How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting

I’m just starting to dig into William Farley’s Gospel-Powered Parenting, but it looks like a terrific tool to help us bring the gospel to bear in our families. Farley’s point is one that evangelical Christians desperately need to recover: “The goal of Christian parenting is heart transformation” (43). Far too often, our goal is transferring morality. And moralism kills the gospel.

Farley argues that parents can substitute many things for the gospel: techniques, therapy, and even . . . religion (50-51). In their place, he proposes seven ways the gospel affects parents (46-48). The gospel . . .

• Teaches Christian parents to fear God.
• Motivates parents to lead by example.
• Centers families in their male servant leaders.
• Teaches and motivates parents to discipline their children.
• Motivates parents to teach their children.
• Motivates parents to lavish their children with love and affection.
• Is the solution for inadequate parents.