Why are things so bad today?
By Don Twobears
It is evident in our society, we as parents have failed our children. Now how do I know this? Well, lets take a look at everything that is going on around us on a daily basis. Let’s begin with the Least of things and then we can move to the more ardent articles, depicting acts by our children. It is also important to note all the individuals, our children learn from as well, not just Mom and Dad and compare them to our own Parents.
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 13:24 “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
I was aware of people listening and watching me the entire time I was in school, they listened to the things I said and on occasion the things I chose not to say, instead, acted out. My entire growing years was under scrutiny at almost every turn, by Mom and Dad, teachers, almost every adult I would encounter on a daily basis. It is unique to look back and actually see how adults “Seemed” to work for our upbringing in a concerted manner. It must be noted here and now, that my Mom and Dad spent a great deal of time bringing me up according to the Word of God, the Bible. While all the other adults were not following the Bible, per say, they did indeed hold to certain rules and regulations for my conduct.
As a young Child, I was taught to call adults by “Mr. Such & Such” and never by their first names and it mattered little how well I knew them. Therefore, teachers were always called “Mrs., or Miss., Such & Such” and the Principal was always “Mr. or Principal Such & such”. In those days, is was simply a matter of respect for them being grown adults. What was unique as well, even adults would refer to someone else as “Mr., or Mrs., Such & Such” until the day came when they address each other on a more “Friendly” basis, approved by each other. There was a saying then “Children should be seen and not heard” and this was depending on the situation at hand. It was known by children, that adults were in authority and we needed to recognize that authority and act accordingly. On the converse side, Adults were to be cognizant of their own actions, as well to children and by in large, they were so.
I remember there was a man that worked at the local Grocery store and he was a little slow, but all the kids loved him, because he would set aside some of his earnings to buy a box of lollipops, for us. If we acted correctly in the store he would give us a lollipop, if we were bad and unruly, he would tell us and not give us the lollipop. He was there enough to know the difference and this seemed to help out the Mothers or Dads in the store, because we knew he was watching and we wanted the candy. Positive reinforcement for Positive conduct. Worked like a charm, his name was “Mr. Mumfred” and definitely NOT “Billy”. Maybe this is a little innocuous at best, but we did indeed learn from the experience and it is something that has followed me all these years.
In contrast, there was always the kid we hated most, the Bully. “Hey…frog-face!” as I remember my bully. What was unique, I once saw him and his Mom in the grocery store, “Hey Ma!”, not Mom or Mother, he was continually irreverent and inconsiderate, most of all, he never got a lollipop either. There was also, that his Mother was disrespectful of her son as well, a slap across the mouth or some such thing. Either way, this boy acted according to how he was treated at home…sad. He grew up enjoying the idea of inflicting pain and suffering on small animals, today, he is still in prison, for acting the exact same way, when he was a child. I believe the Bible is adamant in instructing a growing child!
I have best Friends, that allow their grand-children to call me by my first name, rather than Mr. Elder. And now I wonder, why the young of today have so little regard for me or anyone else that is an adult, it is quite evident, these children were never given “Rules” to live by. Problem is, it appears the majority of adults are of a like mindset to the authoritative adult. This is evidenced by the actions of teens, in our schools, all across the Nation today! And then we have the nerve, to see a child come to school with a hand-gun and we are freaked out?! Is it not evident, we have asked for this?!
The child, prior to the turn of the century, was severely beaten for infractions of almost any kind, the children of the turn of the century, were whipped with a straight razor belt for the exact same things. And the children of the 40s and the 50’s, were spanked without hesitation, by any adult for infractions of the rules. Children of the 60s and the 70s recieved a paddling and the children of today are not allowed to receive anything, of any kind, much less a “Time Out” in the corner. Having looked back through time, is it any wonder we have the problems with Children today, that we do? The Word of God is specific and is meant to be followed, for the Betterment of all children, everywhere.
May I point out, the histories of many in places of Authority today, like Congress for example. You would be shocked, to know the Past occurrences of many, that we have placed in Authority over us! And with knowing this, we wonder why no one is fighting for our best?! We wonder how things have gotten so bad, in such a short period of time. We as Parents have the greatest jobs there is on earth, to Marry, a man to a Woman, have children an raise them according to what the Bible tells us we should. It is more than evident today, this is not the norm in our Society! We have failed our children and in turn we reap what they sow, in places of authority and then many have the audacity, to pop back in absolute shock?!
Romans 3:22-24 “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Emphasis is mine)
The verse above does NOT say “Some…it says ALL”! That is for everyone, all across the ages, no matter what language or customs! Are my children perfect?! Nope, just like yours, they sometimes run amok and forget themselves. “HEY!!!” at the top of my voice, usually gets everyone’s attention and most of the time, it hits the “Reset” button. I am still the God appointed Head of my Household and I am directly responsible to the Lord God Almighty, for the direction that my Family goes in! That is the one thing most Mom and Dads forget! And in light of the actions of most young people today, way too many Parents have not called on the Lord, to intervene in their lives or the Lives of their Children! It is this, that has brought about the “Failure of the Churches” across our Nation, the failure in Congress and the reason we have a President in the Oval Office we do, today! If there is any problem in our Society, any problem in our schools, with our Children, it is because “WE” have forgotten the Lord!!
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
The verse above is NOT a question, it is Not to be misunderstood either, it is a PROMISE, it is a COMMAND from the Mouth of God, to YOU & ME! So, in light of today and the problems we are facing, have we read this verse and do we now live according to it?? It is “Self-Evident” is it NOT? The Bible is over 3000 years old, and this verse is in the Old Testament, which means it is just as old, so…why is it not being adhered to? Why do we have the problems we do, in spite of the fact, the “Rapture and Tribulation” are so very close?! Have you read these verses and the ones in the Books of Daniel, I & II Thessalonians, Ezekiel, and then Revelations?? NO?? Then may I advise you to do so, they will tell what is to come, known as Prophecy!
Take these Prophecies to heart, the Prophecies concerning the Birth, Life and Death of Jesus Christ (found in the Old Testament) have come true 100% and there are a lot of them! The fact that every Prophecy of the old Testament has come true 100%, it should be understood, the Prophecies of the New Testament will come true 100%, just as they are written! There should be NO doubt in that!
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
I’m not telling you anything here, I am telling you what God Almighty is saying, not just to you or me, but to everyone that is willing to listen! I am NOT telling you how to raise your children, but to fail to use the Word of God, you will have a front-row-seat to watch as your children destroy their lives and yours as well. Don’t sit back and tell everyone else how bad they are or how bad their children are, until you take a Godly Accounting of your actions and those of your children first! The lives of your children are always in your hands, you need to be Biblically trained to raise them according to God Almighty. Fail them in this and they will fail you in that! You already know these things, it comes down to a matter of what you are willing to pass on to your children and Grand-Children, because one day the Lord God Almighty is going to make you ACCOUNTABLE for what you have done or what You have not done! The Bible tells us that the Lord God Almighty is the “Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega”! That my Friends is the absolute TRUTH!!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”