Since yesterday’s post talked about the value of community and raised questions about how we’re raising our children to love others (or not), here’s a strong essay from D.L. Mayfield about that very subject!
It is difficult to raise our children to care for others as Jesus did in a culture that constantly encourages autonomy, safety, and covetousness. This is where the church becomes an important place for encouraging Christians to name our values, model Christlike actions, and constantly reassess our choices in light of the call to love our neighbors as ourselves. There is no end goal, no finish line where we can pat ourselves on the back and say we’ve made it—but there is the benefit of cultivating the discipline of living with intentionality. And in the end, by raising kids who are outward focused, we trust that they’ll experience what God is up to in our world—and that they’ll feel empowered to jump in and join him.