Chapter 8Embracing Biblical Methods: CommunicationSalesmen get tired of restaurant food. My father understood this,
so he would often bring salesmen home for dinner. During one such
evening, when we were hesitant in obeying, Dad reminded us of our
duty by asking, “What is Ephesians 6:1?” In our minds we would
recite, “Children obey your parents in the Lord,” and proceed with our
task.
(^) The powerful effect this question had on us impressed our guest.
He was sure he had stumbled on a new method of getting children to
obey. By evening’s end he could contain his curiosity no longer.
(^) “By the way,” he finally asked, “What is Ephesians 6:1? I would
like to teach it to my children.”
(^) Like many parents, my father’s friend wanted an effective method
of dealing with his children. He thought perhaps this Ephesians 6:1
approach would work with his kids.
(^) If we reject the methods that we evaluated briefly in the last
chapter, to what do we turn? What light does the Word of God shed
on our approach to parenting? God’s Word must inform not only our
goals, but also our methods.
(^) Methods and goals should be complementary. You want your
child to live for the glory of God. You want your child to realize that
life worth living is life lived under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Your
methods must show submission to that same Lord. Methods designed
to produce well-adjusted and successful children won’t work because
your goal is not simply success and good adjustment.
(^) A biblical approach to children involves two elements that you