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The Early Lure Of The Culture
By Administrator | August 31, 2005
While attending a conference for teachers, the speaker, Jeff Myers (excellent speaker if you ever get a chance, http://www.myersinstitute.com/) talked about the cultural battle going on for the minds, hearts and beliefs of our high school and college children. While he was speaking I could not help but think of the mini cultural battles being fought for the minds, hearts and beliefs of younger children. Those battles are fought through cartoons, movies (even with a G rating), and clothing decisions, to name a few.
I have heard some parents state something to the effect that one day their child woke up and he or she turned away from the Lord in rebellion. I am not saying abruptly turning from the Lord cannot happen, but my guess is that the “mini” battles attempting to buck the culture were lost well before the child woke up listening to songs that cursed out God and authority. Before the body piercings there was a lost battle over which shorts to buy. Before the cursing there was a lost battle over tone of voice while speaking to parents.
Remember those “little” battles are not as little as you think. It is true we should major on the majors and minor on the minors, but don’t misinterpret that saying to mean: major on the obvious sins but minor on the less obvious sins. One of the blessings of younger children is the truth that the effects of their unwise choices are minor. Yet we can be lulled to inaction by the “minor effects” of poor choices. Just like a small weed in the sidewalk will cause little damage, left to grow it will wreak havoc. The heart of your child is far more valuable than a sidewalk! Keep your child’s heart protected from the cultural weeds of our time. Love them enough to say “no” and teach them why while they are still young.
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
I John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
May God’s grace and peace be with you,
Mark Strohm, Jr.
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