Practicing Acceptance & Goodwill

Driving home: a sustained pattern of exasperating, or provoking a child to anger, the sustained neglect, or misuse of those means ordained of God for the child's nurture, or an aggravated act of inflicting permanent damage to a child'…

Martin uses the analogy of abusing an automobile, either by positively inflicting harm (putting sand in the oil) or by neglect (never checking the oil), to illustrate his broad definition of child abuse as both active harm and sustained neglect.

And number two, that these duties require the righteous use of spanking and authoritative verbal instruction and correction. Now, of equal importance is our working definition of child abuse. It was interesting, in going back over this material for preparation, and in particular, writing out the review, that Webster defines abuse as mistreatment, or injury. And since we can cause abuse to someone or something by positive infliction of harm, or by neglect of what is needful for its well-being, I do believe that we are still in the realm, with this definition, of forms of child abuse. A man may ...

1:56 - 3:11 Read in full sermon

Driving home: a sustained pattern of exasperating, or provoking a child to anger, the sustained neglect, or misuse of those means ordained of God for the child's nurture, or an aggravated act of inflicting permanent damage to a child'…

The negative influences in a home, such as hypocrisy and sham, are likened to radon and asbestos, which are noxious and deadly, to emphasize their destructive impact on children's spiritual and emotional well-being.

there is an overall climate or atmosphere which breathes and pulses through that home and which each member of the home is continually absorbing. And we liken these negative influences to abuse. Radon and to suspended particles of asbestos which can be noxious, which can be deadly to those who live within a home characterized by these things. And the first one we dealt with was the radon and the asbestos of hypocrisy and sham as opposed to sincerity and reality in the parent's religious life and experience. If you would send your children out into life dispirited, full of anger, and even cynic...

4:31 - 5:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be like a father who upbraids his children for their constant needs; instead, be like God who gives liberally and does not upbraid.

Martin illustrates how resentment creates distance by describing a husband who resents his wife and suddenly finds excuses to do tasks he previously neglected, like changing the oil or washing the car, to avoid closeness.

one of patent unquestioned determination to keep harmony within that household so that between not only husband and wife there is evident harmony but between parents and child harmony when the child is younger and its dependantness makes such demands upon you particularly as a mother that you can begin to develop resentment and resentment always puts its object at a distance you never cuddle that which you resent right? no man cuddled his wife when he resents something she did to him he finds excuses to go out and change the oil wash the car break the lease maybe doing something she's been on ...

28:04 - 29:32 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be like a father who upbraids his children for their constant needs; instead, be like God who gives liberally and does not upbraid.

Martin shares a personal anecdote from his childhood where his father demanded immediate obedience without explanation, but later sat down to explain the rationale, teaching him to think responsibly and showing that directions were not arbitrary.

natural strength and patience to keep a climate of harmony that's when you cry to god and then when you get through that morning and you bow over your lunch you say oh god you said oh my heavenly father thank you for getting me through the morning without sharp words to the kids thank you for getting me through the morning without resenting them in all their demands and their needs oh my father thank you that you didn't upbraid me when i asked you for grace and patience and forbearance that the climate of the home might remain one of harmony then when they get a little older they get a little ...

31:00 - 32:29 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin continues to illustrate God's goodwill through Jeremiah 31:8-9, Malachi 3:17, Matthew 25:34, Luke 11:13, and John 12:26. He emphasizes that God's goodwill plans ahead for…

The act of pity is illustrated by seeing a man injured by the road; one pities him and seeks to help, rather than kicking him, demonstrating that pity inherently seeks the object's best interest.

Pity has in its very essence good will to its object. You see a man lying by the road. He's been hit by a car or fell off his bike. You pity him. You don't walk up and kick him.

44:03 - 44:14 Read in full sermon

The point: Sometimes bend your own natural tastes and inclinations to show goodwill to your children, demonstrating interest in the things that interest them.

A father shows goodwill to his son by learning to delight in his son's interest in snakes, even watching a snake eat a mouse, despite his own natural inclinations, to demonstrate that his son's interests matter to him.

For one parent it meant he has had to learn how to show some degree of delight with a snake crawling around his arm because his son likes snakes and he's showing good will to his son. I went as far as I could. I watched the snake eat a mouse but when they said, would you like him around your arm, I begged off. I showed my good will by watching him take the mouse in one bite. Why'd I do that? No wonder I particularly liked watching the snake grab the mouse and swallow him down. But I wanted to show good will. to that child. That the things that interest him interest me. The things important to ...

56:11 - 57:03 Read in full sermon

The point: Sometimes bend your own natural tastes and inclinations to show goodwill to your children, demonstrating interest in the things that interest them.

A father spends hours building a dollhouse for his daughter, an activity that might not make him feel 'macho,' but which creates a climate of goodwill and connection between them.

For one parent it meant he has had to learn how to show some degree of delight with a snake crawling around his arm because his son likes snakes and he's showing good will to his son. I went as far as I could. I watched the snake eat a mouse but when they said, would you like him around your arm, I begged off. I showed my good will by watching him take the mouse in one bite. Why'd I do that? No wonder I particularly liked watching the snake grab the mouse and swallow him down. But I wanted to show good will. to that child. That the things that interest him interest me. The things important to ...

56:11 - 57:03 Read in full sermon