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Don't Criticize Our Youth
by Jessica Gerald Some people tend to be judgmental, condemning, and critical of children or teens. They catch wind of some misbehavior and secretly gloat that "their children would never do that". They reason that if those parents had just raised their sons or daughters right, they wouldn't have acted that way, or gotten into that trouble. There are several reasons why we should not judge others. 1. We bring judgement on ourselves. You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. (Romans 1:1) Even God reserves judgement till the end of our lives. He waits patiently for us to come to him. We need to extend kindness to lost teens and young adults, hoping to lead them to repentance. 2. Our children are not perfect. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? (Romans 1:4) There have been many times that my own sons did things I never dreamed they would do. They knew better and had been taught better. They were good kids, but sometimes made very foolish choices. Watch your words - you may have to eat them! 3. Our goal is to love our young people to the Lord. Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? (Romans 1:4) Today's youth battle enormous pressure in a very ungodly society. They are struggling. If my sons are wavering between the world and the Lord, the last thing they need is for a Christian to be condemning of them. That's not going to make them want to go to church. They'll feel more like walking out the door and not coming back. Let's develop an attitude of love, mercy, and forgiveness toward children, teens, and young adults. Pray for their faults and sins instead of condemning them. Show kindness instead of criticism. Align yourself with God to reap the harvest of their souls. Jessica Gerald has been an elementary school teacher for over thirty years, and is the publisher of the website http://www.oldfashionedhomemaking.com. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |