When I was getting ready for the arrival of my first child, I was fully prepared for life after Baby. His schedule was already set in stone, and I knew what to do and what not to do. How come? Because I had the Baby Bible, known to some as Baby Wise. After all, I had several suggestions that this was THE ultimate baby manual. (Even the clerk at Hastings told me how great it was as I was checking out.) I ignored my mom and mother-in-law’s concerned raised eyebrows at my predetermined set schedule with no regard that Baby might not cooperate. After all, they didn’t have all this great information. The Baby Bible hadn’t been printed when they had their babies. (How in the world did they manage?) A few weeks later, these sweet mothers compassionately withheld their “I told you so” when Baby Drew didn’t exactly eat, sleep, and play on cue despite my “by the book” leadings.
After a few weeks, I realized that Baby Wise was a very useful book, to be considered along with my mother’s instincts. Getting him on a schedule was great. Letting him cry himself to sleep as an infant was not.
Today Drew is almost 5, so my attention is now captured by parenting books. I have read several that were very helpful. Just this morning, I saw a review of a new parenting book that seemed very promising. After reading the review, I was tempted to do the “aha!” thing, thinking maybe this was the parenting book to end all Christian parenting debates. Then I read the comments on the review and saw some who were as intrigued as I was and some who had valid arguments the other way.
So what is one to do? We are in an age where we have all the information we could ever want at our fingertips. If we want to find something new to try with our children, we can find it. If we want to find something to justify our present viewpoint, we can find it. If we want something to prove that someone else is doing it wrong, we can find it. You name it, we can find it.
What we fail to miss, even as Christians, is that “THE” parenting book exists in all of our homes. We probably have several copies, in fact. It’s the Word of God itself. Sure, it doesn’t tell you how to get your infant to sleep through the night in 8 weeks, and it doesn’t tell you how long and when (or if) you should use time outs with your toddler. But still, it is sufficient. The Gospel itself – that we’re all sinners and in need of Christ to save us from our sins – stands alone needing nothing added. (After all, the grace of the Gospel is our child’s greatest need anyway.)
That being said, of course I am going to read parenting books. Of course I’m going to click on parenting articles. Of course I’m going to peruse parenting blogs. But, I’m going to make a point of putting on a little more discernment. I’m going to seek out various points of view before I make an assumption that one is right. I’m going to be open that what is right for your child might not be right for mine. And vice versa. But above all, I’m going to compare what I read with Scripture.
I’m also not going to assume that I know all I need to know about Scripture. Anyone can prooftext their position (i.e. find Scripture that underscores the point being made). When a writer is quoting Scripture, it’s easy to take him or her at his or her word. I’m realizing, however, that my responsibility is to be in the Word daily, and more importantly, read it more than any other book. That way, I can “test everything” I read by what I have been reading in Scripture.
God is funny sometimes. I may not be able to quote the entire Bible, but what I read this morning might just have application in what I read later. (Case in point, a Scripture quoted in an article I read today was the exact Scripture I read this morning.) Nothing can go against the Holy Spirit-inspired Word.
And it’s that Word that we must go to. It’s that word that we must compare all other works of writing. Even this one.
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