Have you ever noticed how children can do things that are horrible and adults will standby ready to excuse them? Children may lie, cheat, and even steal and still be excused because “they are just kids being kids”. Parents are often the worst. Their children will get caught doing something wrong and they just cannot believe it. If they do believe it they will say “that’s what they’ve learned from the other kids” or “well, it takes mistakes to learn lessons”. Either way, there is an excuse of why that child has really done nothing wrong. Should we expect children to do bad things? God does not excuse children as “kids just being kids” when they are behaving badly. When children do bad things that makes them children who are bad. God says: “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right” (Proverbs 20:11). Even beyond that point, if a child is left to do as he or she pleases and excused when they do bad; that child will be a terror. Solomon said: “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Proverbs 29:15). Those adults who would excuse a child who has done wrong are doing no favors for that child. They are teaching that there are ways out of consequences besides making things right. Parents do not escape scriptural reproof when they excuse their children for behaving badly. Fathers are expected to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Mothers are expected to guide the home (I Timothy 5:14). Both parents are expected to correct their children when those children have done wrong. Again, Solomon wrote: “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell” (Proverbs 23:13-14). Many times the true behavioral problems of a bad child are directly tied to the lack of parenting by mom and dad at home. Too many parents spend their time trying to be the childlike best friend instead of the parent. When we excuse our child they don’t learn about consequences. “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). With God our children are not going to grow up to have you as their excuse maker. A parent cannot stand beside their children in the Judgment Day and tell God why they are better people than their actions tell. God knows the heart, mind, and actions of man (I Samuel 16:7, I Chronicles 28:9, and Psalms 139:1-4). God will judge man, not based upon someone else’s interpretation of why they do bad, but based upon their actions through the standard of His word (John 12:48 and II Corinthians 5:10). Women will not be able to wink at God and show him a little skin like they sinfully attempt with police officers. Men will not be able to strong arm God. There will be no excuses before Christ in the Judgment (Galatians 6:7- 8). If we really care about our children we will not excuse them, we will raise them! Behaviors are learned. Man was not created as sinners nor are children born inclined to sin (Ecclesiastes 7:29). The innocence of a childlike mind is what we need to strive for (Matthew 18:3). When our children begin to grow and they see the world, they learn about sin and too often partake in the new things they see and hear. Evil communications do corrupt good manners (I Corinthians 15:33). As parents we must learn that our children are going to be faced with temptation and we as parents are the line of defense our children need to be able to depend on to help them be saved. God says: “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying” (Proverbs 19:18). If you are going to bear children you better also plan on raising them. You’d better understand that this will be difficult because helping your children to do right when they are faced with choices between right and wrong is not easy. Children will want to do things such as going to the high school prom because all of the other children are going. They will think you are a mean parent who will not let them have any fun when you tell them no. How can a God fearing parent who loves their child set them free in an environment of lasciviousness which will be sure to keep that child from Heaven if they continue that course (Galatians 5:19-21). Folks, letting children experience the world is letting children dance with the devil! If our children learn that experimentation with sin is okay they will continue that behavior as adults. On the good side of the coin of parenting we know we can raise our children to do what is right. Solomon said: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). As a parent I know that I fear failing to train up my children in the way they should go. I hope we all do. One thing is for sure, if we do not hold our children to the standard of good as declared by God through His word, they will not be saved in the end. Parents, the decisions our children will make in life are heavily influenced by the standards we raise them by. Hold them accountable now so that they will be ready to be accountable to God. After all, God commands children saying:“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise)” (Ephesians 6:1-2). There is no doubt that we all know the kids that are horrible but their parents think they can do no wrong. Sometimes however, we don’t see ourselves as we do others. Are we the parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. to children who need correction but we simply don’t follow through? Our “little babies” are not always as innocent as we want to paint them. Let’s consider this in closing: “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15). |
| Volume VII ~ Issue XXI ~ February 18th, 2007 |
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
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What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)? Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17),
repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of
sins into the church of Christ (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13, and Romans 6:1-6). One must then remain
faithful (Rev. 2:10).
repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of
sins into the church of Christ (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13, and Romans 6:1-6). One must then remain
faithful (Rev. 2:10).
| Edited by: Brian A. Yeager |
| “They’re Just Acting Like Kids” By: Brian A. Yeager |
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| There are Consequences With God |
| Kids Grow Up and Follow What They’ve Learned |