Permissive Parenting Is the Pits

“According to the men of the world, few are going to hell; according to the Bible, few are going to heaven.” – J.C. Ryle

Parenting styles vary from person to person and family to family. However, from my personal observation, those styles can generally be lumped into two categories.

The first category is for parents who desperately want to be their kids’ best friend. To them, their #1 priority in life – and the singular means by which they measure their success as a parent – is for their children to like them. And so, they let them eat whatever they want, as much as they want, whenever they want; and when they are older, to go wherever they want, whenever they want. Likewise, there are no restrictions as to the amount of time they spend in front of the “boob tube” or the programs they are allowed to watch. The same goes for their cell phones, tablets, laptops, or other electronic devices… all of which are used without proper adult supervision.

The second category of parents is more concerned with protecting their children and raising them to become well-adjusted and well-rounded adults. Sure, they also want their kids to like them but when push comes to shove, they are willing to enforce rules and establish boundaries… even if it makes them temporarily unpopular with their offspring. After all, they reason, you have lots of friends but only one set of parents.

In the same manner, you can make a lot of people happy if you lead them to believe that virtually everybody goes to heaven and that hell is reserved for a select few like pedophiles, rapists, and mass murderers. “All roads lead to Rome and all roads lead to heaven”, they say (cluelessly) with a smile.

Unfortunately for them – and the people they deceive – the opposite is true. Every road but one leads straight to hell and the vast majority of people follow that path. Conversely, a relative handful follow the narrow way to heaven, which is through personal repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

My friend, please don’t be misled and above all, please don’t mislead others. It is far better to offend someone by telling them the truth about sin, heaven, and hell NOW than for them to find out the hard way later.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President