Can the Bible help you to train your children?

Question

Rearing children is difficult and complicated and requires careful attention and deligence. So it is common for parents to feel at a loss when it comes to child rearing. Many feel the need for help. Obviously, every loving parent wants to get the best guidance. Where can such guidance be found?

Answer 1

While the Bible is not a manual on child rearing, the Creator inspired the writers to include in it much practical advice on the subject. The Bible emphasizes the nurturing of desirable qualities, which many feel is often overlooked. (Ephesians 4:22-24) In this respect, Scriptural counsel supplies a key element of a balanced education.
It encourages parents to be honest with thier children and set a good example for them. (Romans 2:21, 22) To communicate with them, even if it requires extra effort. (Deuteronomy 6:7;Proverbs 20:5) To discipline them based on love. (Ephesians 6:4, Proverbs 13:24, Ecclesiastes 8:11, Proverbs 29:19)
These things, added with other principles and life lessons found in the Bible make child rearing more effective.

Answer 2

The Bible *can* be a source for good moral teachings, as long as it is taken with a grain of salt. Almost none of it is original material, much is completely colloquial. The Bible should no more be considered the ultimate source of truth, than should Yahoo! Answers.....

In the Bible are found many good, correct principles that are still relevant today; also, there are many that are not correct, and not relevant.

You can also find sagacious examples of what NOT to do as a parent...

For example; don't play favorites; don't patronize. Don't be a hypocrite. Don't let your children dominate or manipulate you. You can *teach* your children love, self discipline, and respect but you can't *force* it on them. Also, don't give your child their inheritance, just because they ask for it....etc. etc.

As I said, a grain of salt. The moment you think you know something about how to be a good parent, is the moment you stop being one...

Good luck,
~W.O.M.B.A.T.

Answer 3

Obviously, the Bible is where the best guidance can be found. Because it is inspired by the one who knows the most about humans and what they need to be happy and successful. This same author created the marriage and the family arrangement. The counsel found in the bible has withstood the test of time, while modern advice columnists and authors come and go and constantly change their opinions.

Bible teachings and morals should be inculcated in our children from the time they are born...

2 Timothy 3:15 “from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation”

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 “And you must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your vital force. And these words that I am commanding you today must prove to be on your heart; and you must inculcate them in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.”

- Bob

Answer 4

If you are a Christian then it is definatly important to use the bible while your children grow. The bible can offer many good morals that will help your child grow up with a strong faith in God as well as being a well adjusted human being.

Answer 5

Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me." There is no better book on child-rearing than the Word of God. There are many books and magazines full of good advice, but none better than The Bible.
I also used empathy. I remember what my parents did right, and what I thought they could have done differently. As a parent, I applied those experiences when raising my own kids.
Beyond the necessities of food, clothing, and shelter, all children need are love and attention. A good dose of understanding helps, too. Your time is the best investment you can make.
We didn't always have the best of everything, but my kids had plenty of love, and plenty of my time. We also went to church regularly when they were younger. My son is a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, and my daughter is working on her Master's Degree in Psychology. They are happy, healthy, well-adjusted individuals, so I feel qualified to give advice on the subject. Good luck!

Answer 6

It certainly can. The Bible has many good morals that human beings should learn nowdays. However, some of the fantasy portion should not really be enforced in children's brains. They will tend to think that way for the rest of their lives until they are mature enough to just separate the morals from the talltales.

Answer 7

The only way a bible will help a person raise children is perhaps to whack them on the nose with it when they wet on the floor.

All kidding aside, my sister sent her kid to a religious pre-school at the request of her husband and the poor kid was scarred silly by the stories of little boys being murdered. He had nightmares for weeks because, as he said, "Momma, I'M a little boy. Is god going to kill me?" Keep your kids as far away from the bible as you possibly can.

Answer 8

This is a tough one to answer because children are so complicated. If you had a good childhood, you could almost always count on your past experiences, i.e.-what would my mom do in this case?. If you didnt, reaching out to other moms or friends for advice can help to. Of course the bible is a good tool to use, and your pastor is even better. Good Luck!

Answer 9

The first chapter of Proverbs is a great one to tell the kids why the Bible is used as a thing of guidance. Let me show you what I mean:

2 for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;

3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;

4 for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young-

5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance-

6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
( Proverbs 1 )

It goes on too. The Bible sets up a precedent, it gives the guidance, and teaches separation between right and wrong. It teaches the Lordship of God over His people, and tells who His people really are: those who trust Him.

A child raised in the Lord has it's advantages. Yes, the child will have to make his or her faith in God genuine, but there are promises concerning that as well.

29 Since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the LORD,

30 since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,

31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm."

Answer 10

I recommend following your own instincts and looking to other experienced parents for support. the bible is ancient, its missing pieces and has been rewritten and retranslated for 100s of years and therefore is not accurate. We have pigheaded sexist religious scholars from 500 years ago to thank for that. I don't use it for child rearing except for an occational example of love or kindness.