[ ] 3/16/2003 #495
HOMELAND SECURITY
PARENTAL DISCIPLINE OF CHILDREN
Proverbs 1:8-9 part 14
INTRODUCTION: The Bible teaches that God disciplines His children because He loves them and also for their profit. This should be the motive of all parents in disciplining their children. Two things all children need are unconditional love and a firm hand to guide them.
"The spiritual success of Christian children is dependent upon the application of God's principle of parental authority."
Barbara Walters: In a 1988 television special on education titled America's Kids, Why They Flunk, Barbara Walters said this: "The real crisis is one of character. Today's high school seniors live in a world of misplaced values. They have no sense of discipline. No goals. They care only for themselves. In short, they are becoming a generation of undisciplined cultural barbarians."
I. RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS
A. PATTERN FOR DISCIPLINE.
1. Church's discipline of its members. (1 Cor. 5:1-8; 2 Thess. 3:14-15)
2. Christ's discipline of His church. (Rev. 3:19)
3. Christ's discipline of His children. (Prov. 3:11-12; Heb. 12:5-11)
B. PRINCIPLES FOR DISCIPLINE.
1. Teaching the ways of God to a child. (Proverbs 22:6)
a. Worship of God. (Mark 10:13-16)
b. Walk with God. (Prov. 3:1-12, 23)
c. Wisdom of God. (Prov. 1:7, 15:33, 29:15)
2. Example of a godly life before a child. (Prov. 23:26)
3. Correction and reproof for bad behavior. (Prov. 19:18, 29:15)
4. Encourage and acknowledge good behavior.
C. PRACTICE OF DISCIPINE.
a. Father's responsibility. (Prov. 4:1-4; Eph. 6:4)
1. Nuture (discipline) and admonition (instruction). (Eph. 6:4)
2. Never provoke to wrath or discourage. (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21)
b. Mother's responsibility. (Prov. 31:1, examples Moses, Samuel, Timothy)
c. Grandparents responsibility. (Deut. 4:9; 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15)
D. PURPOSE OF DISCIPLINE.
1. Cultivate the heart of a child. (Proverbs 4:23; Matt. 15:19-20)
2. Correct the behavior of a child. (Proverbs 19:18, 22:15, 23:13-14)
II. RESPONSE OF CHILDREN
A. SUBMISSIVE CHILDREN. (Humility, yielding & obedient)
1. Blessed by God. (Eph. 6:2-3)
2. Blessing to parents. (Proverbs 10:1, 13:1)
B. STUBBORN CHILDREN. (Proud, stubborn & rebellious)
1. Grievous to parents. (Proverbs 17:25, 19:26)
2. Guilty before God. (Proverbs 15:10, 20:20)
LESSONS FOR LIFE:
1. No one outgrows the need for discipline.
2. Parental love includes discipline of their children.
3. "Success in parenting is measured by what the parents do, not by what the child does." (John MacArthur)
4. Discipline is to be used to build character and guide the child to maturity.
5. The goal of discipline is to change the heart which will change the conduct.
12 RULES FOR RAISING
DELINQUENT CHILDREN
1.Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way, he will grow up to believe the world owes him a living.
2.When he picks up bad words, laugh at him. This will make him think he's cute. It will also encourage him to pick up "cuter" phrases that will blow off the top of your head later.
3.Never give him any spiritual training. Wait till he is 21, and then let him "decide for himself."
4. Avoid use of the word "wrong." It may develop a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe, later, when he is arrested for stealing a car, that society is against him and he is being persecuted.
5.Pick up everything he leaves lying around, books, shoes and clothing. Do everything for him so he will be experienced in throwing all responsibility onto others.
6.Let him read any printed matter he can get his hands on. Be careful that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.
7.Quarrel frequently in the presence of your child. In this way, he will not be too shocked when the home is broken up later.
8.Give a child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own. Why should he have things as tough as you had them?
9.Satisfy his every craving for food, drink and comfort. See that every sensual desire is gratified. Denial may lead to harmful frustration.
10. Take his part against neighbors, teachers and policemen. They are all prejudiced against your child.
11. When he gets into real trouble, apologize for yourself by saying, "I never could do anything with him."
12. Prepare for a life of grief. You will be apt to have it.
CREATORS SYNDICATE
"He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chaseteneth him early." Proverbs 13:24)
"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." (Proverbs 22:15)
Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying." (Proverbs 19:18)
"A wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. ( Proverbs 10:1)
"A wise son heareth his father's instruction, but a scorner heareth not rebuke." (Proverbs 13:1)
"Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge, but he that hateth reproof is stupid." (Proverbs 12:1)
"Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way, and he that hateth reproof shall die." (Proverbs 15:10)
"A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him." (Proverbs 17:25)
A study conduct several years ago by sociologists Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck of Harvard University, identified several crucial factors in the development of juvenile delinquency. They created a test that can, with about 90 per cent accuracy, predict future delinquency of children five to six years old. They listed four necessary factors in preventing juvenile delinquency.
(1) The father's discipline must be firm, fair, and consistent.
(2) The mother must know where her children are and what they are doing at all times and be with them as much as possible.
(3) The children need to see affection demonstrated between their parents
and from their parents to them.
(4) The family must spend time together as a unit.