This quarter in the High School class we are going through a book called “Tough Choices”. We will be discussing tough choices that occur in situations involving television violence, foul language, sex, drinking a little as long as you don’t get drunk, the pressures of friends, the clothing we wear, dancing, the music we listen to, the Internet, white lies, etc. While these tough choices are difficult in High School, they are also tough choices for all of us, regardless of age. With Alyssa being a little less than six months old, this class is a refresher of the values that Michelle and I will work through with her to make sure she is well equipped to face her future peer pressure and the pressures of society in general on these topics.
We as parents have a responsibility to our children to teach, be good examples, and to keep them from doing things that would lead them away from the truth. We read in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” How can we expect our children to grow up and be strong in the faith if we are weak examples ourselves? Children look up to their parents in the early years as “Super Hero’s” and in later years as older, wiser parents who hold a warm spot in their heart. This warm spot many times overrides the truth in their hearts. We are to teach our children to love Christ more than anything in this world, even us, their own parents. Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” Our father always told us that no matter what he said, if it was wrong according to the scriptures, go with the truth, not him. Dad has been a great example to all of us.
Sometimes we as parents may think that it does not matter if we stray away here and there. We may go on vacation and miss services because we are driving, not even trying to find a church the week before. There may be something going on at school that we think is more important than services. These things may happen in “one off” situations where we are really in a difficult situation, but we really have to watch, the more they happen, the more we adapt to missing more and more, and falling farther and farther away from the truth. Over time as we take mini vacations from church, we may not even realize that the choices we make for our children are not in their spiritual best interests.
We also have to be strong on these fundamental issues when they arise. We cannot give in to the pressures of society ourselves. We have to remember what is said in Proverbs 17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. How do we justify the wicked? Could it be by letting our children watch things on TV that no one should be watching? Could it be teaching our children that it’s OK to drink as long as you don’t get drunk? Could it be allowing our children to attend dances or other venues that are sexually charged? Could it be by missing worship services for other events?
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You are lacking in the comments department. So here I come to the rescue! :)
I'm really glad you wrote on this. It was hard for me when I was really little (like less than 10) to notice that my parents had different standards than I did. I couldn't sing songs because they sounded bad coming from a 10 year old, but they could listen to it on the radio? And that's not that bad, but I really want to be a model example to Alyssa, and to raise her to be the same to her children. It is important to remember to stay strong and firm in our beliefs, and not get lenient as she grows older. Just because all the other kids in school do certain things, doesn't mean it's okay. I think a lot of parents have a hard time saying no to things they know they should.
As a parent, you have every right to tell your child no. Just because they are 16 or 17, doesn't mean they have the freedom to do and wear whatever they want.
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