What the Bible Says About Child Training (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

J. Richard Fugate (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1999

This is a study to help parents better discover the mechanics for successfully raising children. To accomplish these ends, this book carefully defines parental accountability, authority, and responsibility. The book also describes the nature of a child and explains the biblically defined states of development. With these principles firmly established, this book presents a biblical system for rearing children.

Editorial Reviews

Review

We are so grateful for your ministry to the Lord's people through the years. Your materials have been a great blessing to my husband and me. I am teaching a small class of ladies in our church whose husbands are preparing for the ministry. My topic is child rearing and I am highly recommending your book, What the Bible Says About Child Training. It is the single resource we have most recommended as my husband and I have served in Christian School ministries in the 80's and then in home schooling circles during the 90's.Thank you again for your ministry to so many of us as we have sought to rear our children according to the Scriptures. Our four sons have completed their Christian college training. Two are going to the mission field; the other two are in full time Christian service. They are now rearing their children according to the principles of the Word of God. You have had a great part in helping us with their training. Thank you. You may use our names and testimony in any way that will advance the cause of Christ as we teach the Biblical rearing of our children. --Virginia and Bruce Arnold

I have read and reread What the Bible Says About Child Training. Your book helped me understand God's philosophy for raising children and gave me the methods to apply in everyday life. I've also taught child training classes to women, and even broadcasted a nine part series over the radio here in Zambia. I can't really express the value of that knowledge, except that it saved my life and that of my three girls. My oldest is now in her second year of college, choosing to be a Christian in the midst of plenty of ungodly temptation. My second will complete high school in June (we homeschool here in Zambia) and wants to study nursing. My youngest was the hardest to train, since her type of rebellion was buried and I could never put my finger on it until she reached her teens. Pretty scary, but God has been gracious to us. We still have time and she sees herself pretty clearly now. God has been good to fulfill His promises. My girls have thanked me profusely and often for disciplining them, especially when they see other teens act horribly. They are not embarrassed by their mother, but heap affection and love on her (Proverbs 31:28)." --Personal letter from Joan Hansston, Mazabuka, Zambia --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

The following comments by the author are not intended to help sell his book, merely to give his opinion as to why this particular book has such complete opposite for and against reviews. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 321 pages
• Publisher: Holly Hall Pub; 2 edition (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888306513
• ISBN-13: 978-1888306514
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (134 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,298,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mr. Fugate personally accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized into the Body of Christ at Reinhardt Bible Church in Garland, Texas, in 1968. He and his wife, Virginia, have attended a Bible-teaching church in each city God has sent them to minister: Dallas, Austin, Phoenix, and Sacramento over the past 40 years. Most of their pastors have been graduates of Dallas Theological Seminary.

After committing himself in 1971 to serve God anywhere, or in any manner he might be called, Mr. Fugate learned Greek and studied many thousands of hours in the original languages of the Old and New Testament texts. He did not rely on existing systematic Theologies or Bible commentaries; convinced that he needed to perform his own exegesis and word studies to verify or develop doctrines that are substantiated by Scripture alone. He founded the Foundation for Biblical Research (FBR) in 1979 "to determine the one true meaning of Scripture based on honest research and a scientifically sound system of hermeneutics." All of Mr. and Mrs. Fugate's books are written based on that research.

Soon after his commitment to God, Mr. Fugate was called as Business Manager and later became Vice President of Finance for Accelerated Christian Education (A.C.E.). In 1975, Mr. and Mrs. Fugate were led to start a pilot Christian school in Garland, Texas, based on their experience of having home schooled their own three children for two previous years. In March of 1982 he was hired as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of A.O.P. where he served for the next 13 years.

Mr. Fugate was also a Keynote Speaker at 40+ State homeschool conventions in the 1990's and has written three books on home schooling. When A.O.P. was bought out in 1995, the Fugate's went on the road speaking on Biblical marriage, child training, and home schooling while writing second editions of their popular books. Mr. Fugate then served as Business Manager of Family Ministries from 2000 through 2004 until his "retirement" as full-time Director of The Foundation for Biblical Research in Arizona. He continues to research, teach and write on Bible-Based Theology. He has also served as an Elder in his church, IN THE WORD BIBLE FELLOWSHIP, in Mesa, AZ.

The Theological and Philosophical Positions of the Foundation for Biblical Research can be seen at its website, www.FoundationforBiblicalResearch.org.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best, March 17, 2007

By 

J. R. Neumiller (Salisbury, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What the Bible Says About Child Training (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

I'm a 43 year old father of four young ones, and was not raised with disciplined training or self-control. Consequently, my opinion of and confidence in my parenting abilities have always been poor; being evidence with poor fruit.

I'm well familiar with the famous/infamous "Pearls" - Michael and Debbi - of Nogreaterjoy notoriety. We got involved with their writings when my children were very young - and had extremely poor results with them. So much so that I basically kicked Michael and Debbi out of my house, and turned my back on the whole corrective/chastisement process of child training. (And for this reason, I do not recommend their writings to young parents just starting out. Both Michael and Debbi do not present Biblical chastisement clearly enough to prevent many well-intentioned parents from making dreadful mistakes; akin to giving a loaded weapon to an untrained 4 year old.)

But just because the Pearls have communication issues doesn't mean corrective child training can be ignored. The problem for so many - myself front and center - is the improper application of it. If a person doesn't understand or have a good heart about using a rod or stick to physically switch or "correct" their child, it would be best if they used something else - as ineffective as it may be. As important, essential, and vitally necessary corrective child-training is, it will make a situation much much worse if misapplied. (And very few of these child-training writers stress that enough, IMHO.)

But don't be misled: children *must have* pressure applied to their wills in order to guide their behavior into accepted channels. The person who thinks their child can be self-trained, or that a child is trained simply by being around a kind and gentle person is vastly fooling him/her self. Unless a child is forcefully corrected, his/her sin nature will plot a invariably self-destructive course.

Here is what God actually says about corrective training:

Psalms 89:30-33, "If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail."

(Please understand: God's ways are eternal. He does not change His mind like we do.)

Proverbs 13:24, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."

Proverbs 22:15, "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."

Proverbs 23:13-14, "Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell."

Proverbs 29:15, "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."

The Apostle Paul warns erring Christians: 1 Corinthians 4:21, "What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?"

For some to conclude that God does not advocate physical chastisement in His Word are most surely deceived. The teaching is clear, unequivocal, and without apology. ONLY in the last century has their been any serious challenge to this, (and we are all seeing its resultant fruits.) Its amazing that so many professed Christians are so completely in rebellion about what the Bible VERY plainly teaches.

Mr. Fugate not only explains the necessity of parental authority, but he also lays out the reality of what a child is, what child training is and is not, and how essential it is that every child be absolutely under the rule and authority of his/her parents in every respect. *Any deviation* from parental rules and standards is defiance and open rebellion. If it is not corrected, not only will the child suffer a willful and self-pleasing lifestyle, his soul is at risk of eternal damnation, (Profession of Christian salvation or no.) It surely is that serious.

Here is my advice to young parents: if you were raised foolishly and you have major self-centered problems, don't expect them to go away overnight. You yourself need major training yourself. Parenting requires a lot of patience, and its easy to not know how much discipline is necessary to successfully train a child. My experience is that God's mercy is tremendous, and a lot of mistakes can be made without permanent damage to the young child. (Contrary to pop-psychological beliefs, a child is not "permanently scarred" by a bad experience or two. God has designed us to be amazingly resilient.)

There are hundreds of child-training books out there, and while I have not read all of them, (nor do I intend to,) I know a good one when I see it. This book is a winner. I wholeheartedly endorse Mr. Fugate and his ability to clarify both the importance and means of successful Biblical child-training. Physical chastisement is only one facet of the whole. Without genuine love and interest for your children, all the chastisement in the world won't produce a happy soul.

And for those wise in their own conceits, rejecting God's command to chasten with a rod; their children may yet curse them to their face for not having loved them enough to deliver their souls from hell. (Proverbs 23:13-14, Proverbs 13:24) Fare thee well, friend.

A self-controlled child = an overcoming Adult.

31 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spare the Rod And Spoil the Child, April 23, 2006

By 

D. Laubler "amicalola_creek" (Marble Hill, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What the Bible Says About Child Training (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

The one star reviews here are the reason why we have record numbers of children either in jail or dead due to Un Godly Behavior.

These people grossly mis-state mr Fugates explanation of the scripture on the Rod. He did not write what they purport in their reviews.

Mr Fugate did not write this stuff...God did.. that is if you believe God wrote the Bible or you believe it is at least God inspired.

Read revelation and you will not have to imagine Jesus striking someone. He tells you he is going to do it. He came here the 1st time to fullfill the scriptures, not abolish them. He came to lead by example. To tell you how you should live. He did not abolish any scriptures, including those that tell you to use the rod to chasten your children and admonish you to correctly use of the rod.

I bought this book in 1992. I had a newborn a 2 year old and a 4 year old at this time.

Best investment I ever made.

Every Christian School our children has ever been in I have always heard nothing but kudos about our childrens behaior. They are now 13, 15 and 17. It has also has caused them to have self discipline and excel in their studies. The earlier a child learns that discipline eminates from love to inpire obedience in them and to respect authority, the better off everyone is.

After 1-2 years of consistant application of these principle I NEVER have had to use ANY kind of force with them. Why? Because they learned Love and Obedience from the rod.

I have also been in public places, the beach, restraunts, amuesment parks and had people walk up to me and compliment me on my childrens behavior.

As Mr fugate correctly points out... the only persons intended to discipline child are the parents, grandparents, god impowered authorities and God. Parents must take on this charge and not leave it to strangers.

Mr Fugate relates what the the scripture says, to lay "stripes" on your child with a rod. It does not say pummel them or leave bruises. Just enough force to make the child feel it and regret his behavior. It says to leave stripes (red marks not bruises, which will go away in less than an hour if you administered properly.)

He also states to use the rod in cases of absolute rebellion.

But as far as infants... even babies can rebel, any parent knows that, and yes you can even start to discipline at that age. Of course common sense tells you dont need to use much force, and dont need to leave stripes at this age. All I had to do is say NO and tap their little hand.

This book is for anyone who has read the Bible cover to cover (or willing to read the bible like any other book, not piecemeal, creating doctrine that one wants to create to justify their own beliefs) willing to accept what it says, not what they want it to say.

Give it a try

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, April 11, 2007

By 

L.L. - See all my reviews

This review is from: What the Bible Says About Child Training (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This book is biblical. Every point he makes is backed by scripture. Those who say it isn't I believe are too wrapped up in the world to see the truth. Sheparding a Child's heart is also a great book but doesn't go as indepth as this book.

This book does not teach you to beat your child. It teaches you to lovingly discipline them. If you are using the rod in anger you are wrong and are sinning.

Get Dr. Spocks mumbojumbo out of your brain. That book came out in the 1940's and look what sort of generation it produced? The 60s was the beginning of the loss of respect for the parent and autority.