Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord
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Gospel is completely absent. Only legalism here
The most fitting title of this book would be "How To Raise Obedient Kids". Readers will love the quick easy flow of this book and the many bits of helpful parenting tips. This book has ALMOST ALL the right OUTWARD steps for raising obedient children (notice I did not say "for raising kids to love the Lord"). I loved this book for all of its excellent helpful obedience advice that actually works too! If you successfully follow these ~10 steps, your children will be mindful, obedient and well-mannered. This book is full of many steps of what to-do and not-to-do in order to raise obedient children. Here are a few samples:
- "Make sure you are the same person in church as you are at home. If you lose your integrity, purity and faithfulness in different circumstances, your children will know."
- "Your children need to see you living what you believe."
- More advice: pray, mothers are important, fathers are important, be consistent in discipline, parents should love one another, etc.
What is sadly missing from this book is the "how to raise kids TO LOVE the Lord" because the means to "loving the Lord" via the gospel and Holy Spirit is completely missing. The word "gospel" is literally mentioned only once in the entire book and it was used in the context of someone preaching the gospel in China. The gospel (which saves our children) is completely absent from cover to cover. This book is an excellent parenting tip book but Christianity is not all rules and obedience and 10-steps. This book fails to teach parents how to raise their children with grace and LOVE FOR GOD. If all children have are rules and strict obedience, they will learn to fear God, dread God, hate God and not love God. Pure obedience demonstrates no grace. It has been proven that legalistic Christianity drives children away from God, not towards him. I've heard the odds of children raised in legalistic Christian homes rejecting Christianity in their teen and college years are astronomical. No one can be "good enough" to "make it to heaven" so our obedient kids just give up. We need to teach our children the gospel, not just the law! So when they do try and fail, they know that Christ still loves them! (And know that I am not preaching "easy love" here or "freedom to sin".)
Instead of this book, I recommend Elyse Fitzpatrick's book "Give Them Grace" about raising gospel-centered children without forgetting obedience but also not forgetting the gospel of grace (God's love, not humanistic psychology love). I also recommend parents listen to sermons from John Piper, who teaches us all how to love God and see God for the beauty to be had IN HIM! Not just joy in God's blessings but in Christ Himself! Our children must learn to love God and they will be watching their parents to see if their parents love God.
My disclaimer - I received this book from the publisher but I am not required to give a positive review. I always give brutally honest reviews and attempt to critically point out parts of the book that may not agree with the Bible and so not appeal to others. I want you readers to be able to confidently choose a book based on the stars I give it, because I know you have limited money, time and energy to read. So let's make the most of our lives and discern and choose the very best books wisely.
July 22, 2012
Excellent book for all parents
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this hardcover, gift-sized book. It is filled with practical ideas and examples from his life in raising his own children. I found it to be both encouraging and challenging.
With 145 pages divided into ten chapters, this book is a quick read. I loved this quote from the first chapter:
"Only perfect parents raise perfect children. (Last time I checked, there were no perfect children and no perfect parents either!) There is no foolproof plan. And there is this little detail called free will which will determine the spiritual commitment level of your children when they are grown. On the other hand, Christian homes don't just happen; neither do kids who love the Lord. There is a lot we can do to help determine the outcome of our children's spiritual lives."
Well, if like me, you are not perfect, you will be encouraged that you do not have to be perfect and you don't need to expect perfection in your children. You will also be challenged to raise your children (with the Lord's help) to the best of your ability and be given practical ways to carry this out.
Some of the topics covered in the book include having an authentic Christian walk at all times; what, when and how to pray for your children; being consistent in discipline; how others can help and more. There is also one chapter written just to moms and one for dads as well.
I really enjoyed reading this book and think all Christian parents would benefit from reading this book. I plan to read it again.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneezeî.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade CommissionâÂÂs 16 CFR, Part 255
July 6, 2012
ItâÂÂs solid biblically and a very helpful resource
âÂÂIf you want your kids to grow up to love the Lord, it all starts with⦠You.âÂÂ
Dave writes this book as a father and as a pastor who desires to truly raise his children to not only love the Lord but to serve Him. This is a very practical and easy read for parents with children of any age. It is never too young or too old to teach your children to love the Lord. As a childrenâÂÂs pastor I love how practical this book is, with helpful ideas and easy tools for parents to use in their home.
Dave is very clear from the start that to raise your kids to love the Lord it really begins with you as a parent and being clear about your priorities. Kids want something that is real and you living out your faith day to day is the best example they will ever see. They will follow your lead. He talks frankly to moms and dads in separate chapters to remind them of the amazing place God has put them in the lives of their children.
This book is encouraging and I believe a challenge to parents to take the lead and live by example. Dave shares personal stories of his own children and the struggles that he and his wife have faced and the lessons theyâÂÂve learned through the process. ItâÂÂs solid biblically and a very helpful resource for parents, grandparents and fellow childrenâÂÂs ministry colleagues. Enjoy the read.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneezeî.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade CommissionâÂÂs 16 CFR, Part 255
June 22, 2012
Compact book, great wisdom
âÂÂRaising Your Kids to Love the Lordâ by Dave Stone is a great tool for any parent who desires to raise their children up in Christ. It is a small, yet important, book that will help equip and motivate Christian parents.
Dave Stone emphasizes what is critical in raising Christian children to make faith their own and live a life for Christ. He writes about the power of Scripture, the importance of prayer, the need for consistency in discipline, the roles of the mother and father, and the impact of integrity on your children. He writes about all these topics in a compact book that wonâÂÂt take too much time out of your busy life as a parent.
As a reader, I did not read anything new in this book. There was nothing that I had not read before. But, it was a fantastic book that reiterated the lessons and tools that we as parents so often need to be reminded of. It is well written, short, and includes life examples to drive home the importance of being an intentional parent. Very good book!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
June 4, 2012
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