by Dr. Paul Chappell

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

Ephesians 6:4

Warning our children might be difficult, but remaining silent is far too dangerous for our children.

Charles Spurgeon once commented on the training and teaching of children in a sermon by saying, "Brethren, I wish it were more common, I wish it were universal, with all [Christians] to have family prayer. We sometimes hear of children of Christian parents who do not grow up in the fear of God, and we are asked how it is that they turn out so badly. In many, very many cases, I fear there is such a neglect of family worship that it's not probable that the children are at all impressed by any piety supposed to be possessed by their parents."

Parents, your child's home life is more important than their church life. They learn what kind of father God is from you, fathers. They learn of kindness and godly love from you, mothers. They learn of God's justice and holiness from you. They learn of Jesus' sacrifice and salvation from your lives. Your children learn of the many characteristics of God by looking at your lives. What kind of God do they see?

When displaying God to our children, it is important to teach them all of God's characteristics-including His justice. Many parents today buck at the thought of correcting children and choose to not deal with discipline. While neglecting discipline is easier in the moment, children suffer from a lack of guidance and correction. While harsh and abusive punishment is absolutely wrong, strong guidance and the enforcement of rules helps teach a child of life's consequences and guides them in how to act.

In Ephesians 6:4, God commands parents to not only biblically nurture their children, but also bring them up in the "admonition of the Lord". The word admonition is described by Random House Dictionary as being a "counsel, advice, or caution; a gentle reproof."

Your children need your counsel of warning. As much as they like to think they know more than you, they are blinded to the dangers in the world. As an older, more mature person, warn them of the dangers they are sure to face. Stay connected with their friends at school. Know who they spend time with. Know what they do in their free time. If you see something that doesn't look or feel right, warn them of it. This doesn't mean you have to be an overbearing parent that nags their child, but as you cultivate a relationship with them and show them love, they will be more inclined to heed your warnings.

Author Josh McDowell reported that of 3,700 Christian teens surveyed, sixty-six percent admit to lying to their parents. Just because your child is growing up in a home with parents who are Christians and is regularly going to church, don't assume they are immune to the dangers of the world. Spend time talking to them about what pressure they'll face from their peers and how to react to those influences. Teach them from the Bible about how to respond to critics, scorners, and tempters.

Ephesians 4:15 commands us, "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." Warning our children might be difficult, but remaining silent is far too dangerous for our children.

Will you actively warn your children of the dangers they face or will you overlook your responsibility to do so? Your child might not always want to hear your warning, but they will benefit from your guidance. Approach the situation with love, prayer, and God's wisdom; and ask God to open their heart to your counsel.

To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.

Daily Bible Reading
Psalm 4-6 | Acts 17:16-34