What are the Priorities in Parenting?

The most important things in life can easily get lost in the shuffle. The same applies to parenting—in the crazy that is having kids, school events, homework, sports, friends, etc., a parent can easily lose focus on the bigger picture. Derrick offers a re-focusing based on the teachings about parenting found in the Writings. -Editor

Today I am going to offer a few reflections from New Church teachings about parenthood. Since I am a father, my reflections are probably going to lean that direction. But most of my thoughts are going to apply to all parents.

Parenting Is the Highest Priority

From the Lord's perspective, parenting is the most important work you could be doing.

[Marriage's] use excels all other uses in creation, for by marriage is the orderly propagation of the human race and also of the angelic heaven, which is from the human race. (CL 156)

Propogation is a fancy way of saying reproduction. Marriage is the Lord's mechanism for creating more people. And parenting is the Lord's mechanism for getting more angels.

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Clothing the Naked

Is nakedness something to be ashamed of or proud of? What about the nakedness of our sins? In this abridged sermon Andy describes the ways truth can both lay bare and cover up sin. Anyone wishing to read the full length original can contact the author or New Church Perpsective. -Editor

When thou seest the naked, thou shalt cover him; and from thine own flesh, hide thyself not. Then shall thy light break forth like the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily." Isaiah 58:7-8

Throughout the Word, from Genesis through Revelation, we are taught that since the fall of man the nakedness of evil should be covered. When the man and his wife disobeyed the Lord and saw their nakedness they covered themselves with fig leaves, and then Jehovah gave them skins for clothing (Genesis 3). And in Revelation the Lord counseled the church of Laodecia to buy of Him white garments that they may be clothed, that the shame of their nakedness would not appear (Revelation 3:18). And later, in preparation for the battle of Armageddon, He says, "Blessed is he who is awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."

Yet we also find many places in the Word where the nakedness of evil is uncovered, from the fall of man in Genesis, to the judgment on the harlot of Babylon in the book or Revelation. The lewd and perverse nature of evil must be known and acknowledged, so that we can shun and remove it from our lives and minds as far as possible.

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