By: Robert Serreyn

Question? Is it the parents fault if a child goes astray after they leave home according to Proverbs 22:6?

(Proverbs 22:6) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Answer: NO, NEVER…

First lets point out something in V6… NOTICE the key word SHOULD, this is the KEY WORD to understanding this verse.

AFTER a child grows up and leaves the home the parents are NO LONGER held
reponsible for that child’s behaviour or actions and NEITHER DOES the Lord.

There are alot of churches that leave the impression upon parents of wayward children
that they are somehow still responsible for their children or childs poor decisions, mannerisms, actions etc but this is NOT SO as the Proverbs 22:6 states:

Train up a child in the way he SHOULD GO, this is in the GENERAL SENSE not in the absolute sense, the parents are COMMANDED TO teach and train their children in the Ways of the Lord but this does not mean that the child or children will follow that up bringing.

To suggest even in the remotest sense that a parent is still responsible for their children
AFTER they have left home WOULD TAKE AWAY their freewill choice and responsibility to decisions that they make and it would also CONDERDICT Galatians 6:7 which states:

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

In Conclusion:

Every person is is held ACCOUNTABLE to the Lord for EVERY Word, Action, and Thought that they do.

The Bible States in Matthew 12:36, & 37

(Matthew 12:36,37) But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

And EVERY person WILL GIVE an answer for those things they have done

(1 Corinthians 3:11 – 15) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. (14) If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
(15) If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

(Revelation 20:12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH