Wisdom from Murray {“How to Raise Your Children for Christ”} series recap: The Family as God Created It–Earthly fathers reflect our heavenly Father (Adam & Eve) The Family as Sin Made It-How to remove seeds of ...
Posts With Tag: How to Raise your children for Christ
My {in process} Story
Actually, I have just read the chapter you are referring to in Andrew Murray’s book and as much as I would like to believe that I can secure salvation for my children through my faith, it doesn’t seem to line up with the whole of scripture. Of course, there is nothing I want more in the world than to be assured that my children will spend eternity in heaven, but I have a hard time forcing faith in a old testament promise that was given to Abraham. Also, if I fail to have “enough faith” in the promise, does that mean that my children will not experience God’s free grace because of me? I have also been reading Spurgeon’s book entitled Spiritual Parenting and it speaks to this issue and gives insight against Murray’s view of “children of the promise”…
Even under the old covenant there were hints that the true seed was not born after the flesh, but after the spirit, as in the case of Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. – John 3:6….Not a word in the New Testament shows that the benefits of divine grace are in any way transmitted by natural decent.” C.H. Spurgeon, Spiritual Parenting
In the end, I will just keep praying diligently for the Lord to save them, putting the gospel ever before them and seeking by God’s grace to “train them up in the way they should go” and “raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”.
Thank you for your post, It is so good to hear from others as we all seek the Lord’s grace for our children!
Thank you soooo much Angie for commenting. After reading that chapter I wished more than ever I could sit down with a friend and discuss the theology of what Murray was suggesting. I also agree it doesn’t appear to agree with the whole of Scripture. He implies if you are a believing parent you will have believing children. How does that explain friends growing up who had believing parents but they were atheists? Thank you for the quote from Spurgeon. Will definitely add “Spiritual Parenting” to my reading list.
I agree with you. In the end, I will continue to pray diligently for the Lord to save them, keep putting the gospel before them and seeking God’s grace to train them in the way He wishes them to go.
I believe Scripture teaches the response to salvation is individual. We pray for them, we look for opportunities to plant/water seeds, and we trust in God. He wants people to turn to Him. He moves in their lives till their dying breath. He can be trusted to work in our children’s lives as we pray for them to respond.
Deb Weaver
thewordweaver.com
Yes Deb, I completely agree. I had actually never heard of the “children of promise” idea until I read this chapter. Thank you so much for your insight. Truly appreciate it!