Be The Fruit

Can your parenting reflect Christian Eschatology?

by Bill Blair on 11/12/08 at 5:35 am

Dr. Russell Moore shows how proper parenting shows our children, and others, a picture of God’s future judgement and kingdom.  Read his post here.

Here is an excerpt where he explains how proper punishment of our children reflects God’s punishment for sin:

A parent disciplining a child, for instance, communicates to the child the discipline and judgment of God in ways deeper and more resonant than any Sunday school lesson (Heb 12:5-11). A parent who will not discipline a child for disobedience, or who is inconsistent in doing so, is teaching that child not to expect consequences for behavior.

In short, a parent who will not discipline is denying the doctrine of hell.

It is not all about showing God’s punishment and discipline, it is also about showing God’s love and harmony in his future kingdom:

Parents who spend time with their children, especially at meals, demonstrate something of the harmony they want their children to long for beyond this life. It’s a longing to eat at another Father’s table in the kingdom of Christ.

I think Dr. Moore presents some excellent points that all parents should be mindful of.  Moore does a great job in showing how our normal daily life relates to the big theological picture.  Many people think theology just exists for people in seminary, but Moore shows that we all communicate weighty theological ideas like this whether we know it or not. 

Go read the rest of the article here.