Customer Reviews

What The Bible Says About Parenting Biblical Principle For Raising Godly Children

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an excellent book full of practical and biblical instruction on parenting. As are most of MacArthur's books, Successful Christian Parenting is full of biblical exposition. MacArthur focuses on general principles of parenting, rather than getting entangled in specific lists of dos and donts. He rightly understands parenting to be a simple, yet weighty task: that of teaching our children to know God, obey His Word, and trust in Christ. This is a very gospel centered book, with clear direction on how to share the gospel with children. There is a strong emphasis on instilling into our children biblical wisdom for life. I also like MacArthur's balanced teaching on child discipline. The final two chapters focus on the father's and mother's roles, and beautifully unfold God's pattern for marriage which is based on mutual submission and love. This book is not encumbered with psychology or legalism, which makes it quite refreshing. MacArthur's comments on psychological disorders, referenced in another review, comprise a very small portion of this book. While I am not trained in medicine or psychology, my own exposure to psychology in college left me thinking that it was a far less exact science than psychologists want to let on. I don't think MacArthur is far off the mark.

In our culture, there are many concepts and theories, assumptions and views on how to raise children. Often, studies in the areas of Psychology and Human Development, Sociology, Medicine, and so forth, come to different conclusions, sometimes even contradictory. Studies in other cultures again have different views. Then there is the Christian sub-culture, with all its very helpful seminars, books, audio tapes, magazines, etc. But these usually draw their ideas from one or more of those same studies, and end up contradicting each other.

I don't want to discredit Christian educators, child psychologists, and so forth. They are playing an incredibly important part in helping parents understand their role; for instance, I believe that Focus on the Family, and James Dobson, THE contemporary parenting "guru", had and still has a huge influence on how families raise their children, and I am thankful for that.

If you are parents, or getting there :-), I encourage you to get your hands on some good books from Focus. However, when the theories of the books we read, Christian or not, contradict each other, then we're stuck. How can we really KNOW the best way to raise our children? The answer is quite obvious: Read the Bible!

You might argue that many things in the Bible are either old-fashioned, from another culture, and simply not applicable in our time. You're right, not everything applies to us. But everything can serve to teach us something, to educate us.

When the Apostle Paul wrote his letters, no one had a degree in Child Psychology; no one had heard about ADHD or other such "problems". But when Paul wrote, his thoughts were guided by the Holy Spirit, and He transcends time and culture. We still have to use our brains :-) when we read Scripture, to find out what things meant to the original writers and readers, and what it means for us today. But, if you want to know how to raise your children, then DO read the Bible, MORE than any other book.
John MacArthur has done a study on parenting, from the Bible. This book is the result of this study.

If you want to get the BASICS of parenting right, I strongly encourage you to get a copy. It is filled with quotes from Scripture and excellent advice. If, after reading it, you think it was not worth your time or money, then read it again, you must have missed something! This book is not written to give you the latest tips and ideas on parenting, but to give you a foundation on which to build your family and home.

Put it this way: if I were teaching Parenting 101 at a Bible College, this would be the required textbook (for Parenting 201, I'd require many different ones, most of them probably from Focus on the Family).

Please remember: I believe MacArthur does a good job explaining the Scriptures, focusing on what God wants us to know and do in our families. However, don't read the book like you read the Bible. John MacArthur is not God :-) You might find that some of his interpretations and views clash with yours. That's ok. You might be right. You might not be. For instance, he supports spanking (based on Scripture; Proverbs 13:24). I agree with that, but I'm not saying that spanking is a must. Regardless of your view on different things and issues, read this book with an open mind and see how God might use this tool to challenge and equip you to be(come) better parents.

This book is perfect for anyone who takes Scripture seriously, and is either thinking of having or currently has children. John MacArthur is very true to God's Word, is very open and honest, and provides wonderful direction for raising children in the love and admonition of the Lord. Some of the truths he presents are not popular, especially today, but they are very biblical.

Not a pseudo-Christian "self-help" book, this book provides a wonderful blueprint for raising children, teaching them about salvation, and encouraging them to serve the Lord all from a firmly biblical standpoint.

After only a few chapters the Lord has shown me that my frustration up to this point in childrearing could have been avoided. His way is so simple and basic. We make things diffcult by coming up with our own methods. By teaching the basic principles of God's word we cannot fail in raising our children because the Lord will back us up with His power when we apply His principles. However, it starts with us as the parent and the way we live our lives as the example. How can we teach our child to be right with God if we are not following God's laws as parents. This book shows the extreme importance of putting our focus on bringing up our children God's way especially as we see our society's decline becoming more evident. Only the Lord can save the family!

An excellent presentation of the unchanging truths and principles that God gave us for not only raising children but for living all of life. MacArthur doesn't rest on the human wisdom found in theories and methods that change with time, place and people. This is a wonderful teaching tool to use alongside Scripture as an individual or in a class.

As a single person I rejoice in the goodness of God who has granted me the opportunity to read this book before I have a family. I can now look ahead with great confidence knowing that I have the tools to be a good parent, to raise children well, and that I have a God who is faithfull and has given me everything needed to be a "succesful Christian parent".

This is a really well written book that emphasizes biblical standards for raising children. Goes against alot of moden psyco-babble.

Obviously when a parent reads a book on parenting there will be aspects and opinions that are not always agreed with. I am not finished with the book so I will only review what I have read so far. I am in chapter 4 and still reading, that's good! If I don't like the beginning of a book, I won't read it!
First, what I do not agree with; In chapter 2 he mentions that some parents are extreme in their efforts to protect their children from sexual material, that if we, as parents, do not allow our kids some sort of knowledge of sex, that in their sinful nature will conjure up their own ideas of it. He uses the idea of historical art; that we shouldn't keep them from it, but allow them to see it, as art but using it as an opportunity to teach our children. I am an artist, I am a Christian, I do not agree that nudity in any art, modern or historical, can be considered art. I feel that nudity in historical art is just older forms of pornography. I do agree that children need to be informed about sex, body parts and their functions, but allowing them to gaze at naked people in a painting so that I can seize the opportunity to enlighten my children is not the way I am going to approach that subject. I would not allow a movie with any nudity in my home, nor will I allow art with nudity. (By the way, he only makes mention of this subject, it is not a big portion of the book that he lingers on, I am merely passionate about it because I am reading this book with a couple girlfriends, they do not agree with me, I am alone in my [personal] conviction)
Also, when he begins the book he uses extreme examples to bring across his point of how far off our society is from being just (Example: a man went to jail for 5 years for killing a dog, and a woman went to jail for 5 months for throwing her baby out a window)Not that that is wrong to use the extremes, but there is middle ground that I think more people could relate to and understand that maybe could have been better examples for making his point.
Second, what I love; MacAthur is not slack in backing up his teaching with Scripture! I love it, so far, the best part! Chapter 3 is almost entirely all Scripture. You cannot argue Scripture, you can argue man's opinion, but not the Lords'!! MacArthur is doing a wonderful job at presenting a Godly view of parenting. My hope is that the things I disagree with, are disagreements because I cannot understand his tone in the way he presents his opinions or examples. I cannot hear the love in his voice through the pages, perhaps hearing this subject taught would be more affective than just reading it, so much is lost in black and white. God Bless him and his ministry, and God bless you as you read this book!

This is an excellent tool when seeking guidance for scripture pertaining to parenting. This book is a must read for all parents!!! Enjoy!

Great book, sticks to the Bible and teaches you to train your child's heart rather than a parenting how to book.