Pagan {Christian} Parenting

Please go here and read this article RIGHT NOW! :)  It's called "How to Raise a Pagan Kid in a Christian Home".  It's phenomenal and will really prick your conscience if you're like the typical American Christian parent like me.  Here's an excerpt:

Do you teach your kids "be good because the Bible tells you to" or do you teach your kids that they will never be good without Christ’s offer of grace? There is a huge difference. One leads to moralism; the other leads to brokenness. One leads to self-righteousness; the other leads to a life that realizes that Christ is everything and that nothing else matters.   

Continue reading the post here....

Jon Bloom on the DesiringGod.org website writes an awesome post called "Don't Raise Good Kids" - a post where I can very much personally relate to the author's words. Making our children see the total depravity that is in them is key to making them see the need for Christ's grace and salvation in their life. Another great blog post I just read from Sally Clarkson is about training up your child (especially that difficult one that knows just how to push your buttons!) and recognizing the unique traits that irritate you now but may help them fulfill God's calling on their life later.

I sit here in the midst of these incredible teachings and can only pray for God to help me teach my children the gospel, not just good behavior!  Help me to reach their hearts for God, not create an external facade of righteousness!

Some resources I'm either reading right now or own that I feel are helpful toward this end are:

For Instructions in Righteousness (awesome reference guide to match Scripture with different character weaknesses - this company also provides many other excellent resources for Biblical character training)

Shepherding a Child's Heart (love this book but have yet to finish it)

Wise Words for Moms (very thin reference book with easy-to-use chart of verses to deal with specific offenses)

Don't Make Me Count to Three! (reading right now)

Teach Them Diligently: How to Use the Scriptures in Child Training (very good book about getting to the heart of your child's behavior and how to train up your child in the admonition of the Lord)

Grace-Based Parenting (looks good though I haven't read it and don't own it)

If you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below...