How should Christians perceive and embrace the responsibility of raising children in today's world?

Tom Ascol emphasizes the importance of returning to the authoritative and sufficient Word of God, especially in the context of family life. He observes that many Christians have been subtly influenced by worldly values rather than being guided by biblical principles. According to Ascol, the church must reclaim its role in discipling believers, encouraging them to understand and live out God's commands regarding family and children. This includes viewing children as a blessing and a heritage from God, as stated in Psalm 127, and challenging the cultural tendencies that minimize the value of having and raising children.

Ascol's message underscores the biblical mandate given to Adam and Eve to cultivate the earth and reflect God's glory through their dominion and multiplication. He argues that Christians today should recognize the privilege and responsibility of bringing children into the world, not out of obligation but as a reflection of God's blessings. This involves nurturing and raising children with the intention of equipping them to be effective instruments for God's purposes, much like arrows in the hands of a warrior. By doing so, believers participate in God's plan to manifest His glory through their families.

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