Examination of Fatherly Responsibility in Children Moral Training: Contextualizing Ephesians 6:4 among Baptist Families in Abraka Metropolis

Abstract

Purpose: Family is a foundational social institution that raises human constituents of the society. It is expected that before young people leave their parents homes to school or any form of independent living, they may have been adequately trained or given their moral foundations. It is alarming seeing the manner of behaviour and anti-social characters perpetuated by young people in the society. There is no respect for constituted authority; no decency; no courtesy and respect for elders; no politesse among age groups, among others. It seems that the family is failing like the church and school in the business of moral training of children. Thus, this study sought to examine how Ephesians 6: 4 can inform teaching of moral values to children through the family among Baptist families in Abraka Metropolis. Methodology: The research methods adopted are exegetical and phenomenological wherein oral interview is used to gather information from the target population. The population entails parents of the Baptist denomination in the city. Simple random sampling was used to select 15 parents. Oral interview was employed to elicit the opinion of the participants. Findings: The study discovered that the parents recognize and accept their responsibilities of training and disciplining children in the family according to the bible teaching. Parents get their children involved in social and religious activities that help them develop good morals. Conclusion: The study concluded that since prevention is better than cure good morals can be implanted into children without their consciousness. Recommendation: This study recommends that fathers should rise to determine the moral contents, method taught and outcome.