Raising Ramparts: Christie Ohuabunwa’s “Warrior Parenting”

• Book Title: Your Child is a Target
• Author: Christie Ohuabunwa
• Publishers: Cornerstone Publishing.
• Reviewer: Emeaba Emeaba
• Pages: 111

In the clamorous digital age, where information flows freely and often unchecked, Christie Ohuabunwa’s “Your Child is a Target” (A parent’s guide to safeguarding children from modern threats) emerges as a fervent call to arms for parents seeking to safeguard their offspring from perceived societal and spiritual pitfalls.  Across a concise 111 pages, Dr. Ohuabunwa, a self-proclaimed spiritual warrior and ordained minister, constructs a fortress of biblical precepts, offering a roadmap for navigating the complexities of modern child-rearing.  Yet, while the book’s foundations are firmly rooted in evangelical tradition, its ramparts, built on a worldview of spiritual warfare and stringent control, may prove too restrictive for some.

Ohuabunwa’s central thesis posits the home as a sanctuary, a “spiritual fortress” requiring constant vigilance against encroaching threats.  Scripture, drawn heavily from Proverbs, Ephesians, and Matthew, serves as both mortar and ammunition in this defensive architecture.  While this scriptural emphasis will resonate deeply with those steeped in evangelical thought, secular readers may find the pervasive biblical literalism overly prescriptive.  Indeed, the author’s unwavering emphasis on parental authority, particularly in regulating media consumption and social interactions, raises crucial questions about the delicate balance between guidance and coercion.  While “grace and truth” are invoked, the scales tip decidedly toward the latter, leaving the reader to ponder whether the children within these fortified walls are being nurtured or, perhaps, unduly regimented.

The book’s most compelling, and arguably most disquieting, sections delve into the concept of spiritual warfare as an intrinsic element of parenting.  Ohuabunwa casts childhood as a contested battleground where demonic forces relentlessly seek to corrupt and infiltrate.  This worldview, while not uncommon within certain religious circles, risks cultivating an atmosphere of perpetual anxiety.  The author’s advocacy for spiritual discernment, while laudable in principle, occasionally veers into the realm of paranoia, leaving the reader to question whether such a heightened sense of threat fosters resilience or, conversely, a self-perpetuating cycle of fear.

Ohuabunwa’s analysis of Generation Z, the so-called “digital natives,” further complicates the narrative.  She acknowledges their inherent vulnerability within the digital landscape while simultaneously recognizing their potential for “digital discipleship.”  The author encourages parents to engage with their children’s online world, even suggesting the deployment of memes and TikTok videos as vehicles for biblical truths.  Yet, this embrace of technology is tempered by a deep-seated suspicion of its insidious potential, warning against the lurking dangers of “evil connections” forged through social media.  This paradoxical approach – leveraging the very tools deemed potentially harmful – reflects a broader ambivalence towards technology prevalent within many religious communities.

The author’s staunch advocacy for discipline, a cornerstone of many parenting philosophies, is presented with a rigidity that feels somewhat anachronistic in the current cultural climate.  Her pronouncements on “corrective punishment” and the imperative to eradicate “foolishness” from a child’s heart raise concerns about the potential for emotional and psychological harm. While cautioning against “provoking children to wrath,” the demarcation between discipline and aggression remains, at times, disconcertingly blurred.

The inclusion of 60 “spiritual warfare prayers” offers a practical application of Ohuabunwa’s theological framework.  These invocations, ranging from petitions for protection to declarations against generational curses, provide a glimpse into the author’s spiritual arsenal.  However, their sheer volume and often forceful language may prove alienating to those outside her specific faith tradition.

In the context of contemporary dialogues surrounding parenting, technology, and religious freedom, “Warrior Parenting” occupies a unique and potentially contentious space.  While resonating with a long lineage of Christian parenting manuals, it also reflects the anxieties of a society grappling with rapid technological and cultural shifts.  Ultimately, Ohuabunwa’s work offers a compelling, albeit at times unsettling, window into the spiritual and cultural landscape of contemporary evangelicalism, serving as a testament to the enduring challenges of raising children in a world perceived as both promising and perilous.

See the book on Amazon: >>>>>

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♦ Dr. Emeaba, the author of “A Dictionary of Literature,” writes dime novels in the style of the Onitsha Market Literature sub-genre.