Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Duty to Children 211They have no power or endurance. The parents have borne the burden,and have suffered them to grow up in idleness, without habits of order,industry, or economy. They have not been taught habits of self-denial,but have been petted and indulged, their appetites gratified, and theycome up with enfeebled health. Their manners and deportment are notagreeable. They are unhappy themselves, and make those around themunhappy. And while the children are but children still, while they needto be disciplined, they are allowed to go out in company and minglewith the society of the young, and one has a corrupting influence overanother.The curse of God will surely rest upon unfaithful parents. Notonly are they planting thorns which will wound them here, but theymust meet their own unfaithfulness when the judgment shall sit. Manychildren will rise up in judgment and condemn their parents for notrestraining them, and charge upon them their destruction. The falsesympathy and blind love of parents causes them to excuse the faults oftheir children and pass them by without correction, and their childrenare lost in consequence, and the blood of their souls will rest upon theunfaithful parents.Children who are thus brought up undisciplined, have everything tolearn when they profess to be Christ’s followers. Their whole religiousexperience is affected by their bringing up in childhood. The sameself-will often appears; there is the same lack of self-denial, the sameimpatience under reproof, the same love of self and unwillingness toseek counsel of others, or to be influenced by others’ judgment, thesame indolence, shunning of burdens, lack of bearing responsibilities.All this is seen in their relation to the church. It is possible for such toovercome; but how hard the battle! how severe the conflict! How hardto pass through the course of thorough discipline which is necessary for [220]them to reach the elevation of Christian character! Yet if they overcomeat last, they will be permitted to see, before they are translated, hownear the precipice of eternal destruction they came, because of the lackof right training in youth, the failure to learn submission in childhood.* * * * *