Parenting, nature or nuture?

[Benedict A. Davis]

I was asked by a young God fearing couple recently ''Are parents defined by nature or nurture''?

The couple have been married for over 5 years and have been actively attempting to give the Lord a new little soldier for his Christian Army but with no luck what so ever. They seem to be a fairly intelligent couple and He assures me that they understand the anatomical needs to succeed in their task.

They are now considering adoption but are concerned that in not knowing who the ''natural father'' was, they might not be able to raise the child as a True Christian. If they were to be able to bring trhe child up in the Church would the child still carry the sins of it's ''natural father''?

Exodus 34:7

7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."

I said to them that if "Being the Father'' was the actual rearing of the child then there should be no problem but if nature beats nurture the child's destiny is set.

Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

I told the couple I would not want to make a hasty reply to their question but would discuss it with others and let them know the consensus. My immediate advice was that they should speak with their Pastor and get his opinion.

A question I had is would it make a difference if the child was not a male child?

[Sister Charli]

Re: Parenting, nature or nuture?

The couple have been married for over 5 years and have been actively attempting to give the Lord a new little soldier for his Christian Army but with no luck what so ever.

Have the truly asked God for a biological child of their own?

1 Samuel 1:27 (King James Version)
27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

Is there a spiritual reason why God will not grant their wish?

[Benedict A. Davis]

Re: Parenting, nature or nuture?

Have the truly asked God for a biological child of their own?

1 Samuel 1:27 (King James Version)
27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

Is there a spiritual reason why God will not grant their wish?

Knowing the couples parents, as I do, they were raised as good Christian children and have never strayed from their faith and of course prayer is the foreplay that they regularly practice.

What they are hoping is that if they adopt a child, the mothering needs of the wife will kick in and she will start bearing her own. I had suggested they get one of those 3rd world give away kids and if she starts whelping her own then they could send the 3rd worlder back. He was considering this as an option. But if it is nurture that defines parenting he would be sending off his own child and he might not like that idea.

[Sister Charli]

Re: Parenting, nature or nuture?

Knowing the couples parents, as I do, they were raised as good Christian children and have never strayed from their faith and of course prayer is the foreplay that they regularly practice.

What they are hoping is that if they adopt a child, the mothering needs of the wife will kick in and she will start bearing her own. I had suggested they get one of those 3rd world give away kids and if she starts whelping her own then they could send the 3rd worlder back. He was considering this as an option. But if it is nurture that defines parenting he would be sending off his own child and he might not like that idea.

Oh yes. I understand the dilemma now.

[BelieverInGod]

Re: Parenting, nature or nuture?

Looking at the OT, it seems that the Bible doesn't consider a child to be a child until it is a month old. Is it possible for them to adopt a child under 4-weeks-old?

Leviticus 27:6 And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver.

Numbers 3:15 Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.