Customer Reviews

For Instruction in Righteousness: A Topical Reference Guide for Biblical Child-Training

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I can't think of a parent on earth who doesn't NEED this book. Published in 1993 and updated in 1995, this 313-page spiral-bound treasure is a topical Bible, child training guide, discipline solutions manual, personal Bible study, family worship tool, and reward ideas collection - all within one cover.

For my own family, I appreciate the practical and sensible approach to discipline, as well as the creative ideas. Forget time out here, and it's not all swats (though, see page 58 to remind yourself when and why to spank). Deny requests. Deny privileges. Allow the child to bear the consequences of his actions.

Have a disobedient child? Try this from Proverbs 10:7, which says the name of the wicked will rot.

"Write the child's name, perhaps in extra fancy script, then bury it someplace in your yard. Dig it up in a few days. What happened?"

Believe me, children "get" this type of "real-life" discipline. It makes them think. They take it to heart, which is where we want the disciple-ing process to go, and it changes them. And, I appreciate Pam's way of reminding me what I'm doing:
"Do this with a loving, not vindictive, spirit."
Ouch. Sometimes I need to sit back and get my eternal perspective in order, and Pam's tenderness - which comes through loud and clear in her writings - causes me to pray first, look into eternity first, remember why I'm a mother first, and then discipline/disciple. Like she writes, she and husband, John, are not perfect and the book is not exhaustive. They parent with the Bible in one hand, and the rod in the other. What a visual picture!

As I hinted earlier, not only does this book give excellent ideas for discipline, it also abounds in ideas for praising the right things our children do. See page 103 for this one and others on "(t)he blessings of generosity", spoken of in II Cor. 9:10.

"Project: Give child package of flower or vegetable seeds. Let him plant them. Notice how the seed multiplies, especially if you let one or two plants 'go to seed' so that you can harvest more sends from them. One flower seed can produce one flower or many flowers which can all produce many, many seeds."

Need help on double-mindedness? Look up page 128-129 for ideas on building examples of faith and perseverance into our children. Make an actual armor of God to wear while you and your child memorize Eph. 6:10-18. (By the way, you can order that pattern from Doorposts, too!) Build model houses on sand and on rock. See which one stands during a created storm. Write the names of the sins that hinder your child's growth on rocks; have him carry them around. Then, bury them or throw them away while you study on Heb. 12:1+.

Use the provided worksheet to contrast foolishness and wisdom, and wickedness and righteousness. Use the whole book to change your family. It's 28 well-spent dollars. Start with the first page, and continue through to the end, soaking in the Forster family's wisdom. Six thousand homeschool families took their wisdom into their own homes in 2001. For Instruction in Righteousness is Doorposts' best seller!

review by Deborah Deggs Cariker
as published in Eclectic Homeschool Online magazine

You can buy this brand new from the people who publish it---Doorposts---- for $30+sh. $60 for this book is highway robbery!!!
Cheryl

I picked this book up at a Goodwill thrift store for $.50 ..I almost put it back because I have other books with similar content like Proverbs for Parenting and For the Children's sake as well as Training the heart of your child. But, something made me keep it(Probably the price). I brought it home and skimmed through it and WOW what a treasure this is and what meaty information it gives the parent that will have lasting effects!. It not only give you the scripture for the topic you are dealing with, but definse the topic using scripture (in general), it gives a scripture story about the topic, it gives what happens (or should happen) as a consequence, it gives suggestions for a reward or scriptural praises for the opposite behaviors shown, and it also gives other scripture versus to memorize to maybe help prevent the child from ever doing it or doing it again!!! It it so complete~ I'm amazed... in fact, I know I can use this resource to build upon...such as, I can totally develop s.school lessons using this guide or pennmanship pages to reinforce instruction... it's soooooo good. This woman needs to be honored by how she completely equips families with tools so that they can train their children in their heart, in their character, in righteousness according to God's word. No, she doesn't just throw out a scripture to slap your child with...she gives you tools to dig into the deeps waters of scripture so you and the child can UNDERSTAND what is taking place in the heart. Thank you Pam Forster for writing this book.

This is an awesome easy to use reference for anyone wanting biblical references when disciplining or training children in specific subject areas.

Really great resource, set out according to easy to find topics. Very thorough presentation of scriptures.

This is a wonderful book with biblical outlines for discipline and the scriptures right there to back it up. Quick reference guide in the front makes it easy to find the problem that you are needing to deal with regarding your child. It helps to remind yourself as well, of the principles God has set out for us. There is nothing 'torturing' about it (as one reviewer stated). All of the discipline is set out to be applied in Godly love to show our children the hurtful consequences of not obeying rules, consequences that all humans suffer, children and adults. It is lovingly important for our babies to understand those consequences (and rewards) at an early age instead of leaving them to find out on their own as adults in a cold and cruel world.

In For Instruction in Righteousness by Pam Forster, I found a useful tool. In this thick (over 300 page), spiral bound book, the author lists Bible verses and passages related to common issues like pride, stubbornness, defiance, complaining, vanity, selfishness, thievery, fear, worry, laziness, haste, anger, lying, bad friendships, poor manners, and much, much more.

Each chapter not only offers scripture references giving general information about the problem or sin, what happens to those caught up in the problem, stories from the Bible illustrating the consequences of the problem or sin, what blessings a person will receive if they don't stray into that sin, and verses to memorize.

The introduction also offers lots of ideas on how to use the book, plus some ideas on instructing and disciplining your child.

However, it's the handiness of this book as a biblical parenting concordance that I appreciate the most. The book definitely doesn't do all the work for you; it will still take time to read the biblical passages, reflect, and pray before putting the information into practice. But if you're looking for a solidly biblical book to guide your parenting, For Instruction in Righteousness is an excellent choice.

Kristina Seleshanko
Proverbs Thirty One Woman

I don't think it gave a very good picture of how God wants us to parent our children. It's very harsh in it's "suggestions" using the Bible to back them up. The problem is that the verses are taken out of context. They are mostly verses that speak of "the wicked". "The wicked" are not those God considers His children. They are those that have purposely chosen to be against Him. This may be a good book for children that have deliberately rebelled against their parents and are at the VERY youngest 16-17 years old. If that is the case, you may need to look at how you have parented up to this point.
God is not a harsh Father with His children and I honestly don't think He would want us to parent with the methods described in this book. He is a merciful, graceful Father. Isn't the whole concept of salvation (what MAKES us His children) based on grace? The methods this book uses leave no room for grace or mercy.
If you want your children to know the true character of God through your example of how you parent them, don't get this book. I would recommend "Families Where Grace is in Place" by Jeff VanVonderen

This book encourages parents to torture young people. Writing a child's name on a piece of paper and then burying it, so the poor kid will know how "wicked" they are because their "name will rot"? Hitting little children with a stick? Writing their "sins" on rocks and making them carry the rocks around all day? This is sick, evil stuff that will mess up your child for life!

If religion is this depressing and abusive then it's no wonder so many children are rejecting Christianity when they grow up. Reject this book instead, and read something that actually values children and Jesus's teachings about how we should love each other, forgive and help each other, and follow the Golden Rule.