There was news recently that two 14-year-old girls were being charged with the bashing murder of a NSW taxi driver.
John Howard came out and, though not commenting specially on this case, said, “Some kids are brought up without any parental control or interest and I think as a society we are paying a very heavy price for the philosophy that everybody is entitled to do their own thing without any worry about their responsibility they have to others, particularly their children.”
In some ways I agree with what Mr Howard had to say. We need to seriously start asking the questions as to what parents are doing in the rearing of their children. We need to realise that the logical extension for a philosophy which leaves out accountability to God will have dire ramifications for our relationships with one another.
But at the same time as I agree with Mr Howard, I have to also disagree. Though I don’t think Mr Howard is necessarily pinning the blame solely on parents (but I bet that’s how news readers will present that story) I think the issues run even deeper than just having the right philosophy.
When the bible describes this world as fallen, as trapped, as longing to be freed from its current state, we shouldn’t be surprised to hear a story like the one above. It is indeed a shocking story…but it’s hardly a surprise. Human sinfulness marks our every day lives – we shouldn’t be surprised. Only last night Shte1 was sharing with me about the trouble she had with a particular child in her school. This child was throwing tantrums, spitting in teachers faces, hitting and beating other children.
It shocked me…but I shouldn’t have been surprised.
There will come a time when this fallen world, longing to be freed, will one day see the Saviour also. After finishing listening to a series of sermons from Revelation it’s been pressed deeply into my heart and mind that we, Christians, should be praying with more fervency for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So won’t you pray with me? :)
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