Jesus On Parenting: 10 Essential Principles that Will Transform Your Family

By Teresa Whitehurst

What a thought-provoking question, and one that no one has really answered -- until now.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801065291
• ISBN13: 9780801065293
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Baker Pub Group
• Length: 233 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Wish more Christians knew about this author

I read this book back when it was published under the original title "How Would Jesus Raise a Child?" and it was a wonderful eye-opening book for me as a new mom. I grew up in a strong Christian home, but never in my entire upbringing either at home or church did I ever learn the concept that parents should model their parenting after Jesus' literal example. All I ever heard about parenting were the "rod" verses from the Old Testament, and yet there are many verses in the New Testament regarding children and God's view of how to treat the weak, poor and needy with dignity, mercy, compassion and respect. Never did I hear anything about how when Jesus came to earth bringing the Holy Spirit and a New Covenant with mankind, that the old Jewish laws of harsh punishment would be lifted by the harsh punishment/sacrifice Jesus made for everyone (including children). No one I knew ever dug deeper into the original Hebrew/Greek to reveal the literal translations for the word "rod" or the context that it was used in that time period. Never did I hear anyone talk about how Jesus said "Whatever you do to the least of these you do to me" (children are "the least of these"). Yes, I heard that I was supposed to grow to be like Jesus, but it was always in the context of peer to peer relationships, not parent to child relationships. This book is wonderful because this author takes Jesus' words from the NT and uses Jesus example in how He led His disciples and others and shows how we can apply these same lessons in how we treat and raise our own little disciples at home. Though our children are imature, their hearts are like rich loose soil that is ready for planting. What better time to plant the teachings of Jesus in their hearts than while they are small. If we can model ourselves after Jesus, they will learn from our example. He came to save us AND He came to show us what it means to truly love and respect each other. I think this book gets everyone on the right path of thinking in this way and inspires us to look more closely at Jesus example, read the Bible for ourselves, and be imitators of Him. (Despite what another reviewer said about the author's politics, there is nothing political in this book and there is nothing in it that leads me to believe she is a feminist.)

What I was looking for

After reading James Dobson's account of breaking his unruly little dog's spirit to get him to mind I realized that I was more interested in building and directing my child's spirit than breaking it. Jesus On Parenting is much more in line with the direction I would like to go in terms of Christian parenting and is a book I often reccommend to friends.

Helped me a lot

Being a teen mother in the south I've gotten lots of hardship and a lot of so called Christian people bashing me for my lifestyle. I found Dr Whitehurst's interpretations of the Good Book to be caring, sympathetic, and have given me hope in Christianity. Liberal or not, feminist or not, her words have comforted me in a time of need. Her ideas have helped greatly, turning a rebellious twoyearold into a calm and peaceful, God-loving child. I especially like that she is Christian... after I finish reading the book (Im almost all the way don) I'm going to give it to my mother-in-law. Maybe it will shed some light on the way she raised my husband and let her in on the peaceful childrearing i've discovered in reading it. It sounds silly that it has changed my life, i never thought Id be one of those people, but it really did help me when everyone else who i thought shared my beliefs only put me down. God is merciful, and this book helpd me to be to.

Jesus the greatest teacher

I admit when I started reading this book that I was afraid it was just another "Christian" book that advocated hitting kids. Not only was I pleasantly surprised that it doesn't encourage hitting, it gives truly good advice based on Jesus' teachings, and the example of His life. Truly the best kind of advice for Christian parents today. Highly recommended.

In Jesus' Footsteps

This is a lovely, comforting book, which I read every page of. Dr. Whitehurst gently guides the reader to follow Jesus' example, and His teachings, in the most important job we ever have: parenting. Be loving and supportive, take care of your child's needs and your own too, be a healer, develop your capacity for empathy, show mercy, forgive, be patient, these are the messages that Jesus gives us, and that Dr. Whitehurst applies to parenting. As a Christian parent, this book was very meaningful to me. Like Jesus did, we should all value and protect children, and follow the Golden Rule with others, not just adults, but children too. I highly recommend this book to all Christian parents, and others who are looking to develop their capacity for understanding, gentle discipline, and compassionate leadership.