I love my children, but when they misbehave I often get angry with them. Oddly enough when I approach God after I have sinned I don't ever feel Him yelling or angry with me. Our theology is loaded with references about the love and grace of God, and how He may be heart broken by our sin but He forgives us and draws us to Him, even as we are in rebellion. So why am I angry with my kids? Is it because they have sinned against God or is it because they have sinned against me? If it is because they are sinning against God, I'm pretty sure that he doesn't need me to be angry on His behalf. So that leaves option #2, and the reality makes me tremble. Should my children be punished when they misbehave? Of course, but they should not feel my wrath or self righteousness. Am I teaching my children to do what's right because God loves them and they should desire to please Him, or am I teaching them to do what's right because they fear making me angry? What happens when they no longer fear my anger? Am I teaching them to fear God or to fear me?
I'm not saying I have all the answers here, I just know that there's to much me in my parenting, and not enough God. This has nothing to do with me, it is about raising up men and women who will go out and start lives and families of their own.
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