Graduation to Deviation
The school year is almost over and thousands of young adults will be graduating high school across the United States. Many will go to college, numerous to the military, others to jobs, and some haven’t really decided what to do yet.
As a child grows the parents have/had the responsibility to instruct, discipline, and love that child to the best of their ability. Some are/were able to do a better job than others do to different circumstances, but all should be/have focused on preparing their child to face the trials, pitfalls, and enjoyments of adult life.
My fear is the deviation of the young adults from the wise instruction of the parents as they become “free” to do as they please as adults. I realize that everything one may get from their parents is not correct, but hopefully the good out ways the bad by this time. Neither the parents nor the young are perfect, but the greater responsibility lies on the parents from God Himself.
I fear that while we as Christian parents make sure our child is in Sunday school and church, we fail to create a lifestyle of Christianity. What I mean is that while we believe it is right (by tradition or conviction) that our children should learn the Bible verses and stories, we ourselves do not feel it necessary to study the Scriptures or live as though we honestly believe them.
A child and young person can clearly see hypocrisy. We as adults cannot hide it from them. We often brag about such when we say things as “Because I am the daddy” or “Do as I say” when we are questioned with “Why can you do it” after we tell them it is not right for them to do.
While we ensure that they learn the things of God are we creating a distaste of Him and His Word to our children by not living what we preach? Do they hold the things of Scripture in their minds no different than that of secular learning without it sinking into their hearts?
Do we ensure their learning of spiritual things of God only one day a week for seventeen or eighteen years to only have then reject and deviate from such because we have failed in a lifestyle that is pleasing to God and a godly example to what we want them to learn? They will learn more from our example than simple text book knowledge without responsibility.
Shall the teachings of Christianity perish from them as those things which they have learned in school that they dislike or fail to use in everyday life? If not in their hearts, I fear it may very well happen.
At graduation day we are a little late to recapture the years that we should have done better when we had the time and ability to do so. Yet all is not lost, for through prayer and lifestyle we can hopeful keep them mindful of the things of God that they have learned while growing up. It is too late the force them into subjection to the authority of God after graduation for it will only create rebellion. We must live the Christian talk as we should always (from before they were born or our conversion till now), be compassionate, and trust that God’s Word will not return void.
To a young adult reading this that may be thinking that the Christian things they were taught as a child are not true or you feel a desire to rebellion against them because of hypocrisy you have seen, I ask that you ponder the Word of God in your heart and see that Christ is the example that we must follow. Our parents may faultier and those we look up to may disappoint us, yet no one is without sin but our Savior Jesus Christ. Regardless of the ones around you whether “good” or “bad” Christians, I pray that you have a desire to trust and follow Christ as Lord and Savior, and live the way you believe a Christian should.
As a child grows the parents have/had the responsibility to instruct, discipline, and love that child to the best of their ability. Some are/were able to do a better job than others do to different circumstances, but all should be/have focused on preparing their child to face the trials, pitfalls, and enjoyments of adult life.
My fear is the deviation of the young adults from the wise instruction of the parents as they become “free” to do as they please as adults. I realize that everything one may get from their parents is not correct, but hopefully the good out ways the bad by this time. Neither the parents nor the young are perfect, but the greater responsibility lies on the parents from God Himself.
I fear that while we as Christian parents make sure our child is in Sunday school and church, we fail to create a lifestyle of Christianity. What I mean is that while we believe it is right (by tradition or conviction) that our children should learn the Bible verses and stories, we ourselves do not feel it necessary to study the Scriptures or live as though we honestly believe them.
A child and young person can clearly see hypocrisy. We as adults cannot hide it from them. We often brag about such when we say things as “Because I am the daddy” or “Do as I say” when we are questioned with “Why can you do it” after we tell them it is not right for them to do.
While we ensure that they learn the things of God are we creating a distaste of Him and His Word to our children by not living what we preach? Do they hold the things of Scripture in their minds no different than that of secular learning without it sinking into their hearts?
Do we ensure their learning of spiritual things of God only one day a week for seventeen or eighteen years to only have then reject and deviate from such because we have failed in a lifestyle that is pleasing to God and a godly example to what we want them to learn? They will learn more from our example than simple text book knowledge without responsibility.
Shall the teachings of Christianity perish from them as those things which they have learned in school that they dislike or fail to use in everyday life? If not in their hearts, I fear it may very well happen.
At graduation day we are a little late to recapture the years that we should have done better when we had the time and ability to do so. Yet all is not lost, for through prayer and lifestyle we can hopeful keep them mindful of the things of God that they have learned while growing up. It is too late the force them into subjection to the authority of God after graduation for it will only create rebellion. We must live the Christian talk as we should always (from before they were born or our conversion till now), be compassionate, and trust that God’s Word will not return void.
To a young adult reading this that may be thinking that the Christian things they were taught as a child are not true or you feel a desire to rebellion against them because of hypocrisy you have seen, I ask that you ponder the Word of God in your heart and see that Christ is the example that we must follow. Our parents may faultier and those we look up to may disappoint us, yet no one is without sin but our Savior Jesus Christ. Regardless of the ones around you whether “good” or “bad” Christians, I pray that you have a desire to trust and follow Christ as Lord and Savior, and live the way you believe a Christian should.
