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Posted on 01/05/2007 9:36:30 AM PST by Gamecock
It’s one of life’s ironies - I guess one of the great parenting dilemmas.
Do we want our children to be comfortable or to have character? The short answer may be both, but I’m not sure how that shakes out. If we must choose one, it would have to be character and that comes from facing challenges. So much for comfort.
Author Rick Warren says God is more interested in our character than our comfort. That may be a shock to us because we often view God as one who spends his time removing obstacles from our paths and making our lives ever easier and more pleasant.
But Warren is right, God is more interested in us becoming mature than comfortable. He allows trials in our lives for the very reason that he wants us to grow from them. James says we should rejoice in this because it exercises our faith and makes us better and stronger.
Since God is the ultimate parent, it is a lesson for us, then. What is our purpose as parents – to instill character in our children, or to spend our time, money and effort quenching their every thirst, satisfying their every need and making their lives as stress free as humanly possible?
Don’t get me wrong, I believe we should make our children’s lives as pleasant as we can, to a point. We have a dachshund who thinks he’s a person. I feel it is my job to make his life as comfortable as possible. He has no character and he’s not supposed to, but it lowers my blood pressure to see him warm and fed. He gives me feelings of comfort when he sleeps in my lap and that’s why he was created.
But my children were not created for my pleasure. They were created for God’s pleasure and he needs them to have character, to grow in maturity and to possess self-discipline. I simply have the privilege of being one of their guardians for a season. So we let the dog sleep in, but we see to it that they get up, dressed and to school on time.
This is a bit counter to the culture, but what wisdom isn’t? I saw a commercial the other day that advertised a new device that will take the wrapping off of your new CDs and DVDs. For only $20, you no longer have to find a knife or car key to rip off the cellophane. I’m not even saying it’s a bad idea, I’m just saying our culture continually tells us to take life easy, be a person of leisure – to be lazy.
What is character, anyway? Warren says it is the sum of our habits. It is how we act and react to the world around us. If we get everything we want or always get our way, we may become spoiled. We may be shocked when our teachers and bosses aren’t as interested in our leisure as our parents were.
If we are allowed to watch or listen to everything our little heart desires, we may mirror that behavior. If we are never taught manners, it will affect our future relationships. If we are not taught respect, it can get us into a lot of trouble and heartache later. If we are not taught fiscal responsibility when we are young, it can really bite us when we get out on our own.
You get the idea. So, what is your goal as a parent – to make your children comfortable or to instill character in them? The world is waiting and watching. And hoping.
The only thing God is interested in is whether we are cloaked in the imputed righteousness of Christ. Any thing else is fitly rags.
Evil character (enjoys harming others)
Bad character (obsessed with pleasing self)
Good character (thoughtful of others, honest, just)
Godly character (submissive to the Lordship of Christ)
This is my view even though at the same time I believe in the doctrine of total depravity. The first three are about degrees of depravity. We should desire that all mankind be at the good character degree of total depravity. The next step is only possible through death of self and total submission to the Lordship of Christ.
It appears to me that Warren might equate "good character" with "godly character" in that he seems to think it is all about doing charity work.
Well, it's a cinch we haven't gotten onto the right track for understanding what God wants of each of us (beyond our faith in His Grace) because we have yet to comprehend the message in Christ's Sermon on the Mount. And as for what life after this earthly sojourn will be like, well, forget it! We have yet to comprehend if this sojourn and the next to come are either intimately connected or only remotely associated to one another.
He's right. It is our responsibility to nurture our children so that they have a Godly character. Many kids are too spoiled, and many are lacking in Godly character. They have no respect for anyone or anything.
There are people with great character in Hell. There are murderers in Heaven.
You're preaching to the choir. I read/study the Bible, and I know God's Word! You need to read what I said again. "Godly character." That's not talking about anything secular.
Godly character only comes from one source, and it ain't from inside.
Godly character only comes from one source, and it ain't from inside.
= = =
Could have fooled me.
I understood [and have found] that Holy Spirit
dwells . . . drum roll . . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
withIN
me.
Guess we have to tear out some more inaccurate Bible verses. /sar
All Jr Accusers! Step right up! New opportunities opening up constantly in a thread near wherever you're hanging out.
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Methinks . . . that if and when God starts hammering the Jr Accusers 1/10th as much as they are hammering RW, they will be obliterated to dust and finer.
Author Rick Warren says God is more interested in our character than our comfort.
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So, are we to take it that the above is considered a false statement? An untruth?
Or is it a true and Godly perspective?
One thing that gets me about the doctrine of total depravity is that it messes with people's sense of logic and judgment. They theologize away wisdom. It's weird. Even scary in some ways.
Don't be ridiculous! Of course it does. Have you ever read the Bible? Are you a Born Again Christian? IF you are, then you should know what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit and what God gave the Holy Spirit to Born Again Christians to do. That being said, the way you give your children Godly character is by reading/teaching them the Word, taking them to church and to Sunday school. In order for them to gain Godly character, you have to live it in front of them. Teach them by example and the Word of God.
Can't we have both? I thought that the Christian life was one of joy, love, hope, etc. Didn't Christ say He came to give life and give it more abundantly, that He has overcome the world so that our joy may be full? Doesn't He lead us besides still waters and restores our souls?
I was reading through St. Ignatius writings yesterday and I remember him saying that he was going to be thrown to the lions but not to worry; he welcomed it. In fact, he said that if the lions didn't come for him, he would go to them and force them to eat him. He had both character and comfort. Didn't Paul state the same thing that in all things he had learned to be content?
As we are drawn more and more to Christ, our character reflects the very nature of God like Moses face radiating and we enter His rest.
The Holy Spirit is the one that gives the ability to please God
In order for them to gain Godly character, you have to live it in front of them.
We are sinners. If my children emulate me, if yours emulate me, they are in trouble. Look to the cross, that is where salvation is, not in yourself.
Of course it is. But we need to talk about Christ first and frequently. Warren and the Warrenites are quick to leave out Christ and all they talk about how we need to live Godly lives. But again, we need Christ first. That is my point.
And it comes from the Holy Spirit.
Not From Me.
Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Surely you are not calling me an "accuser;" which is the same as calling me Satan now are you? That would be a personal attack.
I couldn't begin to discern flawlessly what folks feel in their hearts and operate out of from their hearts. I speak generically of Jr A's from across the waterfront--not just on FR.
Though I wouldn't try to prevent someone from wearing shoes that they felt fit exceedingly well.
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