A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34
Brotherhood is part of our strategy in two parts.
First, we are teaching our children to love the church and their place in it. Their first experience of submission in brotherhood comes in their relationship with their parents. The relationship they build with you will be the image of their relationship with the church.
Do they feel loved, and cared for? Are they able to bring their struggles and confess their failures? If they feel loved and cared for and able to confess to you, they will be able to carry that into their relationships in the brotherhood.
One thing to keep in mind as you relate to your children about their electronic use, is to not prefer the accountability software reports to their profession. False positives are common – the reason for the software isn’t to get proof of an offense, but to give a starting point for a conversation.
Second, the church is a helper to you. As members of the church we love each other enough to watch out for each other and each other’s children, and offer a warning if they are in trouble.
It will often feel like people are being busybodies – we have to choke that down and think the best of our brothers and sisters. Just like the software, take time to talk to your child and get answers, and be glad for the opportunity.
Remember that your children’s relationship to the church will mirror your own. Do you feel that your brothers and sisters in the church are a part of your extended family? Do the things you say about them express that love? Do you value and seek counsel from the brotherhood? How do you show your children the application of Scripture?
Relationships with other like minded believers will help our children grow in the Lord, and give them resources to guide them in their walks long after we are gone. We protect our children and each other when we stand together in Christ.
