Gospel Prism

Jay Younts has a great guide on Family Worship. Check it out. I also did a book review on his on his book Every Day Talk. Here it is:

As of now, there are three books on parenting that I would strongly recommend. The first is Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp. The second book is Don’t Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman (I will be reviewing that shortly), and this third book, Everyday Talk. John Younts has written a fine book on what is truly an essential part of parenting, the day to day conversations one has with a child. Sadly, we parents take for granted such times, and it is all to easy to shush away an inquisitive child, or in exasperation try to simply ignore a child’s chatter, or to completely tune out what a parent deems to be meaningless blabbering. Younts reminds us BIBLCIALLY that these are not times to ignore, but times to hold and cherish as God-given opportunities to shape a child’s heart.

Younts emphasizes the power of the Gospel in impacting the child. It is his starting point, hence the purpose of chapter 2. The sad reality is that parents assume the Gospel as a given, when instead in our everyday talk, in all things and in all matters at all times, we must be communicating the Gospel. Younts’ book does not only consist of overarching foundations, but also has some hypothetical situations that are quite practical. When a loud cry comes from a child’s room, he gives four scenarios in which a parent will respond, most of which ignore the Gospel. Sadly, too many of us are indicted as simply wanting to tread water rather than actually doing the hard work of biblically applying the Gospel to the lives of our children.

What I appreciate most about Everyday Talk is the fact that it is saturated with Scripture. You get the sense that Younts actually believes the Bible is true and the absolute standard upon which one should live their life, quite a novel idea in today’s Evangelicalism. His treatment of Proverbs in parenting (this is true also in the other two parenting books I mentioned) is right on and has made me realize how little I reflect on this important book of wisdom.

Perhaps the chapter that struck me as quite interesting and also important is the one entitled, “Everyday Talk About Sex.” Most parents, including me, think talking about sex is a “way way down the road” talk. It’s just too uncomfortable to even think about. But Younts’ words, I believe, are words of wisdom when he writes:

“Even if your child never sees any television or movies, he will still be exposed to the world’s concept of sexuality. He will hear it from the children that he plays with. Talk about sex is a part of every school situation. Suppose you attempt to cut your child completely off from the world? As unwise as that would be, there would still be contact. There is more than enough information in the form of short comments, quotations in books, pictures on billboards, stories and pictures in magazines and catalogues to influence your child’s concept of sex. Whether you like or admit it, your child is hearing from the world about sex. That is why God wants you to talk to your children about it. Your children need to hear in your everyday talk what God says and thinks about sexuality.” (p.112)

I agree wholeheartedly with him here because it is true. I know from my own personal experience, I learned about sex not from my parents or the church or even television, but from my friends. And it was an absolutely terrible, and yes Satanic form of sexuality. It should be no surprise that children, boys and girls are terribly sex-crazed. Satan loves it that way.

So Younts adds that we should actually begin to think about having everyday talk about sex even when our children are 6 or 7. Radical? No, because as he points out, they’re having that conversation already with their friends. You want to preempt them, not react to words spoken when their minds are already made up, and their hearts are being shaped by Satan and not by God’s Word. Younts actually gives practical ways you can have this conversation, but I’ll let you read about it for yourself.

Parents, get this book and the two others listed as well. You won’t regret it!