Disagreement March 28, 2007
Posted by Erin in : General Lessons , trackbackJoe,
Thanks for picking up my slack yesterday by posting those two articles. After reading the second one, I am going to have to disagree with the basis of the article. Yes, my love, I am bringing an argument to what you posted to the internet! I am pretty sure you were not able to read it through the whole way though and probably just got it from a reliable source!
The post was dealing with not motivating children through fear or pride, which of course was good. The then the following statement was made:
“Motivating children through gratitude for the cross is a very different but far superior approach to disciple-making than getting kids to obey out of fear or guilt or pride.”
Although it may sound good to motivate through GRATITUDE for the cross, that is something the Bible never does. As you know, one of my favorite books is John Piper’s “Future Grace” and in that book he spends the first half dispelling the notion that we should be obedient out of gratitude. In deed, we are to gives thanks, but thankfulness is not to be the motivation for obeying. Instead, the Bible points us to future grace (as the title implies) as the reason we are given for obedience. We are to look forward to the rewards that God promises and not look backwards to the work of the cross. Again, gratitude is indeed called for in the Bible, but not as a motivation to obey.
This is a great lesson in how to motivate children to obey as well. We often appeal to Abby’s desire to be happy, as the Bible often does. That is a reward that God promises to those who walk in righteousness. There are countless other promises of obedience in the Word as well. I am seeing many of them as I read through Proverbs right now.
So I would encourage parents to search the Scriptures for the promises of those who will obey. And encourage your children to obey to achieve those promises!
Seeking the promises,
Erin
Comments»
no comments yet - be the first?