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Parenting with a Biblical Worldview and Values

Biblical Foundations for Parenting

Parenting with a biblical worldview and values is rooted in the scriptures, which provide guidance on the relationship between parents and children. The biblical account of parenting begins with the understanding that children are a gift from God [1]. Psalm 127:3 states, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward" [3].

Parental Responsibilities

The Bible outlines several key responsibilities for parents. They are to love their children, bring them to Christ, train them up for God, instruct them in God's word, and command them to obey God [1]. Parents are also to pity, provide for, and rule their children in a manner that reflects God's relationship with His people [1, 4]. The scriptures emphasize the importance of parental instruction, with Deuteronomy 4:9 and 11:19 instructing parents to teach their children God's laws and judgments.

Children's Duties

Children, in turn, are commanded to obey their parents. Ephesians 6:1 instructs children to "obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Colossians 3:20 similarly commands children to "obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." This obedience is not limited to blind compliance but is to be done "in the Lord," indicating a Christian context [5, 7].

Discipline and Nurture

The Bible also provides guidance on how parents should discipline and nurture their children. Ephesians 6:4 advises fathers not to "provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Proverbs 22:6 instructs parents to "train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." The early church fathers echoed this emphasis on parental discipline and instruction, with Lactantius advising fathers to "educate your children in the Lord, bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" [8].

The Role of Faith

Faith plays a significant role in biblical parenting. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to Christ and to instruct them in the ways of God [2]. The faith of parents can also impact their children, with 1 Corinthians 7:14 suggesting that children can be "sanctified" through their relationship with believing parents. The sacrament of baptism is also seen as a key aspect of Christian parenting, with some traditions understanding it as a means of spiritual regeneration [9, 10].

Historical and Theological Perspectives

The early church and subsequent Christian traditions have continued to grapple with the implications of biblical teachings on parenting. The Reformed tradition, as represented by Charles Hodge, emphasizes the importance of parental instruction and the role of faith in the family [4, 6]. The Catholic tradition, as represented by Thomas Aquinas, also highlights the significance of spiritual guidance and the sacrament of baptism in the context of parenting [11].

Conclusion

Parenting with a biblical worldview and values is characterized by a deep understanding of the scriptures and a commitment to raising children in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord" [8]. It involves a complex interplay of parental responsibilities, children's duties, and the role of faith in the family. As Christian traditions continue to interpret and apply biblical teachings on parenting, they draw on a rich heritage of theological reflection and pastoral guidance.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Parents — Receive their children from God -- Ge 33:5; 1Sa 1:27; Ps 127:3. Their duty to their children is To love them. -- Tit 2:4. To bring them to Christ. -- Mt 19:13,14. To train them up for God. -- Pr 22:6; Eph 6:4. To instruct them in God's word. -- De 4:9; 11:19; Isa 38:19. To tell them of God's judgments. -- Joe 1:3. To tell them of the miraculous works of God. -- Ex 10:2; Ps 78:4. To command them to obey God. -- De 32:46; 1Ch 28:9. To bless them. -- Ge 48:15; Heb 11:20. To pity them. -- Ps 103:13. To provide for them. -- Job 42:15; 2Co 12:14; 1Ti 5:8. To rule”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children — Christ was an example to -- Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27. Are a gift from God -- Ge 33:5; Ps 127:3. Are capable of glorifying God -- Ps 8:2; 148:12,13; Mt 21:15,16. Should be Brought to Christ. -- Mr 10:13-16. Brought early to the house of God. -- 1Sa 1:24. Instructed in the ways of God. -- De 31:12,13; Pr 22:6. Judiciously trained. -- Pr 22:15; 29:17; Eph 6:4. Should Obey God. -- De 30:2. Fear God. -- Pr 24:21. Remember God. -- Ec 12:1. Attend to parental teaching. -- Pr 1:8,9. Honour parents. -- Ex 20:12; Heb 12:9. Fear parents. -- Le 19:3. Obey parents. -- Pr ”
  3. Psalms “Psalms 128:6 (BSB) — that you may see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!”
  4. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 47: has this close analogy to the relation in which God stands to his rational creatures, and especially to his own people, so the duties resulting from that relation are analogous. They are expressed by the same word. Filial piety is as correct an expression as it is common. Parents stand to their dependent children, so to speak, in the place of God. They are the natural objects of the child’s love, reverence, gratitude, confidence, and devotion. These are the sentiments which naturally flow out of the relation; and which in all ordinary cas”
  5. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 6:1: 6:1-4 The relationship between parents and children is to be a reflection of their devotion to the Lord. Christian children are to obey their parents, and Christian parents are to discipline their children gently (see Col 3:20-21).”
  6. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 47: a state, composed of Christians, must be governed by Christianity, so far as its spirit and precepts apply to matters of civil government. If therefore the state assumes that the education of the people is one of its functions, it is bound in a Christian country, — a country in which ninety hundredths of the population consist of Christians, — to conduct the schools on Christian principles, otherwise it tramples on the most sacred rights of the people. This the people never will submit to, until they lose all interest in their religion. N”
  7. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 47: and enforced. Our blessed Lord himself was subject to his parents. ( Luke ii. 51 .) The Apostle commands children to obey their parents in the Lord ( Eph. vi. 1 ), and to obey them in all things, for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. ( Col. iii. 20 .) This obedience is to be not only religious, but specifically Christian, as the word Lord, in Ephesians vi. 1 , refers to Christ. This is plain because in ch. v. 21 , the Apostle says that these specific duties are to be performed “in the fear of Christ;” 321 321 The common text indeed in ”
  8. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 7: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius — SEC. II.--ON DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL LIFE. OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN.: XI. Ye fathers, educate your children in the Lord, bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and teach them such trades as are agreeable and suitable to the word, lest 436 they by such opportunity become extravagant, and continue without punishment from their parents, and so get relaxation before their time, and go astray from that which is good. Wherefore be not afraid to reprove them, and to teach them wisdom with severity. For your correction”
  9. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 7:14: sanctified--Those inseparably connected with the people of God are hallowed thereby, so that the latter may retain the connection without impairing their own sanctity (compare Ti1 4:5); nay, rather imparting to the former externally some degree of their own hallowed character, and so preparing the way for the unbeliever becoming at last sanctified inwardly by faith. by . . . by--rather, "in . . . in"; that is, in virtue of the marriage tie between them. by the husband--The oldest manuscripts read, "by the brother." It is the fact of the husb”
  10. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 65: the recipient of this sacrament be insincere, baptism is an act of faith, it is an act in which and by which he receives and appropriates the offered benefits of the redemption of Christ. And, therefore, to baptism may be properly attributed all that in the Scriptures is attributed to faith. Baptism washes away sin ( Acts xxii. 16 ); it unites to Christ and makes us the sons of God ( Gal. iii. 26, 27 ); we arc therein buried with Christ ( Rom. vi. 3 ); it is (according to one interpretation of Titus iii. 5 ) the washing of regeneration. B”
  11. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Ministers by Whom the Sacrament of Baptism Is Conferred, Art. 7: Article: Whether in Baptism it is necessary for someone to raise the baptized from the sacred font? I answer that, The spiritual regeneration, which takes place in Baptism, is in a certain manner likened to carnal generation: wherefore it is written (1 Pt. 2:2): "As new-born babes, endowed with reason desire milk [Vulg.: 'desire reasonable milk'] without guile." Now, in carnal generation the new-born child needs nourishment and guidance: wherefore, in spiritual generatio”
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