Train up a child...

[Jack Shephard]

So everyone what do you take this verse to mean? I guess what I am asking is this, IYO, pointing to doctrine of teaching kids so they will remember when they are old? You does it mean to you?

To me the verse is for everyone and can be applied in many different directions. I feel that it could be used in the same way many Apostolics use it. Train up a child (in doctrine) when he is old he will not depart from it. But I do not think this was the actual thrust behind the penning of the verse. My personal feelings are that this is a chanllenge to all. Train a child, your child-your student-your new learner on any level, in the way he should go... I think that this speaks to someones values and foundation for life as a whole. As many of you know most of us vasilate from time to time on different issuses. I believe that if this verse was solely talking about doctrine then if we follow it and teach people doctrine no one will move away from the original way they were taught? Make sense? This is why I think this is speak on several different levels but I take it to mean teach values and principles. My examples are teaching that God word is supreme above our words about the Bible. Gods ways are higher than ours and no matter what we do in life we were designed to be a vessel of honor to Him and worship Him.

So what say ye?

[MissBrattified]

Training up a child in the way he should go, in my opinion, also includes instilling good habits at a young age, even if he doesn't yet understand the meaning or value of them, such as regular prayer, devotion, fellowship with believers, etc.

At some point, though, in a child's life, there does have to be a balance drawn between what they have to do, and for them to start choosing to do things on their own because they love God and have developed their own independent and personal relationship with Him. Which goes back to my original statement--I think that habits can turn into real devotion, if they are properly instituted and applied.

[A_PoMo]

I think it has to do w/values like you say (including knowledge of God). I also think it applies to helping our kids figure out how God wired them in terms of gifts, talents, passions and help them develop in them. People that find their gifts/talents/passions early in life tend to stick with them and tend to be successful and happy in life because they're doing what God designed them to do and be. Succesful doesn't necessarily mean financial, as most people called to minister from their youth can attest. Too many people though wander through life saved in a spiritual sense but lost in a vocational sense and they have an abiding sense of unhappiness I think. JMO.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by A_PoMo

I think it has to do w/values like you say (including knowledge of God). I also think it applies to helping our kids figure out how God wired them in terms of gifts, talents, passions and help them develop in them. People that find their gifts/talents/passions early in life tend to stick with them and tend to be successful and happy in life because they're doing what God designed them to do and be. Succesful doesn't necessarily mean financial, as most people called to minister from their youth can attest. Too many people though wander through life saved in a spiritual sense but lost in a vocational sense and they have an abiding sense of unhappiness I think. JMO.

Good words! I think that with all the 'keeping up with the Jones' thing has really hurt us. Think about it. I know there are 30 year olds driving a car they can barely afford living in a home that they have to pay only interest cause they can not afford the full payment. Yet to the neighbor they seem like the perfect family. Almost as if they are they 'Jones' by which everyone is meassured. The fact is that most people are not taught the value of the dollar, but the are taught the power of the dollar which are two seperate things, IMO. Everyone should be happen, but they also should be wholesome too. They should prosper as their sould does prosper. Success is measured by a small stick, but it should be measured against a mile. Look at this thing with the Gov. of New York. Today a radio talk show was talking about him. He spear headed a thing to help clean up radio. The 'bill' was to cover things that were still acceptable on radio but he wanted it cleaner, but now look what he is caught in. I know everyone has their addictions and vices, but knowing that I would not start a campaign against tough issues that have moral implications if I knew I had moral issues myself. That is how I was 'trained up.'

[MissBrattified]

I completely agree with A_Pomo's post--I think we need to teach our children that they are blessed, even when things are tight, and their heritage is in the Lord. Success is definitely measured differently for a Christian than a non-Christian, and children need to understand that separate perspective.

I do believe, however, that my son needs to know that it is very important for a man is to provide for his wife and children, but that should be coupled with the knowledge that provision doesn't mean attaining wealth. Tangent Alert: Too many men equate providing well with laying up treasures on earth, when in fact provision can be made on many different levels, and having abundant financial resources is convenient, but should never be the highest priority. I want my son to be a Christian first, a godly husband and father second. I don't want him to be a workaholic, and neglect God and family in pursuit of money and worldly success.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I completely agree with A_Pomo's post--I think we need to teach our children that they are blessed, even when things are tight, and their heritage is in the Lord. Success is definitely measured differently for a Christian than a non-Christian, and children need to understand that separate perspective.

I do believe, however, that my son needs to know that it is very important for a man is to provide for his wife and children, but that should be coupled with the knowledge that provision doesn't mean attaining wealth. Tangent Alert: Too many men equate providing well with laying up treasures on earth, when in fact provision can be made on many different levels, and having abundant financial resources is convenient, but should never be the highest priority. I want my son to be a Christian first, a godly husband and father second. I don't want him to be a workaholic, and neglect God and family in pursuit of money and worldly success.

Well said too. Money is not everything. Money is just costly paper. But being spiritually rich is the best. You can train someone to be good with money, but if they are not good stewards in other areas then money will not matter. IMO

[A_PoMo]

I'm in complete agreement about the whole wealth issue. It's a real concern of mine as well.

I was speaking too to (did I just say too-too?) to the idea that we a parents should find out what our kids are good at and what they have passion for and do everything we can to put them on that path in life because it's probably where they'll find the most fulfillment and happiness as they do what God has wired them to do. For some people this would require a real shift in thinking as they re-evaluate the importance of some vocations relative to others. For instance, the other night I heard a preacher talk up other preachers and laud them with all sorts of platitudinous praises, yet he then said something like, "...but if you're just a businessman God can use you too!". Now, I know that in the spiritual world ministers are pretty important and all that. But the church is made up of people and not everybody can be preachers. All of us are members of the body of Christ and we all have different roles to play and they're all important. Thus perhaps we ought maybe to give more honor to other roles and vocations in our culture and to the educational commitment it takes to achieve those vocations in some cases. I've witnessed over the years a general lack of respect for education and for other vocations outside of ministry in the churches and I'm not sure that's so smart because it discourages people from finding their place and passion in life, which is the will of God for them because he's gifted them for that. Things are changing somewhat in this regard and for that I'm thankful, but I still see too much imbalance at times. For parents this would mean giving our kids personality tests, temperament tests, spiritual gift tests, aptitude tests and encouraging them to try all sorts of stuff that interests them and help them understand how God has wired them and help them find their place in the world and church. In church work we call this equipping. The Bible calls it raising up your child in the way THEY should go. JMO.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by A_PoMo

I'm in complete agreement about the whole wealth issue. It's a real concern of mine as well.

I was speaking too to (did I just say too-too?) to the idea that we a parents should find out what our kids are good at and what they have passion for and do everything we can to put them on that path in life because it's probably where they'll find the most fulfillment and happiness as they do what God has wired them to do. For some people this would require a real shift in thinking as they re-evaluate the importance of some vocations relative to others. For instance, the other night I heard a preacher talk up other preachers and laud them with all sorts of platitudinous praises, yet he then said something like, "...but if you're just a businessman God can use you too!". Now, I know that in the spiritual world ministers are pretty important and all that. But the church is made up of people and not everybody can be preachers. All of us are members of the body of Christ and we all have different roles to play and they're all important. Thus perhaps we ought maybe to give more honor to other roles and vocations in our culture and to the educational commitment it takes to achieve those vocations in some cases. I've witnessed over the years a general lack of respect for education and for other vocations outside of ministry in the churches and I'm not sure that's so smart because it discourages people from finding their place and passion in life, which is the will of God for them because he's gifted them for that. Things are changing somewhat in this regard and for that I'm thankful, but I still see too much imbalance at times. For parents this would mean giving our kids personality tests, temperament tests, spiritual gift tests, aptitude tests and encouraging them to try all sorts of stuff that interests them and help them understand how God has wired them and help them find their place in the world and church. In church work we call this equipping. The Bible calls it raising up your child in the way THEY should go. JMO.

You know what I have heard this over the years too. To me the highest calling has nothing to do with a pulpit, platform, or a church office. The highest calling in the world does have a title though. The title is either Mom or Dad. I just wrote a ton of other things, but there is nothing more that really can be said. This is our highest calling, period!

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by A_PoMo

I was speaking too to (did I just say too-too?)

Did somebody just say tutu??????

[A_PoMo]

I'm a little teapot, short and stout....

or maybe.

I'm too sexy for my tu-tu, too sexy for my tu-tu, too sexy it hurts...

LOL!