Participation this week has jumped!  We have had several new contenders.  I wonder if the word is getting out? 

Is the high participation level  because people enjoy being controversial or argumentative?  I think it's possible that people like to fight for what's close to their heart.  As Christians we need to take a stand for the truth, Christ should be what is close to our heart and we should be ready to defend Him! 

Let's take a look at the arguments for this week. 

Those that conteded for Truth/Promise -

Smokin' Barrel (with more than one post) - Contends that the verse says, "...will NOT depart from it."  Deuteronomy 11:18-20 was used to help back this argument.  (11:18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
11:19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
11:20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:) We are to train our children at all times, not just when it is convenient for us or on special occasions.  The argument was given that those that had children that did go astray simply did not do their job in training well enough, that they spent to much time elsewhere. 

Those that contended for Truism -

ronandjess (with more than one post)- Contends that God gave our children free will.  It is out job to give them the tools they need so that they can make their own decisions.  The argument is given that Davis was a godly man and look how his children turned out!

homeschooling6 (with more than one post) - Contends that we must live a life that is an example to our children on how they are, "to go." We need to pray for our children, teach them to hide the Word in their heart, but they have free will.

lazycreek - Contends that Proverbs 22:6 relates to human character, " both the parents' and the child's. Humanity is incapable of attaining to absolutes in this world." The argument is given that, "we don't know the way our child "should" go, in the sense that God defines the life-path. ("Good works prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them," Eph 2:10). The best we can do as parents is show our children how to listen to God, how to obey, and how to repent. It will ultimately be their choice whether they do or not." 

Smokin' Barrel and lazycreek both gave refrences to support their arguments.  I want to applaud them for this.  Giving a reference results in a stronger argument. 

Based on the arguments given I have to say that Proverbs 22:6 is a truism.  Understand that this was not due to the fact that more contended for truism then truth, rather that the Bible refrences given and their context led me to see that. 

I have a few thoughts I'd like to share.  I do this because the arguments were not given anywhere else, and I feel they should have been.  I have given much thought and prayer to this verse.

-  The word proverbs itself does not mean promise.  It comes from the Hebrew word mashal which means comparison.  (Definition taken from Crossmap Dictionary)  Proverbs is one of the books of poetry.  Hebrew poetry does not rhyme it compares and contrasts, and you can see this throughout Proverbs. 

-  Solomon collected these proverbs as he heard them from other rulers/people and wrote them down.  It is said that he collected over 3,000 proverbs, obviously they did not all pass God's standard and wind up in scripture.  Solomon did not write all of the proverbs, there are several evidences that show this.  Since Solomon collected these proverbs, that means God didn't give all of them to him. 

-  Smokin' Barrel mentioned that we are to train our children until they are 18.  Why 18?  That age of accountability was only set within the last 100 years in the U.S. other countries have different ages.  What is the Biblical age of accountability?  I'm going to argue that we are to never quit training our children.  My child my be an adult, but I am still my brothers keeper, I should still correct and train.  My husband and I still call our parents and ask them to "train" us in certain areas.

-  Ephesisans 2:9 says that we are saved by faith and not works, lest any man should boast. This verse is for myself, and my own salvation but I believe it applies to anyone I witness too.  It is not my works that will save anyone, least of all my children.  I am very glad of that!  That does not excuse my duty and responsibility to my children, the more training I give them the easier their lives will be later.  However, if my childrens future for a Godly life was entirely dependent on me, I would fail.  I am human.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  This includes our children.  Sin does not stop short in us for the rest of our lives when we ask Jesus into our hearts. 

-  If a parent could train their child so that there was no way they could depart from it, then what need does that child have of a savior?  God gave everyone free will, if a child is trained so that they do not stray, then have they done this of their own free will? 

-  We are all tempted.  If we decide to submit to temptation is that our parents fault?  Many adults who live sinful lives blame it on their parents.  They do not want to accept responsibility for their own actions.  Some of these parents did train their children to not commit the sins that they have.  Many parents will be held responsible for the lack of training they gave these children, but passing the buck goes clear back to Eden. 

-  God had Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and yet they strayed.  Does this mean that God did not train them?  Did they even need training?  Obviously they had no need to grow, they were made a man and a woman, not a child. 

-  I know parents that have two children.  One of their children is known by everyone as a saint.  This child is truly that good and is now in their 30's.  The other child became pregnant at 17.  She later admitted that all of her life she was defiant and rebellious.  In Sunday school she would sit there and say to herself that these people were deluded.  Even as a five year old.  She was not rebelling against her parents she later realized, she was rebelling against God.  These parents raised these children with the same standards.  They did not give up on their second child because she was a source of frustration.  They did not neglect her training.  This young woman will flat out tell you that is was her, not her parents. 

-  Proverbs 22:2 says, The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.  This is truth.  Obviously some of the Proverbs are truth.  Proverbs 22:29 says Seest thou a man diligent  in his business?  he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.  This is not a promise.  Not every hard worker will stand before a king or president.  Many hard workers still deal with mean men. 

-  Proverbs 22:2 is backed up by other scripture, Genesis 1 & 2 for starters.  Proverbs 22:6 is not backed up by other scripture.  Many other verses say how we are to train our children, but they do not include a promise.  There is also not a single example of how good parenting will result in a child that will not stray. 

I hope you can see some thoughts and questions that one side could have offered and how the other side could have offered a rebuttal.  Knowing what your opponents arguments are before they even offer them will help you build a good debate. 

God's word works together throught the entire Bible.  If you want to defend your faith you need to use more than one other verse!  After the tempting of Jesus, satan used scripture to back up his arguments.  Jesus countered with scripture.  satan offered yet another piece of scripture.  So did Jesus.  We know that satan was twisting what scripture actually said, but Jesus did not use that as his defense.  He simply replied with another piece of truth.