If you are a parent, and you don't want to be challenged in your parenting, then DO NOT read this book by Voddie Baucham. If, however; you are interested in learning how to be a BETTER mom or dad, then this book will provide good fodder for your consideration. But, I've warned you ahead of time! :)I'm almost finished with this book, and it has kicked my patootie in many areas as a Dad. In fact, its been so challenging, and because I've found myself physically nodding my head in agreement on almost every page, I've decided to go back to the beginning with my wife (Susan), and read it with her. It has challenged us, but it has been such a blessing to consider together why we do things the way we do as a family.
The underlying method Baucham takes in this book is to take the prevailing worldview that many of us have bought into today in one hand, and then take the things we do as a family, and the ways we do them, and what we stand for as a family in the other hand. Then he challenges us to consider how we operate as a family through the lens of a Biblical worldview as opposed to the predominant humanistic, man-centered, me-first, pleasure-at-all-costs, entertainment-driven, leisure-focused, convenience-minded worldview that we hear from the culture around us in 21st century America. When you walk through that process with everything you do as a parent (i.e. how we do church, how we educate our kids, what we expect of our kids, how we disciple our kids, etc., etc.), then you'll end up with several new areas to rework. At least we did....the question for us is where to start.
Well, we've decided to start with family worship. We started this daily habit recently, and it has been such a joy. We read the Bible together, pray together, and sing together, all with a focus toward glorifying God together as a family. I've got four boys (one is a teenager), and it has been awesome to see how they look forward to this time, and participate in a way that demonstrates that they truly are worshipping God.
It has put a smile on my face (and Susan's) more than once, but most importantly, I believe God is smiling more in behalf of our family now too. If we get nothing else from the content of this book (I doubt that), this is enough for me to say "thank you Voddie Baucham!".
Posts
