What the Bible Says About Parenting: Don’t Take the Blame or the Credit for Your Children’s Behavior

If we are parenting toward some sort of outcome that makes us look good, or makes us feel good about ourselves, then our parenting is still about ourselves. It’s not about our kids, and we are basically putting ourselves in the position of trying to be our kids’ savior.

Looking at two different father-son relationships in the Bible (Saul & Jonathan, and Hezekiah & Manasseh,) Cameron and Anna unpack the comforting truth that parents are not ultimately responsible for how their children turn out. Thankfully, God is. Saul was a faithless, unrighteous king, but his son Jonathan was a humble, loving, loyal son and friend. Hezekiah was a good king, banishing idolatry from Judah but his son wicked Manasseh indulged in every sort of evil. Although we know that parenting impacts children in profound ways, parents cannot control how their children respond to that parenting. Parents can rest in the sovereignty of God and his goodness towards our children.

Resources:

  • Have I Failed My Children? by Amy Medina
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