This Generation!!!

By Kyle Blackwell

This generation this; this generation that…  There are not many days that go by where I do not hear about the evil, laziness and weakness of this younger generation. Since I was about 18, I’ve always had an answer to the question of why “this generation” is the way it is. Older people do not really like my response, and I love it. My response is this, who raised “this generation”?

I did not really start thinking of how my kids would turn out until I actually started having kids of my own. Then, I did not truly understand the importance of a father’s impact on a child until Jesus called me to be part of His fellowship.

Kids watch every little thing that goes on in their home. How you treat your spouse is a great indicator of how your children will treat their spouse. How you speak, so will your children. Your children tend to fall in the same darkness as their parents: drinking, drugs, adultery, gambling, gossip, and the list can go on forever.

Let’s think about the story of David and Bathsheba. While David did repent for his wrongdoing, and the Bible does not explicitly state there being any sexual partners after Bathsheba (he may or may not have had any; I do not think he did), the effects of his sins were reflected in his sons, especially Solomon and Absalom.

He (Solomon) had 700 wives who were princesses and 300 concubines, and they turned his heart away from the Lord. -1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬

Before anything else is mentioned, it is imperative for us to understand that just because God allowed Solomon to have so many wives, it does not mean He approved of his actions. There are many groups who love to look at the Bible, and the evil actions presented by certain cultures and people throughout the Bible, only to use those stories as justification of how they live their lives. That, my friends, is only the devil’s way of making a mockery of God’s Holy Word.

With that being said, Solomon was only following in the footsteps of his father. Even though David is considered to be a man after God’s own heart, and a God fearing man, his actions paved the way for how Solomon treated women. Also, many of his wives were foreigners, women who worshipped other gods. His first wife was the Egyptian pharaohs daughter.

One of David’s other sons, Absolom, was even worse.

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. -2 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭22‬

Not only did Absalom make a fool out of his father, but he did so in front of God’s nation, and with such unspeakable and vile evil.

This leads me to my next issue, kids see how parents act in church, then at home, and they choose to leave the church.

When Solomon was old, his wives seduced him to follow other gods. He was not completely devoted to Yahweh his God, as his father David had been. -‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬

I have written about these things in the past, but I need make it clear again. One of the biggest issues in the church is not the false preacher teachers who fill America’s pulpits, but the parents who act holy while at church, yet lead a completely adverse lifestyle away from the church walls. After high school, young adults are leaving the church at a rate never seen before in American history. We need a correction. We need a revival. We need more God fearing parents. Trust me when I say this, I need this particular article just as much as anyone else.

Our children pay very close attention to everything we do in our daily life. My children rarely hear when I ask them to do something, but when it comes eaves dropping in on mine and Ana’s conversation, they hear absolutely everything. They watch everything.

The one who lives with integrity is righteous; his children who come after him will be happy. -Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭7‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

What does this mean? Again, children pay attention. Even before they’re able to comprehend speech, a baby’s brain starts to learn grammar from parents and caretakers from birth. If our kids tend to do this when they cannot comprehend what is going on around them, think about what will happen when they do start to understand their surroundings. We need to be mindful of everything we do.

Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation. -‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬

Peter is speaking about your ministry around gentiles and how your actions on a daily basis can either lift up God, and glorify the Father, which will lead the unsaved toward Him, or your actions can lead the lost closer to satan. Why do think so many “pastor’s” kids end up going totally against the church? Well, a lot of pastors were never called to be a pastor, but they love a title, and they are hypocrites, saying one thing in a pulpit, yet speaking a whole different tune in their own home. Sorry, this is a different message for another time. However, you can apply the same ideas to ourselves and how we act around our own children.

Our first ministry is our family. It is not the church’s job to deliver your own offspring the Word of God. It is imperative that we put God in everything we do with our family. I love taking the kids hiking so they can be shown God’s great creation. When I discipline, God’s Word is used to explain why their actions were sinful. In our family God’s Word is the main authority. Recently, I have heard of Christian’s saying the Bible doesn’t have all the answers. This is because they worship a very small god. And they lack faith…. and understanding.

I firmly believe my children are not mine, they belong to God. However, He has granted me a temporary authority over them. According to Deuteronomy 6, it is my duty as a man to disciple them and raise them up in the Word.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. -Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭5-9

Verse 3 of Deuteronomy chapter 6 states if we do these things then we will be prosperous, or pleasing. Even though this message was given to the Israelites prior to entering the Promised Land, it is still very real today.

Now, discipline! Why does God discipline His own children? For this last section I am going to let the Bible explain discipline. This passage is very clear and needs no extra explanation.

My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or faint when you are reproved by Him, for the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives. Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline — which all receive — then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it. -Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭5‬-‭11‬

My mom was very strict with me. I was a bad child. If it were not for the way my mother disciplined me, I know I would probably be in jail right now. She disciplined with love. She got that from her God fearing mother. I remember my mom saying she was sorry for the way she spanked me, but I let her know that is what made me who I am, and that I’m thankful for the way she punished me. Key point: Discipline your children today; they will thank you tomorrow.

Parenting without discipline, especially as a follower of Christ, can be very costly. Take a look at the Prophet Eli. He was devout in his position of high priest, and the raising up of Samuel; however he was punished, and it costed his life, for the lack of discipline for his detestable sons, as shown in 1 Samuel chapter 2. I think a lot of pastors get caught up with their congregation that they forget about their first ministry, which is their children.

(Side note: One big reason for this is because a lot of pastors try to place all the church’s burdens on themselves because they lead an unbiblical church. By this, I mean that many churches no longer have elected deacons to deal with the small problems, BTW, this will be dealt with in a future article.)

When parenting gets tough and you have no clue how to move forward, go to the Bible and pray for wisdom, guidance and clarity from Holy Spirit. Discipline in the way the Lord disciplines. Love the way the Lord loves (this one is hardest for me). Have mercy the way the Lord gives mercy (also hard).

This generation is the way it is because we have a bunch of weak parents who have been leaving God at church. Again, who raised “this generation”? It’s time we start looking in the mirror. You want to see change in America, start with yourselves.

-My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge - Hosea 4:6