Click on the link below to read an article written by one of my former professors at Southern Seminary. I read this article shortly after having a conversation with someone about the exact issue to which Dr. Moore touches upon. Let me hear your thougths if you get a chance to read it!
http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=19-08-014-v
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So - I posted a long comment on this but attached under the wrong topic - under the Discernment topic, so I am copying here - don't know if I can delete the other one or not.
ReplyDeleteA few rambling comments (as mine usually are):
(As a new grandparent - these thoughts and feelings now extend to 2 generations.}
When we become parents, we are thrust into a situation where we experience overwhelming love for our children. If we use the definition of love as proposed by Tom Wells as "putting the welfare of another above our own", we can identify with this defintion in our relationship to our children - we would sacrifice our own welfare for theirs (as we would also for our spouses - but this article was about being parents).
It is because of this love that we might experience fear or even depression at the thought of our children suffering - we suffer with their pain and we realize that we can't control those situations.
In most cases in our lives, we tend to pick and choose who we will love deeply, but with our children, that choice is strengthened by the close connection we have as they grow and develop. We all know that the more we love someone or something, the more we put ourselves at risk of being hurt.
I think this is part of the reason that Christians, as fallen, redeemed, but not fully sanctified sinners, many times hesitate to open ourselves up to the complete fellowship of other believers - if we do so, we may suffer with others in their pain.
As I thought about this, it struck me even more that the "risk" taken by Christ in expressing His love to His people so completely could never be in vain - anyone who truly experiences and understands the love of another to that extent could never just walk away - truly Irresistable Grace.
I conclude that realizing the love Christ has for us obviously demonstrates perfect love, but his joy in doing the Father's will also demonstrates that while we may never fully remove ourselves from our children's trials and sufferings (nor should we), the most valuable thing we can do for them, and all believers, is to pray for their, and our recognition of Christ's love and His suffiency in every single situation.
Correct. Admitting that we experience depression, worry, and even frustration in the parenting process is normal and part of our honest struggle as we journey toward glorification. But ultimately we will also rest in the sovereignty of God as He works out His will for our children. We must prayerfully set forth Christ in every area of our lives, especially the relationship with our spouses. Our relationship with the church will also effect our children's acknowledgment of Christ as the Spirit is pleased to move in their hearts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments Zeke. It is always nice to receive wisdom from someone who has been through the parenting process.