August 2008 - Why are our children rebellious?
08/01/2008
How we act, what we do, how we treat others will certainly influence our children and others around us.
By Dr. Judy Baus My husband and I have had our motorhome parked at an RV park for the last two months. I so enjoy looking at God's creation all around, the lake and all its beauty. Vic enjoys taking people out in his boat to fish. I love to watch the animals as they train their young. The younger ones instinctively follow the older ones. The parents teach them how to hunt and avoid danger. This is all natural to the animal kingdom and is done before the young can go off on their own. What about the human race? We have some of the same instincts. Watch babies as they mimic other people. They see and they do! They can be taught to obey or they can be taught to rebel. These patterns start at birth and continue throughout their life. As parents we are supposed to raise our children to become upstanding individuals who can go forward and raise their own children to be upstanding individuals. This is a huge responsibility. How we act, what we do, how we treat others will certainly influence our children and others around us. Over this past Fourth of July, I am sorry to say I saw many rebellious children and many rebellious adults. The nearby marina has a 5-mile-an-hour speed limit. Over and over I told the 4-Wheelers to slow down. Children much younger than 16 were driving motorized vehicles very fast around and around while the parents or grandparents sat back and watched! I said to one adult and child who continually drove their 4-Wheelers right past our motorhomes, you might be having fun, but is your fun spoiling the fun of others? What are these adults teaching their children but to go against the rules and do as they want, no matter who gets hurt. Even after the owner of the marina spoke to them about the rules, some didn't stop. Sad to say, it will go from these small infractions to bigger ones! Our jails are full of rebellious teenagers and adults! The park has a leash law, but adults allowed their dogs to run free. Sure, it's easier to let them just run, but they chase the smaller animals, plus they defecate at will. I watched while an adult allowed her dog to do his business in the middle of the road where we walk. I asked if she was going to pick it up and she looked at me funny, as if to say why? I told her I walk on that road. She did pick it up, but that was only one of many, many dogs defecating everywhere and anywhere and the owners not taking care of it. Children saw parents or grandparents not caring about what's good for others, so why should they care? Why are our children rebellious? I think we should all be looking intensely at this question and seeking answers. If we do not know the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal way and read His standards for life (the Bible), we will not know how to lead our children or grandchildren from rebellion. Why? Because we ourselves are rebelling against God! But if we are born again, we are followers of Jesus. We should no longer be rebellious, but rather be doers of the Word of God, and not hearers only (see James 1:22). I use the word "followers of Jesus Christ" because the word "Christian" is used loosely today. Many people think they are Christians. Not so! John 3:3 says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." This word "born again" means born from above. If we are born from above, we should be lifting the standards for ourselves and our children. The Bible says it is the little foxes that spoil the vine. How about the laws that seem not so important—speeding, not using our seatbelt, no auto insurance or registration, parking in unlawful spots, or fishing and hunting without a license… and many other things done on a daily basis that plant a seed saying rebellion is okay. I wonder—if we stopped our rebellion, would our children or grandchildren do the same?