Baptists and Unity
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 51, No. 1 – Fall 2008
Managing Editor: Malcolm B. Yarnell III
By Chip Ingram. Carol Steam, IL: Tyndale House, 2006. 181 pages. $13.99.
This a helpful resource for any pastor or parent, who is looking for a common-sense book on raising children in a problematical cultural context, or as the author calls it our “defective world.” One of the characteristics of this text is that it sets forth some sound principles of action, most of which have a biblical basis, and then develops several types of applications to modern family situations. Each of the principles, also confront a modern myth that many parents believe. For instance, some parents would hold the myth that a good parenting goal is to make their kids happy, while the parenting reality is that their goal should be to make their kids holy. Another parenting myth is that parenting could be straightforward if only they could find the right formula or how-to book, while the reality is that good parenting will always require adapting the parenting approach. It is interesting that Chip Ingram does have a penchant for setting forth lists of how-to’s and formula sounding presentations or arguments for approaches for handling a number of common problems in child-raising. Those arguments tend to be rather well nuanced, biblical and logical, as well as well illustrated, primarily by the author’s own experiences.
It cannot be said that this book has a depth of Bible exposition, but there are numerous biblical passages that are used in a somewhat popular fashion to forge the basis of many of the guiding principles that are given for healthy parenting. The author does not claim to be doing biblical counseling, but rather is carefully giving guidance for child raising in a positive, Christian manner, with fairly regular doses of logic or reasonable insight and parenting experience given for added measure. It is an enjoyable and believable approach and one that could be beneficial to most pastors, family counselors, and struggling Christian parents.
The first three chapters deal with some essential guidelines for parenting. The next four chapters focus on some of the more problematic issues faced in parenting, such as discipline and punishment. The last two chapters share “five smooth stones” for preparing children to face the giants of life. For example, one of those “stones” is to teach them how to “suffer well,” or to suffer with understanding that suffering is normal and to be expected in life, even as Christians.
It should be added that there is a video unit that can also be used to accompany this material for both individual learning and for group interactions. Each chapter finishes with a brief section of exercises for applying the concepts of the chapter. These can be helpful for the parenting couple, a single parent, or as conversation starters for a group process.
