Ten Types of Hypocrisy Parents Should Look for in Their Kids

Posted on May 6, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Some worldwide statistics say two out of every three teens leave the church after high school. In countries where Christianity is growing, parents are tempted to dismiss these numbers as not applicable to them. For example, among the twenty countries where Christianity is growing the most, seven are in Africa: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

Christians usually enjoy immense freedom of religion in places where Christianity is growing. While this is a blessing, freedom of religion can also be a detriment. Hypocrisy among Christians is much less common in countries where believers will be persecuted for following Christ.

For example, how many fake Christians do you think live in the Muslim areas of Uganda, where a Christian couple was recently poisoned by a Muslim woman? Or how about Burkina Faso, where Christians face attacks by militant Islamists? Then there is the Congo DRC, where a batch of seventy and then another forty-seven Christians were just recently murdered by devout Muslims.

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How to Teach Your Children Gratitude

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

Listen to our podcast discussion here: Youtube – Spotify – Apple Podcasts

Puritan William Secker said: “He enjoys much who is thankful for little.” If parents want their children to be happy, they must teach them to be thankful for even the smallest items. “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father…” (Eph. 5:20)

Consider the following six ways a parent can teach their children gratitude.

Guard Your Children from the Victim Mentality

The victim mindset teaches people it is okay to be bitter with the world due to the ways they’ve suffered. The life of Samuel Ajay Crowther illustrates the success one can have when one rejects this worldly mentality.

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On Parenting: Are You Bribing Your Way Through?

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Malamulo Chindongo

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Not long ago, I was sitting in an airport when a family of four appeared. The little boy, who seemed about five, was having a meltdown I’d heard many times before. His mother was doing all she could to calm him down, but nothing worked. In just a few minutes, I witnessed a parade of bribes being offered to the child, all of which he flatly ignored. First, an iPad with his favourite cartoon was tossed in his direction, but to the surprise of his parents, he refused it. His screams echoed through the terminal. Next, his favourite candy was suggested, but that didn’t work either. I couldn’t help but notice the father—though very present—had mentally checked out, preferring to watch the chaos unfold rather than intervene.

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How Early Should Parents Start Teaching Their Children?

Posted on April 26, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Paul Schlehlein

Listen to our discussion about training children here: Youtube – Spotify – Apple Podcasts

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

Proverbs 22:6 has two main points: a command and a consequence. The command comes first because if we obey it, we’ll reap good consequences. If we disobey, the consequences are awful.

The Command to Train Your Child

Here is Solomon’s command: “Train up a child in the way he should go.” He’s talking to educators and teachers, mostly parents. This is somewhat unique because Proverbs is not directed to parents. Primarily, it is written to youth. Proverbs 1:4 states that the purpose of the book is “to give…knowledge and discretion to youth.” Young people naturally struggle to make wise decisions, so God gave the book of Proverbs to help them.

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Six Excuses Parents Use for Not Disciplining Their Children

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

– Paul Schlehlein

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Parenting is difficult. Disciplining proves even harder. Many of the best of men and women have failed at parenting. Abraham alienated his son Ishmael. Jacob rebelled against Isaac. The sons of King David tried to kill their father. Church History verifies parenting is difficult as well. Take William Carey for example.

As the Father of Modern Missions, he excelled. But as the father of several children, he struggled, at least in the beginning. While he labored at translation work in India and battled with his wife’s mental illness, his sons spiralled out of control. Deprived of their mother’s love, his sons Felix and William seemed uncontrollably self-willed. Carey tried. He improved later in life and earned the highest love and respect from his children. But it wasn’t Carey that turned his sons around.

William Ward, Carey’s teammate in India, took much of the spiritual care for Carey’s kids in their youth. Ward feared the Carey boys would break away from their Christian moorings. So he discipled them. He walked with them. They sang together. They spoke of spiritual matters. Carey poured gratitude upon his friend Ward, but it was Carey’s job to do.

This illustrates the difficulty parents find in disciplining their children. Here are six common excuses they use.

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TARIF: On Spanking Your Child in Africa

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

The Africa Review in Five highlights African current affairs from a Christian perspective. Listen and subscribe through Youtube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Today is Friday, July 28th, A.D. 2023. This is The Africa Review in Five, written by Paul Schlehlein and presented by Yamikani Katunga.

On Spanking Your Child in Africa

Last month in June, South Africa’s highest court upheld a ruling that the corporal punishment of children at home violates a child’s rights and is therefore unconstitutional. This ruling was in agreement with the 2017 Constitutional Court decision that sentenced a father for severely spanking his 13-year-old son for watching a pornographic film on an iPad. The father argued that he as the parent has the right to discipline his son. The court disagreed.

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20 Questions a Husband Should Ask His Wife About Their Kids

Posted on December 14, 2022 by Paul Schlehlein

She’s not happy because he never gave her this list

I recently asked these questions to my wife. It spurred excellent conversation. If a husband genuinely wants to know his wife’s thoughts on these questions, he’ll discover many things about her he never knew before.

Are you glad we had children when we did, or would different timing had been better?
Are you happy with the number of children we have, or do you wish we had more or less?
What are two practical things I can do to make your job as a mother easier and more enjoyable?
Am I doing a good job teaching biblical doctrine (“what the Bible says”) and character (“how do I do this”) to the children?
What is one way you think I manage the children well and one way I need to manage them better?
Do you think I treat you as my chief confidant and advisor when raising the kids, welcoming your suggestions and advice?
Do you think I give you freedom and help you to spread your wings as you train the children, or do you think I hold you back?
Do you think our children are happy, or do you think I exasperate them and provoke them to wrath?
Am I too optimistic and naive with the kids, thinking they’re little angels, or too pessimistic, thinking they’re demons incarnate?
Do you think I’m doing a good job of creating warm, fun memories with the kids, or am I too firm and glum?
Are there some ways you think I am hypocritical with the kids?
Do I have a good balance of showing them love with affection and words, or am I too negative?
Have I created a home that is safe from mockery and ridicule and where the children are free to make mistakes?
Have I made the rules in our home clear or is there confusion among the children as to what I expect?
How would you say I need better balance when it comes to disciplining the kids?
What are two practical ways I can make rules in the home that are more clear and more easily attainable?
Do you think I am quick to ask forgiveness from the children when I have sinned, or am I reluctant?
Am I a good listener with the children, spending adequate time learning their likes and dislikes?
When it comes to caring for the children, how would you fill in the blank? “Often I’ve thought, ‘I wish my husband would do ____ better.’”
At my 75th birthday birthday party, what do you think I will be most glad I did when it comes to training the children? The biggest regret?