The Bible tells us repeatedly in His Word how all children are a gift from God.

Every
single life, every single child, is a reward and blessing. Whether they're bringing
parents pride and joy, or whether they are teaching us how to be more patient and
forgiving, children are a gift from God and a source for the growth of His Kingdom
here on Earth!

God knows that children can bring us closer to Him and help grow our Christian
character. Be encouraged by the following Bible verses about children and how the
Lord sees them! From beginning to end, God speaks about the importance of
children through his Word. Because children are important to God.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the
kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these....” Children are a heritage from the
Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children
born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

 Psalm 127:3-5
 Genesis 33:5
 Psalm 113:9
 2 Timothy 3:14-15
 Mathew 21: 15-16
 Psalm 8:2
 Matthew 18:2-6
 Matthew 18:10
 1 Peter 2:2-3
 Mark 10:13-16
 Proverbs 22:6
 Proverbs 22:15
 Deuteronomy 6:7
 Ephesians 6:1-4
 Exodus 20:12
 Proverbs 1:8-9
 Exodus 20:5-6
 Deuteronomy 11:19
 Mark 9:36-37
 Colossians 3:20-21
 3 John 1:4
 Genesis 1:28
 Isaiah 54:13
 James 1:17
 Mark 9:37
 Proverbs 17:6
 Psalm 139:13-16
 1 Thessalonians 2:7
What does the Bible say about child abuse?

The Bible does not specifically use the term child abuse. What the Bible does tell us
is this: children have a special place in God’s heart and anyone who harms a child is
inviting God’s wrath upon himself. When Jesus’ disciples tried to keep children from
coming to Jesus, He rebuked them and welcomed the children to His side, saying,
“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of God
belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14). Then He took the children in His arms and
blessed them (verse 16). The Bible promotes child blessing, not child abuse.

Children are abused and mistreated in several different ways, all of which are
abhorrent to God. The Bible prohibits child abuse in its warnings against improper
anger. Too many children are the victims of angry beatings and other physical abuse
as their parents take out their own anger and frustration on their children. Though
some forms of physical discipline may be biblically acceptable, such discipline should
never be administered in anger. Paul reminds the Ephesians, “In your anger do not
sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a
foothold” (Ephesians 4:26–27). Proverbs 29:22 says, “An angry man stirs up
dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.” There is no place for
unrighteous or uncontrolled anger in the life of a Christian. Anger should be
confessed to God and appropriately handled long before it comes to the point of
physical abuse against a child or anyone else.

The Bible also prohibits child abuse in its condemnation of sexual sin. Sexual abuse
or molestation is particularly devastating, and warnings against sexual sin abound in
Scripture. To force sexual acts upon a child is a horrible, evil offense. In addition to
committing a sexual sin, the perpetrator is also attacking the innocence of one of the
world’s most vulnerable persons. Sexual abuse violates everything about a person
from his or her understanding of self to physical boundaries to spiritual connection
with God. In a child, these things are so barely established that they are often
altered for life and without appropriate help may not ever heal.

Another way the Bible prohibits child abuse is in its forbidding of psychological and
emotional abuse. Ephesians 6:4 warns fathers not to “exasperate” or provoke their
children but to bring them up in the “training and instruction of the Lord.” Harsh,
unloving verbal discipline, emotional manipulation, or volatile environments alienate
children’s minds from their parents and render their instruction and correction
useless. Parents can provoke and exasperate their children by placing unreasonable
requirements on them, belittling them, or constantly finding fault, thereby producing
wounds that can be as bad as or worse than any physical beating can inflict.
Colossians 3:21 tells us not to “embitter” our children so they will not become
discouraged. Ephesians 4:15–19 says we are to speak the truth in love and use our
words to build others up, not allow rotten or destructive words to pour from our lips,
especially toward the tender hearts and minds of children.

It is abundantly clear what the Bible teaches about the issue of child abuse. Child
abuse in any form is evil. Anyone who suspects that a child is being abused
has the obligation to report it to appropriate authorities. Anyone who has
been abused or who has abused children can find hope, healing, and forgiveness in
Jesus Christ. Talking to a pastor or finding a Christian counsellor or a support group
may be a good place to begin the journey to wholeness.

What does the Bible say about raising children?

God created the family. His design was for a man and a woman to marry for life and
raise children to know and honor Him (Mark 10:9; Malachi 2:15). Adoption is also
God’s idea, and He models this in His adoption of us as His children (Romans 8:15,
23; Ephesians 1:5). Regardless of the means by which they enter a family, children
are a gift from God and He cares about how they are raised (Psalm 127:3; Psalm
34:11; Proverbs 23:13–14). When God gives us gifts, He also gives clear instructions
about their use.

When God led the Israelites out of bondage, He commanded them to teach their
children all He had done for them (Deuteronomy 6:6–7; 11:19). He desired that the
generations to come would continue to uphold all His commands. When one
generation fails to instil God’s laws in the next, a society quickly declines. Parents
have not only a responsibility to their children, but an assignment from God to
impart His values and truth into their lives.

Several places in Scripture give specific instructions to parents about how to raise
their children. Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,
but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” There are several
ways parents might provoke their children to anger. Some parents set impossible
standards so that a child despairs of ever achieving them. Some parents tease,
ridicule, or humiliate their children as a means of punishment, which does nothing
but provoke them to anger. Inconsistency can also provoke to anger as a child is
never sure about the consequences of his actions. Hypocrisy provokes children to
anger when parents require behavior from children that the parents are not
choosing for themselves.

To “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” means that parents
should train their children the way God trains us. As a Father, God is “slow to anger”
(Numbers 14:18; Psalm 145:8), patient (Psalm 86:15), and forgiving (Daniel 9:9).
His discipline is designed to bring us to repentance (Hebrews 12:6–11). His
instruction is found in His Word (John 17:17; Psalm 119:97), and He desires that
parents fill their homes with His truth (Deuteronomy 6:67).

He also disciplines His children (Proverbs 3:11; Hebrews 12:5) and expects earthly
parents to do the same (Proverbs 23:13). Psalm 94:12 says, “Blessed is the one you
discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law.” The word discipline comes from
the root word disciple. To discipline someone means to make a disciple of him. God’s
discipline is designed to “conform us to the image of Christ” (Romans 8:29). Parents
can make disciples of their children by instilling values and life lessons they have
learned. As parents practice godly living and make Spirit-controlled decisions
(Galatians 5:16, 25), they can encourage their children to follow their example.
Proper, consistent discipline brings a “harvest of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).
Failure to discipline results in dishonor for both parent and child (Proverbs 10:1).
Proverbs 15:32 says that the one who ignores discipline “despises himself.” The Lord
brought judgment upon Eli the priest because he allowed his sons to dishonor the
Lord and “failed to restrain them” (1 Samuel 3:13).

Children are a “heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). He places them in families
and gives parents guidance in how they are to be raised. The goal of good parenting
is to produce wise children who know and honor God with their lives. Proverbs 23:24
shows the end result of raising children according to God’s plan: “The father of godly
children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise” (NLT).

How should Christians discipline their children? What does the Bible say?"

How to best discipline children can be a difficult task to learn, but it is crucially
important. Some claim that physical discipline (corporal punishment) such as
spanking is the only method the Bible supports. Others insist that “time-outs” and
other punishments that do not involve physical discipline are far more effective.
What does the Bible say? The Bible teaches that physical discipline is appropriate,
beneficial, and necessary.

Do not misunderstand—we are by no means advocating child abuse. A child should

never be disciplined physically to the extent that it causes actual physical damage.
According to the Bible, though, the appropriate and restrained physical discipline of
children is a good thing and contributes to the well-being and correct upbringing of
the child.

Many Scriptures do in fact promote physical discipline. “Don't fail to correct your
children. They won't die if you spank them. Physical discipline may well save them
from death” (Proverbs 23:13-14; see also 13:24; 22:15; 20:30). The Bible strongly
stresses the importance of discipline; it is something we must all have in order to be
productive people, and it is much more easily learned when we are young. Children
who are not disciplined often grow up rebellious, have no respect for authority, and
as a result find it difficult to willingly obey and follow God. God Himself uses
discipline to correct us and lead us down the right path and to encourage
repentance for our wrong actions (Psalm 94:12; Proverbs 1:7; 6:23; 12:1; 13:1;
15:5; Isaiah 38:16; Hebrews 12:9).

In order to apply discipline correctly and according to biblical principles, parents

must be familiar with the scriptural advice regarding discipline. The book of Proverbs
contains plentiful wisdom regarding the rearing of children, such as, “The rod of
correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother”
(Proverbs 29:15). This verse outlines the consequences of not disciplining a child—
the parents are disgraced. Of course, discipline must have as its goal the good of the
child and must never be used to justify the abuse and mistreatment of children.
Never should it be used to vent anger or frustration.
Discipline is used to correct and train people to go in the right way. “No discipline
seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of
righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).
God's discipline is loving, as should it be between parent and child. Physical
discipline should never be used to cause lasting physical harm or pain. Physical
punishment should always be followed immediately by comforting the child with
assurance that he/she is loved. These moments are the perfect time to teach a child
that God disciplines us because He loves us and that, as parents, we do the same
for our children.

Can other forms of discipline, such as “time-outs,” be used instead of physical

discipline? Some parents find that their children do not respond well to physical
discipline. Some parents find that “time-outs,” grounding, and/or taking something
away from the children is more effective in encouraging behavioral change. If that is
indeed the case, by all means, a parent should employ the methods that best
produce the needed behavioral change. While the Bible undeniably advocates
physical discipline, the Bible is more concerned with the goal of building godly
character than it is in the precise method used to produce that goal.

Making this issue even more difficult is the fact that governments are beginning to
classify all manner of physical discipline as child abuse. Many parents do not spank
their children for fear of being reported to the government and risk having their
children taken away. What should parents do if a government has made physical
discipline of children illegal? According to Romans 13:1-7, parents should submit to
the government. A government should never contradict God’s Word, and physical
discipline is, biblically speaking, in the best interest of children. However, keeping
children in families in which they will at least receive some discipline is far better
than losing children to the “care” of the government.

In Ephesians 6:4, fathers are told not to exasperate their children. Instead, they are
to bring them up in God’s ways. Raising a child in the “training and instruction of the
Lord” includes restrained, corrective, and, yes, loving physical discipline.

Parent’s responsibility to children and the Bible

While the Bible does not go into detail outlining exactly how each parent-child
problem is dealt with, it does offer general guidelines that enable one to find
through their application the right direction.

One such guideline is suggested in Luke 2:51, a direct statement of the condition
existing in the family of Jesus Christ. The passage reads, "And he went down with
them and came to Nazareth and he was subject to them". The "he" in the passage
was Jesus and the "them" was Mary and Joseph. The broad principle illustrated in
this passage teaches that parents are given by God the authority to direct, guide,
teach and discipline their children. If the son of God accepted the authority of
earthly parents how much more ought the sons and daughters of men be under the
authority of their parents.
The next principle illustrated by this statement in Luke shows that children are to
accept their direction and to be subject to their parents.

To provide that direction for their children, parents must take the job of being
parents seriously. Being a parent is much more than fulfilling a biological function. It
means being concerned about every aspect of the child's growth and development.
It means caring where the child is and who his friends are. It means knowing his
interests and encouraging right and proper ones and discouraging - even forbidding
- those that are inappropriate or dangerous. For a parent to say "I can't do anything
with my child" is an admission of "I don't know how to be a parent".

Again, the Bible speaks of this problem. In Ephesians 6:1-4, the Bible talks of
children's responsibilities and fathers' responsibilities. Although the Bible in this
passage mentions only father, the spirit of the text implies the work of mother, too.
First these verses say, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right".
And then the passage continues, "And you fathers provoke not your children to
wrath, but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord". The children
are called upon to be obedient to the parents. This is not license for cruel or
inhuman treatment by parents, for the Bible adds the qualifying phrase, "In the
Lord". Children have the right to expect reasonable direction and guidance from their
parents, and the parents are called upon to nurture their children. That is, to rear
them, to bring them up, in the "chastening and admonition of the Lord". That final
phrase means that the parents are to imitate God as much as possible in the
admonishing or urging given to the children, and also to imitate God in punishing
when such becomes necessary. It is chastening or punishing based upon love, not
revenge; upon caring, not indifference; upon betterment, not defeat.

Let me suggest these simple rules in assuming the responsibility of being a parent.
First, pray often for understanding, patience and skill. Secondly, treat your child as a
human being who deserves respect and authority. Thirdly, apply the golden rule of
the Bible, which we so often simplify as "do unto others as you would have them do
unto you". And fourthly, don't wait until tomorrow to start! Start yesterday. I mean
by that, don't be afraid to admit that something done in the past was wrong. When
you've been wrong, admit it and show that you want to do better.

Finally, the children we train today will be the parents of tomorrow. We must do-
better than just teach them all the things they will determine never to do when they
are parents. In Colossians 3:21, the writer said (again to the fathers), "Provoke not
your children that they be not discouraged". A good prayer to remember is this,
"Father, these are your children on loan to me. Help me to teach them in such a way
that they will one day return to you and you will want them. Help me never to
discourage their growth as your children. In Jesus name, Amen"