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Parents Represent God to Their Children

Parents Represent God to Their Children

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13 NIV84). “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13 NIV84).

Happy the child in whom such words as these awaken love and gratitude and trust; the child to whom the tenderness and justice and long-suffering of father and mother and teacher interpret the love and justice and long-suffering of God; the child who by trust and submission and reverence toward his earthly protectors learns to trust and obey and reverence his God. He who imparts to child or pupil such a gift has endowed him with a treasure more precious than the wealth of all the ages—a treasure as enduring as eternity (Education, p. 245).

By God’s design, parents stand in the role of God to their small children. Parents first act in the role of loving creators. Just as the Father, Son, and Spirit united in love to create human beings in their image (Genesis 1:26, 27), so also human beings are designed by God to come together in the union of marital love and create little beings in their image.

As Adam and Eve entered into Sabbath rest in loving relationship with God immediately after their creation, so also infants upon birth immediately enter into the loving arms of their parents, resting in their tender care, devoted nurturance, and constant protection.

Just as God provided a garden home for Adam and Eve as a place of discovery, learning, and insight, so also godly parents provide homes enriched with resources to nurture, inspire, comfort, challenge, intrigue, thrill, educate, and develop their children in balanced and harmonious ways.

Just as God filled the garden with foods perfectly designed for the health of human beings, so also loving parents provide nutrition designed for their child’s health and wellbeing.

Just as God brought the animals for Adam to name, so also parents provide opportunities for their children to apply themselves; even though the parent could do the activity better, the love of the parent, like God’s love for Adam, rejoices to see their child grow, apply themselves, and develop; and they share the glee, smile, laugh, and joy of their child’s new discoveries and every success.

Just as God provided useful labor for our first parents to develop and advance their skills, abilities, talents, and wisdom, so also godly parents provide age-appropriate, useful labor for their children, because loving parents know that without application, without exertion, without the investment of time and energy, there is no development.

Just as God provided the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil so that Adam and Eve could choose for themselves what they would know—not cognitively but by experience; for instance, would they know/experience love, loyalty, devotion, trust, faithfulness, maturity, reliability, or would they know/experience fear, selfishness, rebellion, guilt, shame, and terror?—so also godly, loving parents know that real love requires freedom and train their children to love and trust, but they also know that when age-appropriate, their children must be set free to choose for themselves what they will know in heart, mind, and character. Will they know good? Will they know Jesus and make Him their heart’s first desire? Will they choose to know God’s methods, or will they know evil; will they choose selfishness and know rebellion and lawlessness, with all its pain, suffering, guilt, shame, and turmoil?

Just as “the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (Proverbs 3:12 NIV84), so also loving parents discipline their children, teaching them right from wrong, healthy from unhealthy, and good from evil. But just as God’s discipline is always in love, never with loss of self-control or out of frustration and impatience, and never abusive, so also godly parents will discipline in love, patiently, thoughtfully, with the discipline specifically designed to be redemptive to their children, leading their children to humble repentance and development of their godlike individuality, maturing them to one day be self-governed individuals who carry the image of their heavenly Father in all that they do.

And just as God said, “Come now, let us reason together,” (Isaiah 1:18 NIV84) and wants His children to develop their individuality, their own ability to reason, think, weigh evidences, and “who by constant use [train] themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14 NIV84), so also godly parents teach their children how to use their God-given faculties to think, weigh evidences, make decisions, and discern the right from the wrong.

And just as Jesus invited His disciples into understanding friendship (John 15:15), so also loving parents do all of this so that one day their children will grow up to be understanding, mature, trustworthy friends of God and thereby be individuals who no longer need to be parented, for they have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) and are self-controlled (Galatians 5:23).

Yes, parents stand in the role of God to their children—what an incredible privilege and responsibility, one that we can effectively do only when we know God for ourselves, are surrendered in heart and mind to Him, humbly seek His wisdom, and receive His indwelling presence, power, and peace.

If you are a parent or grandparent, carefully consider your actions, demeanor, and choices when dealing with your children and grandchildren, for you are standing in the place of God in their young lives.

 

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Testimony 11

I would love to have a copy of “Healing the Mind” DVDs to have in my therapy office. I enjoy having clients check out materials to enhance their therapy experience. I have sat under Dr. Jennings’ teaching at an American Association of Christian Counselors convention and respect his work greatly.

K.B., LA, USA

 

Testimony 20

I just wanted to personally thank you for your teachings and insight into scripture. I came across your website via my cousin who suggested I look into “Healing the Mind” information. My youngest daughter has been struggling over the last couple of years and it all came to a head this spring. When I started listening to the “Healing the Mind” lectures my own life began to be transformed. I began sharing with all my daughters the concepts you laid out so clearly. I ordered your book and soaked it up. I just want to say “Thank You!” My walk with the Lord has been refreshed and renewed. Your obedience to the Lord is a blessing to so many.

R. K., Anderson, SC, USA

 

Testimony 26

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 35

I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

Bless you for all you do.

Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 22

I have found your Bible study class lectures to be very inspiring and useful as I prepare to teach class every other week. I subscribe to the podcast and download your notes on the weeks I teach. The audio and notes are such a great help in preparing. My own understanding of God’s character has grown as I teach the class. Commendations on the thought-provoking and well-prepared material Come and Reason provides. Personally, I get excited by the tie you make between the spiritual and mental/physical domains.

A.A. Corrales, NM, USA

 

Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 45

I have been confused for years about what [christianity] calls [its] most disgusting teaching. It has never made much sense to me and for that reason has been evermore empty. I have listened to your class off and on and have struggled determining what is truth, because of the resistance design law encounters in the church. So, I thank God for your ministry. What you teach makes sense. It’s logical and backed up by the power of love. I have never seen that in Christ until now. I am astounded by the insight that is found when we look at God’s ministry through design law. All strength to this message, as I believe it to be the power of God.

Brendon S.

 

Testimony 52

Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

I just wanted to say, thank you, sooooo much for revealing the real Remedy for our infected life. I have a new hope and now see the world in a different perspective!

Wheinny P., University Place, WA, USA

 

Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

Testimony 57

You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

Emmanuel V., Calgary, AB Canada

Testimony 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

Testimony 65

I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

Jeff D., Reading, MA, USA

 

Testimony 61

I grew up in a prominent protestant church and had what I like to call religious anxiety. I’ve always had questions about God and Salvation that no one could seem to answer.  I didn’t know how to find resolution. During 2020, at the height of my anxiety, I fell to my knees and begged God to show me truth and light and to give me the hope that I’ve been longing for. Days later, I stumbled upon your online videos and it was like a veil was lifted and EVERYTHING made sense! For the first time in my almost 39 years of life, my religious/spiritual anxiety has lessened. I feel a sense of freedom and peace I’ve NEVER had before… and it’s all because my view of God has changed. Thank you!

Ashleighn C.