Wednesday Night, Feb 1^st, we will look at the most popular parenting verse in the Bible. Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

      As Baptist, we believe that the Bible is “truth without any mixture of error… & is totally true and trustworthy” (Article 1, Baptist Faith and Message). Since the Bible is True and since Proverbs 22:6 is in the Bible – many parents assume that Proverbs 22:6 is a Parenting Guarantee from God that IF I raise my children in the church, then they will grow up to live good and godly lives. However, most people who live long enough to be adults realize that there are many exceptions to that rule. Everyone knows someone who tried their best to bring up their children in the “training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph 6:4) only to watch their children get hooked on alcohol or drugs or get involved in sexual immorality or live the life of an atheist.  What are we to do with these exceptions?

      Some say – The Bible is true, so behind the scenes, when they were not at church – these parents did NOT do a good job with their training. 

      Others say it has to do with the phrase “when he is old” – the children may get off the path when they are young (teenagers) – but when they are old they will come back to the faith.  

      Others say, Proverbs 22:6 is NOT a guarantee. It is a general rule. It is wise advice that works in most cases and that the occasional exception proves the rule – that most of the time – if you train your child right, he will grow up and live right.

      What do you think?

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