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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 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 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

Testimony 4

I’m a youth leader in South Africa. We as a youth group are currently using a lot of the material on the Come and Reason site. Since we’ve started using the material, our youth group has grown.

R. V. N., South Africa

 

Testimony 17

The blessings of clarity and understanding you and your class inspire me to take from the word of God have impressed upon me so greatly the true, loving character of our Creator. I have found amazing freedom and joy through building a stronger, more intentional relationship with Him. What is new is that this is now a relationship built on love, reverence and respect rather than fear and obligation, and as such my eyes have been slammed OPEN as I am continually impressed by the manifestations of God’s true character in His provisions for fallen man.

T.E.H., Salt Lake City, UT, USA

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

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 58

I have been watching your videos in The Power of Love seminar and I must say these have liberated me and have improved my relationship with the Lord. I am no longer terrified of him as I was before following your teachings.

Thando N., South Africa

 

Testimony 9

I really enjoy with you the view of a gracious God. Thank you for sharing the work you are allowing the Lord to do in you.

L., Queensland, Australia

 

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA

 

Testimony 16

Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.

 

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 5

We listen to your bible studies lessons in our class in Montana. You actually were the main reason I decided to get a laptop, so I can go to your site and listen, read, learn, and print the class notes. I am so grateful to learn the correct view of God and his character. Now, to just have others have an interest in knowing, so I can share it with them. Good thoughts your way.

R. N., MT, USA

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

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 46

Over the past couple of years God has been expanding my view of Himself and His character. Along my approximately 40-year journey, I have often had questions, but was hesitant to voice these and step outside the traditionally accepted thinking, for fear of admitting that I may in fact be eternally lost. In the recesses of my thinking has been the thought – if one blindly accepts (which is widely regarded as “real faith”) and does not question, is this really ‘truth?’ I often find it challenging to grapple with very theological ‘speak,’ but Dr. Jennings has a real gift of explaining spiritual concepts with clear practical examples. The weekly discussions are growing my Christian experience and slowly changing my view of how to live as a child of God in today’s complex world. Finally the whole Old Testament sanctuary teaching moved in my mind from fantasy to reality!

Beverly S., South Africa