mother? A.    As a parent you are unique; as a couple you are unique and your children are unique. So it’s difficult for anyone to tell you how well you are doing as a Mother. For those reasons, you have to be in close touch with the One Who made all of you. He knows you intimately and has plans for your lives. It’s in prayer before…

Q.   I live with my parents whose non-stop criticism of my stand for Jesus is driving me crazy. What can I do? Can I last out? A.   The Book of Acts tells how the Early Church developed and matured through persecution. Most of Christ’s followers paid for their testimony with their lives. Strangely, they were happy to do so! Why? They were honoured to be associated with this King of Glory Who had died for their sins, while they suffered for His…

Q. I get so mad with my kids. How can I maintain a loving attitude when I’m about to explode? A. Take a good dose of Proverbs 15:1-4, 18 and come to grips with the truth that anger only breeds more conflict! Of course kids drive us dilly sometimes. But responding to them with anger is not only ineffective, it’s counterproductive and robs you of your dignity, authority and the wonderful opportunity of meaningful impartation into your children’s lives. Withdraw…

Q.    Why do some churches teach people to spank their children? I won’t; it just teaches them to become violent. A.   Modern psychologists and social engineers would agree with you. They believe that children are born innocent, and the evil they do is learned from those around them. However, this modern trend contradicts what God says in His Word. But David knew that he was born with a fallen human nature, Psalm 51:5. And which parents ever taught their children to…

Q.   When should one start teaching a child about the Lord, and bringing him to church? A.   Current trends favour teaching children life skills but leaving all spiritual guidance to the child’s choice. But this flies in the face of Prov 22:6 which directs us to ‘train up a child’; not to leave things to his discretion! Many parents follow the latest guidelines mooted by psychologists and educationists. We believe that this philosophy is seriously flawed and godly parents need to adhere…

Q.   What is the Christian Answer to child bullying at school? A.   If your child is being bullied it is essential that you attend to the matter without delay. This is a serious problem and becoming more serious each day. First, comfort your child and pray with him or her. Your child needs to know that he is totally accepted by you, that God will help you to get the victory together and, in due course, get him to begin to pray…

Q. My husband and I are forever squabbling over how to bring up the kids. He’s a disciplinarian and I tend towards the psychological. What’s the right route to take? A. The best Book you could get on raising children is God’s Word, the Bible. And, believe it, it IS relevant today. After all, God made us and He knows every aspect of our make-up and nature at every stage of our lives. Someone called the Bible The Designer’s Handbook!…