Effective Parenting of Children on Church Growth
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
The objectives of this research study are:-
- To reflect on the biblical basis and principles of Christian parenting.
- To investigate if the Christian parents in the urban churches are practicing Christian parenting.
- To determine the effect of their parental practices on the psychosocial development of youth.
- To find out what the church can do to improve on Christian parenting and promote effective psychosocial development of youth.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
This chapter gives the related literatures published by the different scholars on the concept of Christian parenting and its effects on psychosocial development of the youths. Literature has been reviewed according to the objectives namely: the concept of Christian parenting, effect of their parental practice on the psychosocial development of youth, challenges faced and what the church can do to address it.
THE CONCEPT OF CHRISTIAN PARENTING
Christian parenting in particular is the kind of parenting that proceeds from the foundation of scriptures. From what Brewster (2005) writes, “True holistic development can only be done by Christians or church” (2005:14), Christian parenting is the parenting process that promotes holistic development of children. This concept is supported by Brewster’s idea that “Christians are the only people who understand the nature of sin, of God’s intention for his people and His creation, in which children also belong and the power of the gospel to bring substantial holistic healing of the whole person” (2005:74). This means Christian parenting should seek to bring up children in a totality of life. Christian family according to Bunge (2001) is an ecclesial (or churchly) entity wherein adults and children rehearse for membership in the kingdom of heaven, so strong moral teachings about the virtues and responsibilities of parenthood are invested in the scriptures for powerful significance on children. This view on the concept of Christian parenting raises a number of questions which will be of interest to researcher in this study. Efforts will be made to establish if the Christian parents faithfully teach the children the biblical foundations of life in this Christ Apostlic Church.
Adraes ( 2006) noted that a proper approach to parenting needs to leave adequate room for the relational component in parenting. He further adds that,
“Christian parenting should be undergirded by wisdom derived from meditation on Scripture, the filing of the Holy Spirit, advice from others (this is where quality literature on parenting can be very helpful if it is balanced and based on biblical principles), and relational experience with the child.”[1]
This distinguishes Christian parenting from the secular parenting. And so, the biblical foundational teachings, the Christian virtues and values must characterize every Christian family that seeks to practice Christian parenting, comments James (0ctomber 1990).
EFFECTS OF LACK OF CHRISTIAN PARENTING ON THE PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH
According to the study published, families that readily practice Christian parenting tend to affect the development of children in the following ways.
Children who are raised in families that do not practice Christian parenting, and are dealing with abuse are far more likely to suffer from psychological disorders, according to a study published in the journal Child Development. Although no one psychological disorder stood out as particularly prevalent, these children were at greater risk for disorders of all types, since the families have no Christian foundations that are practiced. In addition, the study found that family relationships, including relationships between siblings, were not as warm and loving as they are in other families. Additionally, children who were directly abused themselves were far more likely than their peers to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect.[2] This was particularly true for sexual abuse, but it is also a concern for other forms of child abuse, that emerge from families that do not practice Christian parenting.
Poor Performance in School due to child neglect that arise from families that do not practice Christian parenting.. Neglecting a child, or failing to meet his or her basic human needs, can a have a dramatic effect on school performance, according to a study published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect. The study found that early neglect in particular was very harmful to children, preventing them from forming social relationships at school and from learning at the same rate as their peers. The study found that neglect was just as harmful in terms of school performance as direct abuse. In addition, a study published in the journal Demography found that frequently moving and uprooting a child resulted in poor performance in school. While frequent moves aren’t always a factor parents can control, it’s important to consider the effect on the child before making several moves.
Some families that do not practice Christian parenting often cause depression and Low Self-Esteem among their children. According to a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Research, parenting practice can have a direct effect on a child’s self-esteem and vulnerability to depression.[3] The study found that if parents are extremely controlling, children are a greater risk for depression and don’t see themselves as positively. Another study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that children who were the victims of sexual abuse at home had much lower self-esteem than their peers. They also showed more signs of depression and had negative views about their family relationships.
The Violence and Behavior Problems that exist within families that do not practice Christian parenting tend to expose children to psychological challenges. Exposing children to a community where there is significant violence can result in internalized violence and behavior problems in kids, according to a study published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. The study also found that if children were victims of community violence or violence at home, they were more likely to exhibit violent behavior in the preschool setting. A study published in the Journal of Family Violence found that children who both witnessed and experienced domestic abuse were far more likely to suffer from internalized anger and behavior problems than their peers. This can lead to a “cycle of abuse,” in which children grow up to abuse others in the same way they were abused.
Due to lack of interpersonal relationships within families that readily practice Christian parenting to effect the social behaviors of children. According to a study published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, boys who had parents who exhibited violent behavior were likely to have problems adjusting socially in the school setting. Although the boys had not been directly abused themselves, they exhibited many of the same signs of social maladjustment as children who are victims of abuse.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
This chapter indicates the procedures that were used by the researcher in conducting the research study and it contains the research design, population and sample size, sampling technique, Data collection methodology and instruments, and limitations of the study.
RESEARCH DESIGN
The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative methods in the data collection of the primary data. The study was both descriptive and analytical in nature and it examine effective parenting of children on church growth in relation to the study purpose and objectives.
POPULATION AND SAMPLE SIZE
A study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description (Prince Udoyen: 2019). In this study the study population constitute of population of 668 potential respondents to the research study. The sample size was 200, which was obtained .
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:
Introduction:
This chapter shows the findings, interpretation, analysis of the data based on the objectives of the research study on effective parenting of children on church growth.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusion
Are the parenting practice by Christian parents done promote the growth of church?
Christian parenting is the parenting process that promotes holistic development of children.
This study among other objectives established if the Christian parents were faithfully teaching the children the biblical foundations of life in this Christ Apostlic Church. Findings show this is being done but limited extend. For example 50% of the teacher’s respondents noted that Christian parents were exercising Christian parenting. Of 28.7% of the teachers who filled the questionnaire noted that the parents were influencing positively the moral life of their children. This limited involvement of the parents in the lives of their children negatively impacts of their holistic development. On boundaries and values protected by family the findings show that there is a lot of permissiveness on whether the children can go to church or school or not that there is very limited involvement of parents in the lives of their children. This has made Christian children to have freedom to decide when to go to church and to school. The low percentages (12% and 26%) of how parents have helped their children handle their sexuality also indicate the limited involvement of the Christian parents in lives of their children. This explains the denial that Christian parents have promoted Christian values. Hence, the negative behavior that the Christian from Christian homes exhibit is due to a very limited work done in promoting Christian values within Christian families.
The effect of Christian parenting on the psychosocial development of youth.
The limited involvement of the Christian parents in the lives of their children contributed to the little noticeable difference between Christian children and non-Christian children. Findings according to the teachers indicated that, only 15% and 13% of them felt that shown that Christian children demonstrated more love and obedience compared to the youths from non-Christian homes. From a number of findings shown under section 4.4.1, it is evident that there is very little difference in terms of behavior among children from Christian homes and those from non-Christian homes., Christian parenting is expected to play a great role in the development of psychosocial life of youths, since, it affects how they respond to behavioral changes, peer pressure, think and express their feelings. So, lack of Christian parenting will affect the moral, intellectual, psychological, emotional and spiritual life of the youth. Hence, Christian parenting is inevitable to psychosocial development of youths.
What can the church do to improve on Christian parenting and promote psychosocial development of youth?
All respondents felt that the church has a key role to play in the psychosocial development of their children and youths. When asked what the church has not done well findings, show that little attention is put on the activities that build the Christian families, the spiritual, social and psychological life of youths. As only 25% of youths reported that their churches conduct fellowships of prayer and fasting, only 21.3 % reported they have Bible study, and only 19.1 said their churches give them spiritual counselling.
On what else the people expected the church to do they suggested the church has to incorporate its mission and vision (including: establishing home cells and supportive projects) into Christian families and design lessons and tools that can help to transform the spiritual and psychological life of youths, in order to improve on the Christian parenting and psychosocial life of youths respectively.
Recommendations,
- The Christian parents should learn the biblical principles of parenting and also get involved in the life of their children fully, spend much more quality time with them and answer some of the social and spiritual challenges that the children go through.
- In addition to that, the parents should also be good role models in their families.
- In order to impact the live of the children, Christian parents should also incorporate positive disciplining, counseling, and teaching on the issues that affect the life of their children. These can be social affairs and spiritual. Efforts should also be put on the mechanisms of passing Christian values to their children.
- For the church to cause an improvement in the parenting practice, then, there is need for collective effort of the church and the Christian parents on the campaign of promoting good life of the children. This calls for thorough teachings and missions among Christian families and communities on the role of Christian parents in promoting sound Christian families and psychosocial development of their children. The church may also consider establishing home cells and projects that can support families financially and spiritually. And through that, it can cause an improvement in both parents and children’s lives.
- The church should also make the youth to actively participate in the church activities.
- The church should also incorporate other bodies that enhance social and psychological development of the youths.
- Chaplaincies should advocate for the revision of the curriculum so that there is maximum education on life skills and other topics that can help to nurture the life of the youth.
Areas for further research.
- The challenge of secularism to Christian parenting.
- The role of Christian parents in church development, Focus: Sunday school.
Reference
Books:
- Barbara M. Newman, Philip R. Jewman (2012). Development through life: A Psychosocial Approach. USA; Wadsworth Publishers.
- Breidi Caparatta (2008). The Challenges of Christian Youth. Yahoo Contributor Network, Jun 26, 2008.
- Carolyn , Heggen (1993). Sexual Abuse in Christian Homes and Churches. Scottdale: Herald Press
- Donna Sinckair (1992).Christian parenting: Raising children in the Real World. Winfield, Canada: Westminister Press
- Dawn E. Mcrae (2009). A Survey of Christian Parenting Beliefs among Church Leadership. A Dissertation,(Doctor of Philosophy, Regent University) March 11, 2009.
- Eddy Joshua, (2009). Interpretation of child labor: A case of Children’s work in Fishing Communities in Wakiso District. Dissertation (Masters, Makerere University).
- Marcia, J Bunge, Ed. (2001). The Child in Christian Thought. Grand Rapids Michigan/Cambridge. U.K: William B. Eerdman.
- Prentice, Hall (1990). Child Development: Roles, Responsibilities, Resources. United States of America: Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.