I have a severe allergy. I react very badly to psychologists – to all they say and all they write! Accordingly, when I received for review this volume on child-rearing by a psychologist, I felt very gloomy. I do not enjoy being negative, and hate being uneasy about a book without being perceptive enough to expose its true folly.
Thankfully, when I looked at the back cover I was somewhat relieved to read commendations by men I esteem, but prejudice dies hard! Yet die it did, and I am delighted to be able to commend this volume warmly. Let me explain.
First of all, almost every reference in this book to psychology, whether secular or with a Christian flavour, is negative! The heresy that insists that high self-esteem is the great need of our children is graciously but firmly exposed for the folly that it is. It is replaced by wise, biblical counsel that is helpfully illustrated and applied.
Tim Sisemore’s book is largely a detailed practical exposition of the ‘fruit of the Spirit’. Even though my parenting years are well behind me, I found it immensely wholesome and challenging for my own life. I recommend it heartily, not only to hard-pressed parents of youngsters of all ages, but also to anyone concerned enough to encourage Christian parents and pray for their children.
I had only one disappointment with the book. To my mind the author doesn’t give sufficient emphasis to the need for children from Christian homes to be converted. Yet surely, while we must seek to train our children in ‘the fear and admonition of the Lord’, we need always to remember that they must be ‘born from above’ if they are truly to become ‘world-proofed’ by our nurture.
