[CelticJourney]

It seems to me that Tripp and others like him preach a "new" message as relates to parenting. Am I wrong? How did Christian parents, like, 500 years ago teach their children? Mostly by example and Bible teaching, I would assume?

OH, my dear! That is a very big topic If you look back over church history you can see where this punitive push begins. Personally, I blame Augustine. Augustine brought to his understanding of God his understanding of the Roman gods. He ends up with a Zeus ready to zap us with his lighting bolt whenever we offend him, but who almost begrudingly forgives us. It's a rather negative and fearful 'better watch your step' mentality that we have repeated generation after generation. So, no, Tripp's guilt filled message is as old almost as the orgnized church itself.

Compare Augustine to Patrick and you get a different picture. Patrick and others saw a God who greatly desired a relationship with the children He had created and whose ultimate expression of that desire was Jesus, who bridged the gap that sin created.

As far as books ... I think I have learned more about how to parent by studying and working on my relationship with God and trying to give my children what they need to seek Him themselves. Otherwise, maybe Biblical Parenting by Crystal (Arms of Love here at GCM) or Families Where Grace Is In Place?