Genesis 7-8

Day 6

Genesis chapters 7-8

Genesis 8: 20-21
20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

Even though this should not be a shocker to anyone who is a parent, it is true all the same.  Modern day psychology will argue that a child is born with a good nature and events that happen to the child throughout his or her childhood can cause a child to have an evil nature…

That totally goes against God’s word…  (Psalm 51:5) Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.  This came about because of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.  Adam and Eve were created without an evil nature, but their free will did them in and everyone born since was born with a sinful nature – including you and I…

Do you have to teach a child to disobey or rebel against the authority of his parents?  No!  The child comes equip and ready to do that on his or her own.  It is amazing to see the difference between how kids are raised today than they were in the 40 and 50’s.  All too often we turn to someone with some initials in front of their name instead of relying on our instruction manual “The Bible”  We also learned from psychology that high self esteem is more important than disciplining a child…  Let’s evaluate the word (SELF ESTEEM) 

SELF – meaning ME
ESTEEM – meaning TO WORSHIP

Self esteem is the worship of one’s self!  The bible clearly states in Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  In “Parenting By The Book” Former Psychologist John Rosemond talks about the differences between SELF ESTEEM and SELF RESPECT…

As self esteem grows respect for others diminishes and the person is subjugated to selfishness, recognition of status whether deserved or not, and a craving for dominance.

As self respect grows a person treats others with dignity and courtesy.  As self respect increases self value is gained from serving others and not based on wealth, status, intelligence… 

The two are polar opposites…  I have been a school teacher for over 10 years in the public schools of America and I see the sense of entitlement that is entrenched in too many of my students because self esteem was taught at home and not self respect…  As a future parent, I don’t want my child to grow up thinking the world revolves around her.  I want my child’s self value to come from putting others before herself and making a difference in the lives of others.  That will have to be taught because naturally we have a sinful nature!  I don’t want her to be in the words of my dear grandfather “too big for her britches…”