V RaptureChrist Newsletter
Nov 1, 2011

Just a few years ago, old people were treated with respect and their opinion was taken as valuable. However, that is not the case now. Children are told via TV to listen to their peers. This leads them down the wrong path. 

Frankly, years ago if a child was doing something wrong in front of adults friends of the family... he would be afraid of the consequences.  The adult person might tell his parents, and when he came home his parents would call him up and punish him.

That is no longer the case. Adults do not discipline children anymore. In fact, they are often not sure of what is right and what is wrong. This moral relativism has crept into our institutions. As a result children are left free to the temptations of Satan.

Temptation is like candy. It tastes good to you. However, it will destroy you. Candy will rot your teeth, as well as lower your immunity, making you prone to disease... but not right away. This is a process that takes time. Sadly, children think that candy is good. They say that vegetables taste horrible. Adults know that vegetables are good for you; that candy, although it tastes good, is like sin.

The problem is that children have little or no experience, and therefore they make some decisions that are very poor. If they do not listen to adults, they can pay a heavy price. Unfortunately, they are not listening to adults, but to people their own age. These peers will mock any advice coming from seniors.

Nowadays youth disrespect teachers, neighbors, police and other adults in authority and they are not afraid of the consequences of their wrong behavior.  They know that when they come home there will be no consequences.  Either the parents are too busy to find out what happened, or even if they know what happened, they do not care.

Parents unfortunately do not teach their children about proper behavior.  The family usually does not sit together to have dinner.  The children get food from the refrigerator already prepared, and they just put it in the microwave to be heated. Therefore a mother is not needed to prepare things, the children do not help in setting up the table to eat as a group... each child does his own thing of eating while playing video games, or watching TV.  There is no time for family interaction, guidance, or correction.

No wonder laws are enacted in which parent consent is not needed.  See newsletter for Oct 2011.

Children think they know better than their parents. They rely on peers for advice. Many join gangs. These children do not ask for their parents' opinion, and they respond to their elders with expressions such as "this is my private life." ... meaning "do not meddle with my decisions." The opinion of their young peers is taken as better than the advice of the experienced elderly.

No wonder God, looking into the future saw this generation and prophesied:

Isaiah 3:12
As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

People need to obey God's laws as well as listen to sound advice. Proverbs says:

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

If you guide a child, he will follow the path you set him on. However, if later in life he should depart from the path, he slowly becomes an evil person. He might tell you expressions such as: “I don’t want to hear it,” “Get out of my face,” “Don’t tell me what to do.” Dr. Draper says youth should get out of this bad streak before it is too late.

Departing from righteousness is a gradual process. It does not happen overnight. However, the person slowly hardens his heart and is unable to hear God's voice. Therefore he becomes less able to follow God's path.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Therefore it is important for parents to train their children at a very young age.

Proverbs 5:1
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

Proverbs 13:24
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

If fact, our duty when giving advice does not end at a certain age.

The devil duped Eve-- a grown up woman-- into making an unwise decision. She did not consult anybody, not even her husband, and she disobeyed JHVH and ate. The advice God gives us is not for a certain age group -- it is for ALL of us.

We as Christians must always speak up when confronted with evil. The saying by Edmund Burke, All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing is very true. 

2Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

As Christians it is our duty to guide people to make good decisions and follow God's commandments.