The Proper Perspective Is The Biblical Perspective

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.’ (1 Corinthians 10:13a); ‘ How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your Word.’ (Psalm 119:9)

A recent poll done by the Christian Post shows only 40% of all adults believe there is a God; only 11% believe in the Trinity or Triune nature of God (Father God/Son Jesus/the Holy Spirit is one entity), as only 29% believe there is a Holy Spirit.  There is a train of thought that social media influencers have replaced the Church, and voice of the Church (pastors, Bible study teachers, and Life Group leaders), with a ‘quasi-religious’ secular message.  Often this messaging is political or social in nature, which is secular and perhaps seen on the surface as more immediately impactful in the lives of those who follow them.

It is evident there continues to be a trend in the American youth, even those who attended church throughout their entire adolescence, to fall away from attending church after the age of 18, when they either leave home, go to college, or enter the workforce.  The new adults make their own decisions and attempt to find their own path in life.  The Biblical and moral teachings and examples parents, church youth teachers, and others provided are set aside as these young men and women decide to learn the ‘hard’ way through practice rather than the ‘easy’ way of theory.  Experience often makes a better teacher in the long run.

In a vast majority of unscientific observations by me on youths, from a perspective of a lifetime of such observation; when a person hits 18 generally all things a parent says to their children goes into temporary storage somewhere outside of the hippocampus of the human brain.  Male or female, when they hit that age when they are allowed (or are forced) to go off on their own, all advice and some (if not all) common sense goes on a vacation, usually for about 2 to 5 years. 

Then, when reality smacks them across the head, it’s amazing to see the lights turn back on as they realize the advice given to them by their elders (parents, grandparents, mentors, teachers, etc.) was truthful and of some value.  This does not occur in all young adults on either end of the spectrum; there are some (like me) who left home at 18, joined the Army where reality came by the cadence calls of the drill sergeant or others who took their elders’ words seriously. 

Others, though, live their entire lives and are ready for the retirement home and are still in need of ‘buying a vowel’ in terms of mature thought and common sense.  This is especially true when they are not raised in a Christian, Biblically-focused setting – or even in a loving, caring secular home.  The trend is for kids to be in front of the television or their phones or tablets, getting their influence from social media like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, or X/Twitter (and many others).  Their maturity is set back from those who act immature for the ‘clicks’ or views of their content.  The logic followed is If they can make money this way, what makes it wrong for me to emulate them?  

In between all ages comes varying levels of maturity; some get the financial and/or emotional maturity (paying bills, saving for retirement) but not spiritual maturity or the aspects of living appropriately for Christ.  The prodigal son of Luke 15 is a great example; he left home as he figured his father didn’t know squat.  Upon realizing (perhaps years later) his accomplishment of becoming ‘Employee of the Month’ for ‘Wee-Bee Pork & Hams, Inc.’ was not exactly a career building event, he went back home; humbled and realizing that Dad was right all along. 

The temptation that youths have, that it can’t be that hard to make money, that the world can’t be that harsh, everything is like a social media reality show, that God is not in control – is often shattered when the 2×4 of reality smacks them in the head.  Skills are needed to have a viable vocation; bills do indeed need to be paid, and money doesn’t grow on trees. 

There are indeed consequences for actions.  The spiritual realization also often comes to those who did go to church, when they see the immorality of the world around them, and perhaps the immorality that they have fallen into, that there is indeed a Holy God, with His Son and His Spirit who together have created and run the entire existence of all things. 

Note when the prodigal son came back home, Dad did not brow beat the young man, belittle his former career choice or send him away in anger, but celebrated his return and rejoiced – encouraging his son’s decision.  Like the Dad of the prodigal son, God is like him with us; our sins forgiven and we are no longer chastised for falling into those temptations. 

Instead upon repentance we are encouraged to live the life God has intended all along.  Let your children know that they are not doing right; do it constructively and don’t belittle them for doing so, but with Biblical facts show them where they are in conflict with Godly principles. 

Make sure to let them know that you love them, and second, speak of those things that make you proud of them.  Tell them that Jesus loves them and that He forgives them – if they repent, correct their course, and choose to follow His path.   Encourage them to go back to church with the hope that they will put things in the proper order and in the right perspective – the Biblical perspective.   Don’t ever give up hope – God doesn’t give up and neither should you!