Earlier this week the question was asked what would I say to parents who claim to be "Christians", yet are still deciding to let their children go to prom. So I decided to blog about it. Please feel free to comment, I would love to here your opinions on the subject.
The first thing that came to mind when asked this question was Romans 12:2(NIV), "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." I'm sorry to say, but the prom isn't a gathering where kids get together and pray all night until something shifts in the atmosphere, it isn't kids getting together to have a night of worship (well not to worship God anyways), it isn't a night of kids coming together to have a night of bible study. No, it is a night of materialism. Kids spending huge amounts of their parents money so that they can be glorified in the eyes of those around them. Kids go out lookin for the best dress/tux, the best accessories, the best hairstyles/haircuts, the best vehicle to pull up in, the best looking dates to make themselves look good, and if it's no more dates left then they go with they're friends so they won't walk in alone. It is a night of sexual immorality. Females go out looking for the tightest/little dresses so that they can rub their butt up against a penis all night, and males are looking for the females like that so they can get aroused and try to go and dance with them. Kids meet up to have sex before prom, during prom, and after prom. I've known kids who planned to have sex after prom a month before prom comes. They go ahead and get hotel reservations and everything. It's so sad, but yet very true. It's a night of drunkeness. Why do you think they had to enforce the breathalyzer before you can even get in the door..? It wasn't so they could waste time at the beginning of prom. No, it's because kids would come to prom already drunk out their minds. So, now instead of getting drunk before prom they wait until after prom to get drunk. This is how a lot of drunk driving deaths occur when prom time comes around. Last, but not least, the music they play at these proms have nothing to do with glorifying God and the advancement of His Kingdom. The music they play at proms promote sex, drinking, materialism, smoking, and sin in general. These secular artist that are being played do not serve the God you say that you serve, Jesus Christ; nor do they intend to. As long as that music is being played, the more your child becomes accustomed to it, the more they start singing it, and eventually they begin to walk out what they're saying. Whether it be smoking all the time, drinking until they throw up, having sex with as many people as they can, or striving to have the best materials. If life and death is in the power of the tongue, and you're child is singing the carnal lyrics of the next best rapper then they're speaking to life what they're saying. What do you think that is doing to them spiritually? It's pushing them farther and farther away from God, but hey they're just going to have fun... right??
Parents, the Word of God tells us that you are to, "train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6 NIV) So, what exactly are you training your child for when you send them out to prom looking and acting like the world? You're teaching them that it is okay to compromise their beliefs and values for certain occassions. Eventually, as they get older these certain occassions will turn into a lifestyle of compromise. It's all because you taught them, when they were young, that it was okay to compromise, and so when they get older they won't depart from it. You're also teaching them to be enemies of God(James 4:4 NIV). Now if this is what you want, as a so called believere and follower of Christ, for your child to become an enemy of God; then continue to give into their whining, selfishness, and that entitlement spirit. Giving them everything they WANT when they WANT it. Keep compromising with them. You're raising them to be profesional hypocrites. Now, if you truly want your kid to be on fire for God then no longer compromise with them so that you can liked by them. You're the parent; you're not always going to be liked for the decisions you make, but they will love you and thank you in the long run for teaching them to stand for what they believe in no matter how many people they know are doing the opposite. You're teaching them to walk this earth as the salt and light; bringing change to the standards of this world. Parents get bold and stop giving in to your child's every little desire.
1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV, "Everything is permissible for me-- but not everything is beneficial."
2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV, " Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness."
Romans 6:16 NIV, "... you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness."
danielSON
5 comments:
Hey man, I think your thirst for righteousness is good, and I think you peel back the prom for what it really is which is good, too, but I think your tone toward parents who let their kids go to the prom is one of attacking and disparaging and condemning, which is the work of the enemy. So you are in agreement with God when you point out all the evils of the prom, but you are in agreement with the enemy when you heap abuse upon parents for letting their kids go to the prom.
The fact is, this word needs to be preached, but differently. Kids need to change their lifestyles, and parents need to wake up to the Truth, but disparaging and condemning is not the way to do it. The reason why you feel powerful when you write that way is because you are exalting yourself over them and saying "I have the Truth and listen to ME, sinners!!!" Even if you think you are saying "Listen to the Word of God, sinners!", you're really not, because it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. I don't sense kindness in your writing; I sense haughtiness and verbal abuse. So that tells me the spirit behind your message is not the Counselor, the Advocate, the Helper, the Holy Spirit- it is from selfish pride. Go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." Mat 9:13
Hey bro! Keep speaking truth and standing for what God has put on your heart. It definitely is the kindness of God that leads all men to repentance, and it is his love & kindness that brings CORRECTION, REBUKE, AND REPROOF so that we can be awakened to see our error, as well as his goodness and respond with repentance.
I'm sure people said John the Baptist was arrogant and not walking in love when He called the pharisees snakes. It's also funny that Jesus did the same thing, and in fact Himself said that He came to bring a sword and not peace. They most definitely said he was prideful, etc. and yet the Bible tells us that He is our model/example to follow. You can't condemn anybody, their sin has condemned them already.
I wonder if Stephen lacked knowledge of Christ and the spirit in His message when he was calling people "stiff necked"...but he was still able to see Jesus and forgive the people as they stoned him to DEATH...because they felt like he was prideful/arrogant/etc...
Stand on truth bro & keep your heart open & vulnerable before the Father. Grace & Peace
This is so good! Christians parents need to step it up and train their children according to God's word only. And yes some will be offended no matter how you approach them, cause they like compromising and giving Jesus only 85% and they DO NOT want you to point it out. Jesus came to people many different ways, but always with TRUTH. Mature believers will read your blog and say, he may seem harsh but I STILL NEED this word and thank you Jesus! We are living a world that is totally consumed by selfishness and carnality and they have no problem throwing it in your face. They are not as "tender and sensitive" as you may think. I am on the streets with people daily and its the "religious" folk who give me the hardest time, not the sinners. Sinners love truth and I did to when I was in fulltime sin. All I have to say to you Daniel....do your thing man of God and cry out for humility daily. Father has a way of getting you there. But do not bite your tongue in the meantime.
WARRIOR1
wow this is powerful! continue to speak truth I def agree with everything Joshua said.Also Matthew 16:23 when Jesus said to Peter get the behind me satan!PETER WAS SATAN because of the state of his mind. Jesus said you don't have in MIND the things of God, but the things of man. If peter was so caught up in Jesus calling Him Satan he would have missed the oppurtunity to be the rock that Christ built His church upon.What other way is there to speak the truth? We are not to mistake the kindness of God for being soft
Romans 2:4 (message) God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.
1 Timothy 4
1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
6 If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Hey bruh Keep speaking that truth bruh! I agree with everything Josh and Warrior and Esther said. Somebody gotta take a stand and speak truth. Because of the traditions of this world people tend to be name tagg christians @Danielquote and sugar coat Truth. Truth is truth and aint no sweetening that up.lol.i dont think Jesus sweeten nothing up when he told Judas he would betray him. Thats harsh truth. lol..so i said all this to say this stay humble and prayerful and continue on sharing what the Holy Spirit give you and dont be shaken! Love you!
Post a Comment