I’m hesitant to comment on a blog because it may be viewed as intrusive and short circuit the free flow of ideas when people realize that the author may be reading what’s written. Please accept my comments with grace and if they are out of place, please delete them.

It’s a challenge when you write a book because the words become permanent for the most part. In hind sight I regret having written that “A child is basically good but made a bad choice.” I definitely don’t believe that now, nor did I back then. Kids are basically sinful and the heart is despartately wicked. That’s what I regularly teach and have for years. I guess I was trying to focus on the reality that we’re valuable people even when we do bad things, valuable in the sense that God loves us because of who we are and not because of what we do. I wish I would have communicated this more clearly.

I also believe that the guilt manipulation parents use with their kids is wrong. So if a parent were to talk about scripture in a way that does that I believe a serious injustice is taking place. At the time I was focusing on Eph 4:30. I do believe that we can use scripture in a grace based approach to parenting that reveals things God doesn’t like. Manipulation however is wrong.

I wish you the best on your blog. Hope this isn’t viewed as offensive and that you continue to do your good work.

Blessings,

Scott Turansky
co-author of Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes in You and Your Kids.

So sorry to hear about your posts that were lost That is SO frustrating!

Another thing, children (or humans for that matter)are NOT good people that just make bad decisions. None are righteous, no not one. That is such a BAD mistake that most people make when thinking about our sin.

May I ask what I wrote that gave you the idea that I believed that, because I definitely think its a great issue to discuss! I do not believe that anyone is righteous apart from God, but we know that there is a righteousness that comes through God, apart from the law (in the same chapter as you quoted - where Paul is quoting - Romans 3).

21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

I completely agree with what you wrote. Were you referring to my post on Clarkson’s book? I think that debating whether or not children are to an age to be accountable for their sin (very widely accepted in Rabbinical law) is a different discussion that whether or not they are righteous.

Thanks again for stopping by! I look forward to reading your blog!

Another thing, children (or humans for that matter)are NOT good people that just make bad decisions. None are righteous, no not one. That is such a BAD mistake that most people make when thinking about our sin. Jesus didn’t come to *help* us make good decisions, he came to save us from God’s wrath. I could go on and on;) Just a BAD premise to start with our kids when we ignore original sin.

I just started my blog and trying to figure it out, but I will go on and on there someday when our lives adjust a little;) not on your comments~hee.
Its just good stuff to mull over. Thanks for sharing! I am going to read more of what you have here.

Blessings,
Renee

I am a firm believer in owning your own feelings and that you can’t MAKE anyone feel a certain way. I’m sure that is why this quote was extra annoying to me!

ITA with what you said about how adults can’t measure up, so it is ridiculous to expect children to do the same. You’re so right about the bad theology. Its scary!

Loved the “bone” you brought up in the “Say Goodbye…” book…. That is an awful lot of power to give a child — thinking “they” can determine God’s Day!! What kind of God is that is a 2 year old can ruin his day?

A wise pastor of ours once said “If someone says something that hurts your feelings, then that’s your prblem — not theirs!!”

Another thing to keep in mind….”most” young children are not “saved” and therefore have not been ‘transformed’ or ‘renewed’ or ‘born again’ — whatever you may want to call it. If adults who “are” saved can’t behave like Jesus, how can we expect a young child to behave like Jesus?? Like Elizabeth Elliott put it so plainly years ago when talking about marriage — you are a sinner who married a sinner!!

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of bad theology in Christian circles today!