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World-proof your kidsThe world is not enoughWORLD-PROOF YOUR KIDS Dr. Tim Sisemore, US psychologist, is deeply worried about how young people who have enjoyed the privilege of a Christian upbringing are turning out. He acknowledges that these are difficult times. He goes on to demonstrate that Christian parents are more caught up in the ways of the world than they like to think, as a stridently secular culture invades our lives and our homes. In a helpful survey he describes four kinds of Christian families, each of whom are striving to cope with the challenge of modern life. There is the disillusioned, the distracted, the disciplinarian and the dedicated. He might have added, the desperate. He says it is not enough to seek to avoid the stain of the world, but we must actively pursue holiness. Taking Galatians 5,16-26 as his text, he turns the attention of parents to the contrast between the sinful nature and the fruit of the Spirit, and challenges parents to resolutely cultivate the latter if they wish to avoid the former. He then examines the fruit of the Spirit one by one, showing how counter-cultural each one is. Each chapter helpfully ends with a list of practical suggestions for parents of both tots and teens as to how to promote godly behaviour. In the course of all this he gives the ‘self-esteem’ obsession a good kicking, and reminds Christian parents that they must model the faith, not just teach it. Excellent stuff for any thinking Christian parent or youth worker. Ann Benton© Evangelicals Now - February 2008 |