Teach Them Diligently Review

I just finished my newest read, a book entitled, Teach Them Diligently: How to Use the Scriptures in Child Training, by Lou Priolo. Overall, I encourage parents to read this book, especially the second half of it.

I was a bit discouraged in the first chapter of Mr. Priolo's book. We all know the power of scripture, but we also know that scripture is not an end in itself. I disagreed with Mr. Priolo on the ability to be saved and sanctified without scripture. He took the stance that you CANNOT reach salvation without reading the Bible and the Holy Spirit cannot work in you without scripture to be its tool. I completely agree that the Spirit uses the Word to train and convict us, but I do not think it is limited useless without the Bible. God uses people, situations, and prayer to sanctify us. Christians need to use scripture, but it is not the ONLY means. I also believe that people can be saved by hearing about their sin and need for a perfect Savior without reading about it. Think of all the missions that have happened before Bibles were translated to the language of the people in which missions were happening. Again, the perfect situation is to use scripture to talk about sin, repentance, faith and trust in the Lord. However, God is not limited to only the use of the Bible.

Once you get past these issues, however, the book is an effective tool to inspire more use of the scripture in your communication--both encouragement and discipline--with your child. I was pleasantly surprised that, after my wariness in chapter 1, he did not legalistically mandate the steps of discipline to follow by the letter. He gave great practical ideas, but he gave principles on how to do a family Bible study, how to apply scripture to you child's issues, how to memorize scripture with your son or daughter, and how to remove sinful behavior and replace it with godly behavior. The specifics of your practical application depend on your children, your family and what the Holy Spririt is teaching you.

I enjoyed the idea of making sure your child understands for what they will receive punishment before giving it. Also, I was intrigued with the notion that sinful habits that plague a child will need to have godly behavior substituted for them in order to stop the sin. I enjoyed his explanation of the differences between principles and commands in scripture.

However, the best part was the appendix. He lists character traits that are common sinful behavior in children (and adults) and gives scripture to reproof them. For example, if your child is responding in anger, you can use James 1:19-20 to speak to them. "Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak [and] slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God."

He also advises to have Bible study with your whole family as often as possible. You can review your child's day and use scripture to encourage or admonish choices they are making. This is also a time to memorize scripture and have deeper conversations.

The book ends with the warning that digging into and using scripture requires work. Proverbs 2:4 talks of the wisdom of scripture. It says, "If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures . . ." Mr. Priolo says the difference between gold and silver is that silver has to be laboriously mined deep in the earth, while gold is more often on the surface or in water, etc. He equates the hard work of searching for silver as to the excavation and study of the Bible.

I walked away from this book with a motivation to use many more references to scripture when talking to Carter. I also want to start memorizing scripture with him, even though it will merely be singing or listening to mommy say the verse over and over at this point. Nevertheless, the Bible is sharper than any two edged sword, and I know how powerfully it can work in and shape Carter's life.