Innocent about Evil
First of all, I want to say thank you to everyone who is reading my blog. It has been an exciting adventure the last month and a half! I've been very encouraged by your visits and comments both online and personally. A few months ago, I felt led to give it a go, and you all have made it so easy and enjoyable to continue. I was completely unsure of even how to start or what the response might be, but I put my trust in God that he would give me the words to say for his glory. Also, my blog has made me more introspective, deliberate, and accountable in my own life and relationships which is inspiring. If you have gained anything positive from reading, please don't hesitate to share. Thank you!
I have had Christian friends say, "I WANT my children to go out and experience the world." In other words, they WANT their children to participate in all of the cool, hip, popular, and sinful things that children/teenagers will naturally be exposed to in the world. In their minds, it makes their kids more "normal." Maybe they think it makes their children more appreciative later of what the Lord has done for them. I think they figure that their children can learn all their life lessons by trying things out. I mean, how are they supposed to know about drunkenness, sex, drugs, pornography, etc. unless they try it out, right? I have other friends who wouldn't necessarily admit to agreeing with this statement, but through mere observation I can confidently say that they agree.
Here we see that even a child is accountable for his actions. If he was not, I believe it would say, "Even parents are known by their children's actions. . ." Children can consciously choose their own actions. Then, by observation, it is evident whether their deeds are pure or impure.
I think it's pretty clear that no one is getting a pass. The young man is expected to be pure, and the child is responsible for his own actions. Let's look at an example of a young person choosing which way to go.
1"Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. 3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David." 2 Chronicles 34:1-3
42 "Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God." John 12:42-43
12 "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2 Timothy 3:12
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 24:38-51
19 "Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." Romans 16:19-20
Now on to my recent thoughts. . .
I have had Christian friends say, "I WANT my children to go out and experience the world." In other words, they WANT their children to participate in all of the cool, hip, popular, and sinful things that children/teenagers will naturally be exposed to in the world. In their minds, it makes their kids more "normal." Maybe they think it makes their children more appreciative later of what the Lord has done for them. I think they figure that their children can learn all their life lessons by trying things out. I mean, how are they supposed to know about drunkenness, sex, drugs, pornography, etc. unless they try it out, right? I have other friends who wouldn't necessarily admit to agreeing with this statement, but through mere observation I can confidently say that they agree.
I have to admit that I have never, and will never, say that. Why not?
Don't I want my kids to be popular?
Don't I want them to be superstars?
Don't I want them to have tons of friends?
Don't I want them to be looked up to?
Hmmmmm. Actually, I do!
I want my children to have tons of friends.
I want them to be successful.
I want them to be happy.
But do I want them to have all those things at the price of being exposed to, and participating in, sin? Um, no.
If we are discipling our children to follow Christ, then there is no room for success and popularity if it is attached to sin. Don't get me wrong, there isn't anything wrong with being popular in and of itself. But there was NEVER a time when Jesus sought to be popular for popularity's sake or to dabble in sin. There is NO scripture advising us to do so; therefore, I think we can safely conclude that this is NOT the best way to go.
Don't I want my kids to be popular?
Don't I want them to be superstars?
Don't I want them to have tons of friends?
Don't I want them to be looked up to?
Hmmmmm. Actually, I do!
I want my children to have tons of friends.
I want them to be successful.
I want them to be happy.
But do I want them to have all those things at the price of being exposed to, and participating in, sin? Um, no.
If we are discipling our children to follow Christ, then there is no room for success and popularity if it is attached to sin. Don't get me wrong, there isn't anything wrong with being popular in and of itself. But there was NEVER a time when Jesus sought to be popular for popularity's sake or to dabble in sin. There is NO scripture advising us to do so; therefore, I think we can safely conclude that this is NOT the best way to go.
So I hate to say it, but I can't find in scripture where teens or young adults get a "pass." Yes, the world is telling us that teenagers have problems and pressures and it's expected, maybe even necessary, for them to participate in things that God says are wrong. But what does God say about it? Let's look at Psalm 119.
Who should be blameless?
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
3 they do no wrong
but follow his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.
9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word. Psalm 119:1-16
Who should be blameless?
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
3 they do no wrong
but follow his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.
9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word. Psalm 119:1-16
In just these first sixteen verses alone, the writer mentions multiple times the blessings and expectations of being blameless and walking according to God's law. It is expected that a young man keep his way pure! What? Yes, right there in verse nine is the answer to keeping his way pure. And is this a laborious and unpleasant task? It shouldn't be. Can you detect the attitude and spirit of the writer here? He rejoices in following God's statutes. He delights in God's decrees! For more, read the entire 119th psalm.
We might want to argue about what does a "young person" mean? Maybe it's referring to a thirty-year-old, you say. I would disagree, and we could go round and round over that with no answer. So let's just look at another passage which may help us see at what age someone is responsible for his actions.
Are children responsible for their actions?
"Even a child is known by his actions, whether his deeds are pure and right." Proverbs 20:11
We might want to argue about what does a "young person" mean? Maybe it's referring to a thirty-year-old, you say. I would disagree, and we could go round and round over that with no answer. So let's just look at another passage which may help us see at what age someone is responsible for his actions.
Are children responsible for their actions?
"Even a child is known by his actions, whether his deeds are pure and right." Proverbs 20:11
Here we see that even a child is accountable for his actions. If he was not, I believe it would say, "Even parents are known by their children's actions. . ." Children can consciously choose their own actions. Then, by observation, it is evident whether their deeds are pure or impure.
I think it's pretty clear that no one is getting a pass. The young man is expected to be pure, and the child is responsible for his own actions. Let's look at an example of a young person choosing which way to go.
1"Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. 3 In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David." 2 Chronicles 34:1-3
Let's do a little quick math here. So if Josiah was eight years old when he became king, then he would have been sixteen years old in the eighth year of his reign (give or take a few months.) At sixteen he sought God. It doesn't say his advisors sought God. It doesn't say his counselors sought God. HE SOUGHT GOD. The rest of the chapter tells all of the incredible things he did as king because HE sought God. When he was twenty years old, he purged Judah of the idols and images and burned the bones of idolatrous priests on the altars. At twenty-six, he repaired the temple, read the Book of the Covenant to all of Judah, renewed his covenant to follow the Lord, had everyone pledge themselves to the covenant of God, and brought back the celebration of the Passover. Wow! This child, teenager, then young adult was looking to be blameless.
What's wrong with popularity?
In the case of Josiah, he wasn't considered unpopular because of his godly actions (probably because he was the king, so he was calling the shots,) but we do have examples in scripture of those who were afraid of ruining their social position or popularity for being followers of Christ.
If only we loved God's praise more than man's praise! If we believe in Jesus but are ashamed to admit it, we are surely putting popularity above God. This violates commandment #1.
That doesn't sound like the popular path to me. Disciples can expect to be persecuted. It doesn't matter what age one may be, Christ followers WILL BE PERSECUTED. If we are not being persecuted, why aren't we? Hmmmmmm. Maybe no one notices. Maybe we and our children look and act "normal" just like everyone else.
Hmmmmmm. Concerning.
Hmmmmmm. Concerning.
Are we living our day to day lives just blending in?
Are we secretly hoping that our children are in the "popular" crowd no matter what that entails?
Are we bold enough to declare that we WANT them to experience the world and the sins that go along with it?
God forbid.
Are we secretly hoping that our children are in the "popular" crowd no matter what that entails?
Are we bold enough to declare that we WANT them to experience the world and the sins that go along with it?
God forbid.
At what point in life should we try to live blamelessly?
This morning in my Bible study with my children, we read Matthew 24:36-51. It just reminded us that despite our age, our future plans, or what's happening in the world, we need to BE READY at all times. We should be walking blamelessly every day in expectation of the Lord's return. It's so incredible that I'm putting it here for you to read. The "day or the hour" Matthew is referring to is the return of Jesus.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 24:38-51
We should be living each and every day in expectation of Jesus's return. ("Normal" means getting washed away in the flood.) If living faithfully is expected of us as disciples, shouldn't we teach this to our children? It has never been God's plan for man to disobey. It's not God's plan for people of any age to find it acceptable to "experience the world"- that they dabble in sin in order to understand it or to have a better appreciation for God's mercy. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid." Romans 6:1-2 Of course he is merciful to forgive us our sins! But let's not deliberately live in such a way that goes against his commands. Instead, let us teach our children that we are never given a "pass" to go explore sin, but that God wants to bless us when we are blameless!
Be ready.
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