We began to think a little about family life, Christian family life on yesterday's Things Unseen.

I've often noticed that when young couples are beginning to establish their family and raise their children for the Lord Jesus, they're very likely

to get some Christian books on the subject. I don't know what your reaction will be to what I'm

about to say, but I think we do need to be disowning about books on how we should raise our family.

The very best of them will do us good, But the very best help you're likely to be

able to find is not from books, but from parents you respect in your church family, not least

older parents who have seen the fruit of the way in which they've raised their children

for Christ. I suspect the best of them will not provide you with a formula, although that's what we sometimes

want, isn't it? Just tell me what to do to have a good family and I'll do it.

But older, wiser parents will share with you what they've found helpful, where they made mistakes,

what they've seen and learned about applying biblical principles to their unique family life and to each of their unique

children. And most of all, they will focus on what you can never get from a book, the importance of

the atmosphere of love. It used to be said that young people didn't fully

become themselves until they were well into their 20s. And now it's possible that that's even

stretched a bit. I know if you're in your late teens or early 20s, you maybe don't want to hear that

and maybe you don't even agree with it. But I think you will agree with this, you maybe don't want to hear that and maybe you don't even agree with it.

But I think you will agree with this, that parents don't see the long-term effects of their

family life or the way they have raised their children until the children have actually

grown up.

And that's one reason why I'd be cautious about listening to a child-rearing guru whose children

are still children.

I remember asking about a lady who was speaking at a Christian conference and bringing

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