THE ACTUAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS

I can see from a spiritual mindset that the basic things we need to learn about the responsibilities of life in general are never taught. I realize that this in itself can vary from family to family or, from parent to parent. However, with that being said. What do we see in our world today? We see a failure of the simpliest things being taught in truth. If I ask you; are we as a worldly community in better shape now that we were a hundred years ago, what would your answer be? If you can see the decline in our morals and, our spiritual values then , we can’t blame that on our children can we?

I would also add within this mindset; the decline of spiritual teaching in our local Churches. However, it’s understood that Churches are made up of men and women ( parents ). This might be a good place to begin. The failure of fathers being able to take the leadership role in his own household is primary in everything. It brings about the enablity of our Churches to function in the spiritual light that they should be able to. For instance; let’s say a child is being unruly in Church. Therefore, the father simply takes the child up and takes it out of service to spank that child in a disciplinary manner. Is the mother going to take sides with the father or the child? If you see that the mother is dictating the rules in the home then it will be the same in our Churches, all the way to the pulpit.

God lays out a chain of command. If that chain is broken then the whole concept of spiritual life and, the possibility of teaching our children to be responsible adults goes out of the window. That being, in our homes and, in our Churches. Therefore, we wonder what has happened in our world. ( WE LOST THE CHAIN OF COMMAND ).

With this being stated, until we realize what our roles are in the family and, in our Churches it will continue to go down hill. Do you remember the days when a mother might say to her son: ( wait until your father gets home ) and, it actually meant something? What did it mean? It meant that mother was submissive to her husband and she expected her children to be submissive to her. This means that she and her husband were one in the same, no difference.

Let me show you something we never stop to cansider. Just in your mind as you read this question, you answer it to the best of your knowledge. ( How old is a boy or, a girl before God calls them a man and woman? Do you have you answer? Well, let’s let the word of God answer it for us. ( 1 Corinthians 7:36-37 ) But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, ( IF SHE PASS THE FLOWER OF HER AGE ), and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. ( 37 ) Nevertheless, he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

I point these verses out to show you how old a young woman and man can be when they choose to marry. The flower of her age is when she becomes able to have children. Would you agree that is around the age of twelve or thirteen? The next verse we looked at here tells us that, it doesn’t mean that they will marry at that age but they can. If wisdom has been taugth by their parents, it’s very unlikely they will. It just shows us just how short of time parents have to bring their children to a mature mindset.

So; what are we saying here? We are saying that by the age of twelve or thirteen a young man needs to be mature enpugh to know how to be a gentleman, how to treat his ( virgin ) or girlfriend. It’s the very same way with a young woman. Consider: a baby is born a girl, no choice of her own, as she grows; one day she become a woman, no choice of her own. However, whether she is a lady or not is completely up to her. A boy is the exact same way. It’s completely up to him whether he’s a gentleman or not.

The problem within this as I see it is this. It’s a natural thing not to be a lady or gentleman. That; because of the lust of the flesh. We must be taught by our parents how to be what we are supposed to be. When our parents don’t take on the physical and spiritual responsibilities as they should then the children are the actual losers and, also every generation beyond them.

A parent must understand that the child, the baby they hold in their lap is completely dependant on them. That is physically and spiritually. I realize that we, as parents cannot force anything on our Children however, who we are and, the actions we take mean a lot toward what they do. And, truly we have a very short window to do all we need to do and teach. Do you realize that a new born baby doesn’t understand neither love or hate? I can see how a baby can grow to have confidence in his mother and possibly, even his father before they are born but, once they are born they have to be taught that those attributes are real. They have to find stability in all that you say. If you, as a parent, say that you love your child but, your action don’t show that love then, what are they taught?

true parental love

Am I even intelligent enough to difine all this might have within its boundries or, does it even have boundaries? Either way, can’t you see the need for a parent to at least consider what they need to understand even before their child is born? I will say this; I believe that ( true parental love ) will not be understood by a child until they are at a more mature age. Some of it won’t be seen until they are parents themselves.

A friend of mine told me once that for a battery to operate properly; it needed an equal amount of both, pessitive and negative. This concept can also be seen in scripture. When we show too much of what we call love, we spoil our children. When we use too much discipline, we drive our children away from what we could teach them. My grandpa put it this way. ( If I see you doing something that you shouldn’t ) but it’s not going to harm you; unless you know I see you, I won’t say a word. But, ( if you know I see you then, I’ll correct you ).

His point was that children often learn by trial and error. We must let then be children and not always hoovering over them. However, at the same time we must maintain a certain level of parental control. Can you see how ( loving discipline can be just as powerful as a firm hand? What if ( God the Father ) used a firm hand on you every time you were disobedient. He sees it everytime! ( True parental love ) is the most powerful deterant that it will ever be. I know my children might tell you I wasn’t the most perfect parent but; they have shared with me that often times when they were out, away from me. When they had an opportunity to do certain things; the thought would come to their mind, ( what would daddy think ). Therefore, that love constrained them.

THe Bible says this: ( 1 John 4:19 ) WE LOVE HIM, BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US. In that verse, where did the love begin? God the Father is the perfect parent. I’m going to teach a little scripture here. In ( Acts 5:5 ) And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: ( AND GREAT FEAR CAME ON ALL OF THEM THAT HEARD THESE THINGS ). We see the word ( fear ) used here. However, if we go back to ( 1 John 4:18 ) it says this: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Therefore, let’s build: ( true parental love ) here. In ( Acts 2 ) we see the birth of the Church. What we are witnessing is God’s children, just born and, God’s hand of discipline on them. You might look at the death of Ananias and Sapphira as ( harsh punishment ) but, God the Father sees it as necessay to make a strong point here while his children are small, so to speak. This act brought about ( fear ) in those that believed. Using a metaphor; when my children just began to pull themselves up at the coffee table. They would see things on the coffee table that they were curious about. They would take their little hands and reach for that item. At that, I would say ( no, that’s not yours ). In the beginning they would simply leave it alone. However, as days went by, and I continued to say ( no ) tey begin to change. When I would say ( no ) they would look at me and, continue to reach for the item. When That happened, I slapped their little hands. They thought that was harsh but they learned ( fear ) of what was coming if they ( touched ) the things that were not theirs. They learned when I said no, if they did’t stop, pain was coming.

My children were close in age. Therefore the younger learned from seeing the older being punished. That’s what we see in ( Acts 5 ). Once that mindset is established then maturity begins. As my children grew; that fear of punishment went away and, it was replaced with a loving desire to be pleasing to their loving father.

The Church is supposingly the very same way. What we see in our Churches today and, in many home is a picture of ( no respect ) for God the Father or, ( no respect ) for parents in the home. Now, again; still teaching. We don’t see, in scripture where God killed any other person for disciplinary reasons but, look at tis verse: ( 1 Corinthians 5:6 ) To deliver such an one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

God still pays attention to what happens however, one day rhe Church grew up. I can show you when. ( 1 Corinthians 13:10 ) But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. ( That which is perfect is ) ( the word of God ). When God completed the Bible, some things Changed.

Our Children grow up as well. It come a a day when you don’t punish them any more. If your Children have reached the age of twelve or thirteen and, you still need to punish them physically, something is wrong. Let’s look at one more verse: ( Ephesians 4:30 ) And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. It comes a day within the life ( of the Church ) that God is very grieved with what he sees, it’s the same way with a godly father but, if the Church won’t listen to instruction or, a child then, there will be a price to pay. That is what is so grieving in the heart of ( a loving father or mother ).

In closing, I don’t know whether I taught this well or not. I’ll have to leave it to the Holy Spirit within the reader to do the real teaching. After all, it’s up to you as an individual to come to an understanding of what ( true parental love ) is and, how it plays out in your personal life.

We will continue: The next segment ( IGNORANCE IS BLISS )