I witnessed a pastor go old school today, committing what some may call social suicide. Taking no prisoners, this man of the cloth convicted households who display little boundaries or prefer to be their child’s best friend. When parents don’t say no, define acceptable perimeters or clarify right from wrong behavior for their children, kids become one with the world. Instead of being transformed by the word of God, Romans 12:1-2, teenagers are becoming like dust in the wind, blown from one trend to the next.
Today, more than ever, society has been turned upside down, just watch any commercial airing in prime time which ties sex to their products. In the Wild West, cities and town offered bounties for anyone who were able to help authorities catch a criminal wanted for a hideous act. If only an entrepreneur had enough money to offer rewards for good behavior, perhaps this country might return to its Judeo-Christian heritage. Unfortunately, lines drawn in the sand keep moving, enforced differently by the government, leaders and schools, resulting in a generation of confusion.
From my own perspective, its frustrating to look back on all the blown opportunities I missed as a father. Depression, fatigue and time have chipped away the standards I want to consistently uphold for my family. Although I would like to turn the clock back, all I can do is look to history to avoid future failures. Essentially, I need to become a Moses’ like figure, clearly communicating God desires for daily living, Exodus 19:3-6. The best advice for anyone wrestling with parenting is found in Proverbs 22:6, “train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” May the words of the Bible provide blueprints for youth and adults struggling to identify absolutes, Psalm 119:105.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 