Family Values? Or Biblical Values? What are you teaching your children?

{I am leaving parts of what I am writing about vague on purpose to protect people’s identity.  I do not want it to be misconstrued that I am gossiping.  I apologize in advance to those of you to whom it seems rather confusing – if you really feel the need to know what "rule" I am talking about, please email me directly, but I will not give you anything that would identify the time, place or person(s) involved.  I should also clarify that I am not necessarily talking about "minor" aged children here.  The failing I am discussing is across the board and has affected various age groups of "children" - keeping in mind that "I" am someone's child...}

I recently encountered an interesting attitude.  It was something along the lines of “I appreciate your values”, but “our family values dictate this behavior”.  It was something that many people in our current society would not consider a big deal – and sadly, I have to include today’s “Christians”. 

I put Christians in quotes because I am not convinced that all that call themselves Christians are truly saved. They may well have been “Christianized”, but not necessarily saved.  You have met them.  They say all the right Christian phrases and catch words, but if you were to hear them talking to someone outside of their church circle, you would not know to listen to them that they had actually had a change inside of them when they decided to follow Christ.

Anyway, back to the attitude I mentioned in the first paragraph.  The attitude is highly reflective of what is being taught not just to children, but to parents as well – in school, society and even in the workplace.  The concept that each family has a different set of values and that is “okay” has been around for quite a while at this point, but to hear it being spouted out of a person in a “Christian” family was disconcerting.

As a Christian, truly, my values should be the same as ALL other Christians.  And yet, I from this same person who mentioned the “family values” (boy, this puts a whole different spin on that phrase, huh?!), came the comment (in regards to the topic at hand) that they did not know that this particular topic was addressed in the Bible, thus they were not sure that it was the real deal (seriously – it is one that most of us learned, or should have, as children….not the “obscure” one that Obama referred to in Romans Ch. 1). 

Another part to this conversation was that since they did not read their Bible and thus, did not know about it, it basically did not apply to them.  I challenge other Christians to take this concept to heart and really think about it.  How many things have you not learned about – because you have chosen to NOT read your Bible and expect that your pastor will teach it to you or that your children will be taught it in Sunday School (and this was one that would have been learned early on)?  Obviously, if you have not read your Bible, you don’t know.  I am not perfect - while I work on reading my Bible all the way through, I catch things that I have missed in the past all the time.  BUT, does that excuse us from responsibility?    After all, even the police will tell you that ignorance of the law is no excuse (for breaking the law).  Why would the laws of the Bible applying to Christians be any different? 

I guess what makes me the most upset was this person was obviously never taught this particular rule by parents who absolutely knew better and the ramifications of it are so far reaching that it is incredible.  I suspect we are looking at a truly lost generation in today's children and even their parents.  Shame on the pastors of such churches that cannot be bothered to teach what is actually in the Bible.  If people are no longer reading their Bibles, then how on earth can Pastors expect their parishioners to be able to "apply" the Bible to their daily life??

As I lay on the couch after these events happened, trying to watch a movie with my beloved, I could not concentrate on the movie at all. My heart was breaking and I simply wanted to weep about it.  I did the best thing I could do and offer it up to God.  What I am saying here, is if you are a Christian parent – make sure that you are reading the Bible and teaching your children the same.  Please do not entrust this task to your pastor or Sunday School teachers – it is not their job – it is yours.  After all – the Bible tells us so…..

That dangerous place, the internet

Sometime within the last couple of months, someone commented to me that you have to be careful on the internet because people can find out a lot about you.  Who? I simply cannot remember – I have not slept long enough in recent weeks to have that fact filed in my brain. If you are reading this and made the comment and think I am using it to be mean to you, please do not think so.  Your comment actually comment made an impact on me and has been running around in my brain until finally, I thought I would write a bit on it and the thoughts swirling in my brain with it.

Yes, the internet can be a dangerous place, especially if people have malicious feelings towards you and act upon them or you are hanging out on websites with lots of weirdos.  Yes, people can find out lots about you (especially if they know where to look for you).  But, I think the opposite can be true as well.  Sometimes, on the internet, you can find out a lot about yourself – and sometimes, it might not be very pretty.

Oh, I am not necessarily talking about people gossiping about one another, although that does happen with amazing frequency (and you might find out the ugly truth about what others think of you).  If you peruse the right places on the internet, you might find that there are things that you do not like about yourself and want to change them.

I have found some of the most wonderful blogs and other websites written by wonderful, godly, Christian women.  Many are extremely edifying – and can be very convicting.  I have discovered things about myself that I did not care very much for in reading through them.  Talk about a chastening of spirit.  More often than not, it sent me to my Bible and then to my knees. 

No, I am not perfect, by any means.  But I am striving to be a more godly woman each day.  Yes, the internet can be a dangerous place to do so – you might find out that you are not necessarily living your life right or that your walk with Christ is not what it should be.  And, of course, that requires one stepping out of their comfort zone and doing something about it.

Interesting observation with the "newer" baby snacks