What Jesus Said About Fathers and Mothers Causing Spiritual WoundsSample

Fathers and mothers who inflict wounds

Children learn to look at and experience God through their parents' behaviour. When the parents are God-fearing and submit themselves to God, children will develop a biblical and positive view of God. If fathers and mothers are loving, patient, dependable, and keep their promises, children will “transfer” this to their view of who God is and what they can expect from God. When parents are abusive, living negative lives, neglecting their children, not giving positive love, not encouraging their children with their words and showing positive affection for them, children develop negative behaviour, and it taints the way children perceive God and his character.

Too often, the mistake is made to think that only the father's behaviour influences a child’s view and expectation of God. The behaviour of mothers and fathers has nearly equal effects on children – positive or negative.

Violent fathers/mothers

Some fathers/mothers hit their children with anger and violently, humiliate them, swear at them, molest them, and are brutal and bombastic. The behaviour of violent fathers/mothers causes children to become bitter and rebellious, and they will hate their fathers/mothers. Others will withdraw, flee, live lives filled with fear, and will rather run away than take a stand. The children will not be able to trust such parents. They will expect God to be violent. They will reject God because they will feel God can easily erupt in anger and will not be able to entrust themselves to such a God.