Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

Abraham's children and household were taught that they were
under the rule of the God of heaven. There was to be no oppression
by the parents and no disobedience by the children. The silent
influence of his daily life was a constant lesson. There was a
fragrance about Abraham's life, a nobility of character, which
revealed to everyone that he was connected with Heaven. He did not
neglect the humblest servant. His household did not have one law
for the master and another for the servant. He treated everyone with
justice and compassion as heirs with him of the grace of life.
How few in our day follow this example! Too many parents are
influenced more by emotion than reason, mistakenly calling it love
when leaving children to the control of their own will. This is
cruelty to the youth and a great wrong to the world. Their parents'
laxness strengthens the desire of young people to follow their own
wishes instead of submitting to God's requirements, and they grow
up to transmit their unbelieving, rebellious spirit to their children
and grandchildren. Obedience to parental authority should be taught
as the first step in obedience to the authority of God.
The widespread teaching that God's laws are no longer binding
has the same effect on the morals of the people as idolatry. Parents
do not require their families to keep the way of the Lord. Children,
as they make homes of their own, feel no obligation to teach their
children what they themselves have never been taught. This is why
there are so many godless families, and why wickedness is so
widespread.
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