Biblical parenting

Raising Fruitful Children.

In Crianza bíblica (Biblical Parenting), Héctor Salcedo shows us that the key to teaching, disciplining, and raising our children is to emphasize not only what we should do as parents but who we should be, with the help of God's Word.

As parents, we try to sow God's Word or "seed" in our children, but before planting, we are missing a very important step. Biblical parenting requires parents to strive to create a receptive and teachable attitude in their children's hearts before sowing.

Crianza bíblica (Biblical Parenting) is a Bible study and practical guide for "preparing the ground" where parents will then "sow the discipline and instruction of the Lord." According to the author, parenting consists of the following elements found in Ephesians 6:4, each of which must be adequately developed:

• “Fathers” = Presence
• “Do not provoke to anger...” = Fertile ground
• “Bring them up” = Devotion
• “Discipline” = Training
• “Instruction” = Admonishing or warning
• “Of the Lord” = Word of God

This material, although its goal is parenting, works extensively with parents, as it assumes that if parents are not who they should be, then their parenting will not be all that God desires. Deuteronomy 6:6 tells us: "These words that I command you today shall be on your heart..." That is, before teaching our children, we must have been taught ourselves. If we parents are not faithful disciples of the Word, it is unlikely that we will be able to transmit the truth of God to the next generation.