When the whole church does not function as a family, the individual families of the church are in danger. It is so easy to fall into this trap. The writer has heard it stated as a generally accepted truth, that the worst behaved children are the children of ministers and missionaries. These are good reasons for a renewed study of what the Bible has to say on parenting, but there are others, namely, the particular problems presented by our modern world. These are almost too numerous to mention, but they include the materialism and humanism that characterises today's society.
Materialism is the outlook which views material things as more important than anything else.
It is widespread, even among professing Christians. Many parents today think it more necessary to earn extra money to give their children 'the best' of things, than to show their love in more personal ways. So Dad must do more overtime and Mum must go out to work. Parental love is not shown in spending time with children, nor in building deep personal relationships with them, nor in being close enough to guide and steer them through the dangers of life. Instead, it is shown by giving them material gifts.