How do you train a up a child in the way they should go, when the world is steering them wrong?

Question

It is challenging raising children in a society that is so untoward. You tell your children to go right someone else takes upon themselves to tell them to go left. You tell your children to keep themselves from fornication, someone else says practice safe sex. You tell your children to tell the truth, and someone else tell them to lie for them. I would love to hear from other Goldly parents that are facing challenges against socities backwards custom.

Answer 1

all you can do is lead by example and try to teach them that there are consequences for their actions - eventually you have to let go since who they become will be up to them to decide

Answer 2

Consider Proverbs 22:6, which says: “Train up a boy according to the way for him; even when he grows old he will not turn aside from it.”

How much better it is for parents to instill Christian principles in their children through godly training at an early age! How early? “From infancy,” says the apostle Paul. That was the case with the young man Timothy. His mother, Eunice, and his grandmother Lois inculcated “the holy writings” in Timothy so that he “learned” and was “persuaded to believe.” The result? Such training played a vital role in making him “wise for salvation.”—2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14, 15.

Likewise today, parents who do “not give up in doing what is fine” will reap rich rewards if they “do not tire out.” (Galatians 6:9) Says wise King Solomon: “The father of a righteous one will without fail be joyful.”—Proverbs 23:24.

If you would like further information, please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit http://www.watchtower.org

Answer 3

Very, very awesome question! How true it is!

Scripture tells us to raise our children up in the ways of the Lord. This takes a great deal patience. No ones perfect, therefore. we'll all sin one time or another. Trusting God with our children is just about the best we can do. We can not make decisions for our children and we can not lead them to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, only the Holy Spirit can do that. Just pray fervently for them. I've heard many testimonies where parents would pray for their rebellious children for years and eventually they come to the Lord, this may take 30-40 years! That is why it's so important to simply that Trust God knows what He is doing with them. All you have to do is be the perfect example for them.

Answer 4

You hit on a very sore point with me. I would NOT want to be raising children in today's world. I believe that it is nearly impossible to raise children Right/correctly in today's world.. I just feel that the uncontrollable elements are too great to manifest any type of change.. I even see that in MOST.. yes, MOST of the homes, the atmosphere is not good for good and adequate child development. Our School system(whether you see it or not) has deteriorated to below that of the tribal people in various parts of the country. My degrees were in Education but I would NEVER NEVER go into teaching because it would force me to teach sex education and other worthless courses instead of what should be taught, that being Reading, Writing, Arithmetic

Answer 5

It is a challenge for sure. I have two children, one 20, one 10. I am also a Sunday School Teacher. All that you can do is to teach them right from wrong, tell them God's truth, even goes as far as to show them scripture backing those truths. Most importantly, pray to God to watch over your children and to soften their hearts, open their ears to his word and that God would enlighten them to his truth.

Keep in mind though, that your children, just as yourself, are all by nature, sinners. If you give them love, patience and truth, then you will get further with them. If they make mistakes and whole heatedly want forgiveness, God forgives us. Christ Jesus makes that possible for all who come to him.

My older son has had a baby out of wedlock. I do not approve of it, however, I give them the love and support needed. They know I do not approve of the situation, and after thought they are getting married. Not because I simply told them I don't approve. I explained why to them.

I try to be brutally honest with my kids. I tell them what I believe and why and then I tell them what society thinks and how the human race has twisted things to be how they want it, not how God intended it to be. I tell my younger son that in school he will learn in health class that the family unit is made up in many ways (ie two mothers, two fathers, etc.) then I tell him that although he will learn that, it is wrong, God did not make the family unit like that. My sons and I also have in depth talks regarding evelotion. I explain creation to them and point out that although some points of evelotion are true, Darwism and the money theory is not true. I point out in the Bible spots that agree with dinosaurs, etc. They also both watch History Channel show on archiology and see how finds corolate to the Bible.

Answer 6

familyoflove07,

You are exactly right - Satan is working harder and harder to wrong the right.

My son is being home schooled this year - we are also tired of the mindless people who seem to be charge at the schools.

The only thing you can do is to keep teaching your children - if you slow down or stop - Satan will win. This is where the American homes are being torn apart - the parents THINK that it is someone Else's responsibility to teach their kids - and blame the government when the children do wrong - blaming it on their POOR education.

Good luck educating your children.

Answer 7

If you set a good example and do not stray from it, they will see the difference as they grow older. When they are very young, things that are of an abstract nature (morals) that you can't see or touch are difficult for some children to fathom. Keep taking them to church, get them involved, involve yourself, immerse yourselves in the church family and church activities. Make sure they are good people you associate with, devout followers who don't play around, get drunk, do drugs or swear. Get them a children's bible, there are lots of good ones out there. Read scripture together! PRAY TOGETHER! God Bless!

Answer 8

Ironically, I think that America is the worst place to raise children whom you want to be living according to the Word because Christians here aren't challenged enough.

Answer 9

i'm not a parent yet but i do have many nieces and nephews.
it means to instill in them when they are little, not even oldenough to go to school, not to lie, educate them as they get older by telling them that sex is something that should be between a husband and his wife after they are married.
i believe that there is scripture that says that italso says something about if you do train up the child in the way he should go he will not stray from it as an adult.

Answer 10

The Apostle Paul said, "I press toward the mark of the high calling of God". In other words, he was saying that he was going to keep his eyes on his Christian duty no matter how difficult the path got. He was going to set his jaw and be what God wanted him to be. You must continue in the same path, for God warned us through the Revelation of John that "evil men and seducers would wax worse and worse", so we can't throw up our hands and quit because things get tough!

Answer 11

Love them unconditionally, show them the way.

Punish them if you must, but once you get past that it's over and wear a smile and be kind. Children imitate what they see, and if you want them to do the right thing, set good examples with yourself.