Despite the claims of our postmodern culture, “good” and “evil” still have objective meaning. Our children aren’t going to learn that from public schools or the media. It’s up to us as parents to teach life’s most important curriculum.
How? Dr. James Dobson recommends:
1. Learn more about today’s relativistic postmodern philosophy. Your child is growing up in a world “in which all ideas are considered equally valid and nothing is really wrong.”
2. Learn more about the Christian
worldview, which teaches “that good and evil are determined
by the God of the universe and that He has given us an unchanging moral
standard by which to live. He also offers forgiveness from sins, which
boys and girls have good reason to need. Only with this understanding is
a child being prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead.”
3. Recognize your God-given responsibilities. “[M]ost American children receive no spiritual training whatsoever! They are left to make it up as they go along, which leads to the meaningless
existence we have discussed.”
4. Be consistent in the way you teach your son or daughter. “Children get their values and beliefs from what they see modeled at home. It is one reason why moms and dads must live a morally consistent life in front of their kids. [Parents] can’t afford to be casual or whimsical about the things they believe. If you as a parent act as though there is no absolute truth, and if you are too busy to pray and attend church services together … your children will get the message. ‘Mom and Dad talk a good game, but they don’t really believe it.’ If you serve them this weak soup throughout childhood, they will spew it out when given the opportunity. Any ethical weak spot of this nature — any lack of clarity on matters of right and wrong — will be noted and magnified by the next generation.”
5. Plant your family’s roots deeply into a good
local church where they will be taught the Scriptures and doctrines
of the faith.
6. Give your child the opportunity to trust
Jesus Christ when he or she is young.
