Parenting that Reflects the Image of God

P arnting that Reflects the Image of deityAbstractThe inceptive understanding of divinity fudge by boorren is deeply shaped by their familys with their parents. Premium Christian parenting will endeavor to reflect the character of God as a foundation for underdeveloped the minors acclivitous relationship with God. A solid foundation for children to experience the love of God laid by providing genuine love with clear boundaries.I. Introduction The most potent environment in the lives of the majority of children is the home. The first experience of the orbit by a child is the family and continues to occupy a dominant portion in their lives until adulthood. though the school also plays an important role for most children and youth, the family remains the nucleus of their life experience. The family has played a crucial role in the outworking of the purposes of God on earth from the beginning.The family has been designed to provide the platform for the nurture and training of eac h subsequent generation. God designed the family to reflect and bring forth the spiritual truth. The discussion makes use of roles of the family to speak of our relationship with God in Christ. Believers are adopted children in the family of God (Romans 815-17). God is our Father (Hebrews 125-11), and we are his children and marijuana cigarette heirs with Christ (1 John 31 Romans 817). These relationships illustrate the high call(a)ing and task which accompanies Christian parenthood. The primary focus of this paper is to develop m whatsoever strategies for parents who want to raise their children in a way that will reflect the image of God. To carry out this assignment,some research findings and biblical dogmas on loving, disciplining and developing children of spiritual and moral character will be examined.II. The Research on Parenting and Children Gods Concepts.The huge influence of home and family is much greater than what happens the few hours that children spend perform o r opposite Christian programs. It is the home that provides the primary shape for the spiritual understanding of children (Smith, 2005). Though the formal spiritual upbringing in the home is valuable, there is proof to suggest that to a greater extent noteworthy for spiritual development is the nature of connection that is raised in the family. Variety of studies excite pointed to substantial correlation that exits amongst parental childrearing practices and children concepts of God (Choua Uata, 2012 de Roos, 2006 Lee Earia, 2000 Limke Mayfield, 2011 Moriaxty Hoffman, 2007)The recent research of neurotheologian (Albright Ashbrook, 2001 Newberg, dAquili Rause, 2001) suggests that there may be some form of Gods Spot in e precise human (Beauregard OLeary, 2007 convert Nye, 2006 Seybold, 2007). Whether Gods Spot exit or not, the agreement is that children natural spiritual curiosity appears to be inborn. Possibly, the best interpretation of the research starts with the iden tification of the fact that the search of a child for God is tinted by human relationships. One interesting study has pointed to the value of bidirectional religious communication in the home in which parents and children are active, and both are active, and both behave in ways that may ultimately influence the other (Boyatzis Janicki, 2003). The situation in which parents both listen and luff the childrens gestateion of faith will likely protract to long-term faith and commitment on the part of the children.Parent-child affinity is the most instant and persistent relationship that go through in childrens early developmental years of life, and this is probably the reason why this relationship deeply impact children perception of God. Concerned parents who take this pattern always look for ways and means to direct their children to a healthy relationship with God. Studies have also shown that fathers relationship with the children may be more influential. Longitudinal Study of G eneration LSOG) has shown a substantially greater impact on religious transference in close father-child fundamental interaction than close mother-child interaction (Bengtson, Putney, Harris,2013).III. Biblical Principles for Parenting that reflects the Image of God.1.The atmosphere Of the Christian Home.A home that is represented by the presence of God should be filled with an atmosphere of love, pity, openness, acceptance and h whizzsty. The exaltation Christian home should be a place of fun, creative activities, enjoyment, encouragement and relaxed attitudes. This can only be possible if Christ is the unified factor in the life of the family and parents set a good example of what it means to be a believer in Christ.There is the extremity for Christ-like attitude to prevail in parents so that every fraction of the household is made to feel very important in the family. Parents should model before their children the quality of mutual respect for one and other. The individualit y and dignity of each member of the family must be recognized in a positive and encouraging manner. Parents should avoid favoritism, and there should be no comparison of one child with another. The great mistake that Rebeca made by loving Jacob more than Esau his senior brother should be avoided in the home. It is also very important for parents to ask for forgiveness from their children when they embarrass, mistreat or break a promise. This good attitude will make honesty and esteem for each member of the household to be implanted in the mind of the children.IV. Spiritual Development PrinciplesThe Scripture states in Deuteronomy 64-5, Hear O Israel The maestro is our God the Lord is one And you shall love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your might. Parents cannot impact what they do not have to their children. It follows therefore that parents should have a exploitation relationship that their children can emulate with God. The first necessary condition for a go dly parent is to love God with all his strength and might. And this can be achieved through an unfailing relationship of dependence, trust, and communion with the Lord. Before love can radiate in our home, it must first be in our hearts as we respond to Gods love and walk in it.Another condition can be found in Deuteronomy 66 which states, And those words which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. Parents need to respond to Gods love and also to His W ord. The Word of God speaks to every area of life, and the success of parents in any area depends so much on the degree to which they know and make a claim on relevant biblical principles. Children cannot be raised in the image of God by doing just what comes to mind naturally.Deuteronomy 620-24 admonishes parents to tell their children when they ask questions about what the requirements and regulations that commanded mean. In other words, parents should be ready to share their testimonies of the goodness of the Lord in their lives. This will make parents a living model for their children. What parents communicate through their actions are far more than what they say verbally. In other words, parents must demonstrate practically the reality of their faith for their children to emulate.Children will copy and do exactly what they see in their parents. If parents are dedicated to positive spiritual change and growth, their children will follow suit. They will not walk in the way of the Lord just because they are told to do so. This is because children respond to reality, not pretending or lip service. For instance, if a father who wants his children to grow in the image of God is unkind to his wife and treats others with disrespect, the children will be confused with the distorted image of God. A healthy view is best transmitted by the parent who will allow the Spirit of God to make them loving and Christ-like.Another principle that will help parents to raise children in the image of God is that of l ove and boundaries. Though the language of fatherhood is not directly given in the bilgewater of creation, one can see the balance between love and boundaries displayed in Genesis chapter one. Here God provided an environment of space for Adam and Eve and all the creatures. The separation of light from darkness in Genesis 14-5 and the waters below (Genesis 16-7) show Gods value for order and space.When God created Adam, He provided a space He provided a space for him to carry out the first assignment of naming all the animals (Genesis 219-20). In like manner parents need to create order and space in which children will be able to express their voices, we reflect Gods character in our relationship with them (Shaw Constatineanu, 2003).In the parable of the rip son, Jesus completely redefined the fatherhood of God. The image of God in this parable is that of a father whose love, care, forgiveness, goodness and compassion has no limits. The central theme in the Gospel narratives is I mmanuel, incarnation, and paralysis. God in Christ enters the world of his children to direct them to God. In the equal manner, Christian parents must reflect Gods character by entering into the world of their children in other to show them the way to God. In Jesus belief, he made mention of how God cares for the birds of the air in Mathew 626, makes the sun to wage increase on the evil and the good and allows rain to fall on the just and the unjust (Mathew 545), and looks after little ones (Mathew 1814).Paul also extends the same message to all believers ware formerly slaves to the devil, but now they are now the beloved children of God (Galatians 46). This invitation is now for parents whose lives can become a good example of what it means to made in the image of God and live a life full of love and holiness. A good verbal expression of the character of God as an example for family life is a challenge to many of our traditional stereotypes of the roles of gender in parenting. God is not only interestred to as a father, but many images suggest His motherly fatherhood. In Psalms 178, God is described as a mother eagle who h all overs over its young, and then pushes the eaglet out of the nest (Deuteronomy 3211), firearm underneath is the everlasting arms Deuteronomy 3327). Jesus also made use of imagery to express his emotions towards Jerusalem in Mathew 2337.When parents understand the richness of Gods love and His holiness, their lives become a clear witness to others. In the same manner, homes are represented by boundaries and love are likely to show Gods holiness and love under which children can embrace the gospel and live to display the character of God.The placing of a child in the midst by Jesus in Mathew 182 points to the mutual nature of parenting that reflect the image of God children learn about God through the nature of their relationship with their parents and the character and behavior of children can alert adults to the challenges of livin g with integrity in their covenant relationship with God (Shaw Constantineanu, 2013). Children should be back up and sanctioned within the family, both parents and children experience the mutual joy of learning and growth that is one of the features of hospitable space.1.Love and Discipline(i) LoveRules and regulations are important in the home, but they cannot have meaning unless they are within the context of a relationship. Some parents do not discipline their children because they dont want to hurt their feelings. This is a ruin approach because a child that is not disciplined will eventually become unruly. The Scripture in Hebrews 126 states that the Lord chastens those whom He loves and scourges every son whom He receives. Whenever it becomes necessary to punish a child, it is important to give to give reasons and at the same time reaffirm your love so that the child will know that you hate his behavior, not him.Philippians 48 admonishes us to allow our minds to dwell on wh at is honorable, true, pure, of good report and worthy of praise. Love lays accent on the positive, not the negative. Parents who use loving affirmation accomplish more than those who make negative comments. Parents can teach their children to love by displaying love. It is very dispiriting to children to see their parents fighting or yelling at each other. Love should be the lifestyle of everyone in the home.(ii). Discipline.The Scripture admonishes parents in 1 Timothy 34 to maintain discipline at home. But this discipline as discussed earlier must be balanced with love. Discipline without love will lead to hostility and resentment. Love without discipline will spoil a child. Ephesians 61-4 will help in maintaining a balance. The words instruction and discipline refer to preventive and corrective discipline. Biblical discipline involves both the negative activity of penalisation for disobedience and the positive aspect of teaching children the way they should go. Protective tea ching should be supported with corrective action and correction should be reinforced by teaching.The book of Proverbs teaches that children are not good naturally. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, the rod of discipline will remove it far from him. Proverbs 2313-14 Proverbs 2215. Children tend to be selfish they do not understand love regarding giving themselves to others but regarding receiving. A prudent parent recognizes these facts and also understand that children can be taught. Proverbs 918 admonishes parents to discipline their children while there is hope. The rod and correction give wisdom, but a child who is always having his own way will bring shame to his mother Proverbs 2915.To bring up a child in the image of God, parents must be consistent in their discipline because inconsistent discipline results in frustration, insecurity, and anger. Christian parents must have biblical philosophy of child discipline so that there will be consistent and agreement bet ween husband and wife in they respond to disobedience. Children receive mixed signals when parents are divided or disagree about discipline. If you must use threats to correct your child, then make reliable you follow the threat through or else your children will not take you seriously.(iii). mildnessParents should always remember that regardless of what method they use to discipline their children, the intent of discipline is forgiveness and reconciliation. Children must be taught that disobedience to parents is sin and thus, teach your child to confess his sin of disobedience to God and thank Him for forgiving him. Forgiveness should result in restoration of fellowship and forgetting of the offense. If a parent makes forgiveness a lifestyle, he will be modeling the love and forgiveness of God (1 Timothy 19). Forgiveness impacts the inner life while discipline focuses on the outward behavior. V. ConclusionThe Christian home has been referred to as a research lab for the applian ce of biblical truth in a rational situation. It is the childs training ground for the impression of values, the development of relationship, for teaching and learning to obtain and give love. Parents have been assigned the responsibility of determining their children character and directing their spiritual, intellectual, psychological, emotional and physical growth. This responsibility should not be left to outside institutions.Many studies carried out on this issue support the fact that there is a substantial correlation between parental childrearing practices and childrens concepts of God. The home that is filled with the atmosphere of love, openness, forgiveness, acceptance and honesty is the ideal place to raise a child in the image of God. There are biblical principles that can be applied to bring up children in fear of the Lord. A good reflection of the image of God as an example for family life is a challenge to many of our traditional standards of the roles of gender in pa renting. God is not only referred to as a father, but many images suggest His motherly fatherhoodThere should be love and boundaries which will be applied in the home. Punishment must be applied when necessary to check indiscipline and disobedience as instructed in Hebrews 126. If parents make forgiveness a lifestyle, they will be modeling the love and forgiveness of God (1 Timothy 19). Forgiveness impacts the inner life while discipline focuses on the outward behavior. Proverbs 2313-14 tells us that children are not good by nature and the parents have the responsibility to use the rod of correction. Notwithstanding the method of punishment used, the goal of discipline is forgiveness and reconciliation.REFERENCES.Albright, C., Ashbrook, J. (2001). Where God lives in the human brain, Naperville, IL Sourcebooks.Bengtson, V., Putney, N. Harris, S. (2013). Families and FaithHow religion is passed down across generations. New York, NY Oxford University Press.Boyatzis, C., Janicki, D. (2003). 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