Being raised in the world vs. Being raised in Christ
Reaching
out to others to teach them about the Bible and the grace of the Lord is what
we are called to do as Christians. Since college is such a huge transition time
for young people, it is important we try and teach about the good news of the
gospel. College is the time that one’s way of life becomes molded into how it
will be carried out when college has ended. Beliefs are solidified or pushed to
the side, friendships are formed and some are broken, and sometimes
relationships bloom.
Some
topics are just placed on my heart and the following has been on my mind for a
while. There is a generation of youth forming that has no
regard towards the Lord and His faithfulness. Either the parents didn’t do the
teaching or the young people just don’t want to listen. Their hearts haven’t
been stirred with passion for the Lord. But it only takes one generation, one
person to another, to show God’s mercy to them and change their life. God is
hope and God is peace, among love, and grace, and so many other wonderful
things. We can be the generation to teach the younger generation about God and
what pursuing to live like Christ looks like. We are both the younger person
and the older person. We learn from our elders, and then turn around and teach
the youth. We need to be deliberate in teaching the youth about God and this is
what we hope to do. “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young.
Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your
love, your faith, and your purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
Recently, I went to a Hillsong Worship concert with Austin. We got the luxury of listening to the powerful speaker Christine Caine. The following analogy was one of the many intriguing and truthful statements she made: “If I take a bottle of poison, rip off the label and put a new label on it that said chocolate syrup and put it in the fridge, you would think I am crazy.” But isn’t this exactly what the world has done? More specifically, isn’t this what the world has shown our youth and young adults? Sin that is deathly for our eternally fate seems to be the “fun” thing to do now. Poison has become tasteful chocolate syrup, or so that’s what the society says.
Recently, I went to a Hillsong Worship concert with Austin. We got the luxury of listening to the powerful speaker Christine Caine. The following analogy was one of the many intriguing and truthful statements she made: “If I take a bottle of poison, rip off the label and put a new label on it that said chocolate syrup and put it in the fridge, you would think I am crazy.” But isn’t this exactly what the world has done? More specifically, isn’t this what the world has shown our youth and young adults? Sin that is deathly for our eternally fate seems to be the “fun” thing to do now. Poison has become tasteful chocolate syrup, or so that’s what the society says.
This took me back to a few weeks ago, when Austin and I were
in line for a ride at Kings Island. There was a group of teens, probably
freshman in high school, directly behind us talking about things that they
shouldn’t even know about in detail, let alone be experiencing. They were
talking about sex, having sex with this girl or that girl, and how to make sure
she didn’t end up pregnant (I’ll put this in clean words). It literally broke
my heart. It hurt my soul to know this is how they’ve grown up and that they
see this as a normal act. But is it their fault, or our society?! “Sex is so in
our face, and such a common thing, that we are slowly becoming more and more
numb to it” (Ackerman). Society and
technology, specifically social media, have completely distorted the minds of
the youth. Instead of being seen as human beings, women have become commodities
and tools for profits.
Looking back at the
situation, both of us were just blown away, and wish we could have done
something to change their ways or bring Jesus into their lives. It’s so hard
when others cannot see Christ’s love or His amazing plan for their lives.
I am so thankful that I was raised in the church and have
been grounded in good morals. I decided at a young age that I would stay pure
until my wedding night. Not only do I want a white wedding, but it’s in God’s
plan for us to live this way. We worship God with our bodies because our bodies
are His temple. “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to
yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your
body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Just as I have vowed to stay pure, I have also
never consumed alcohol because I am not 21 and it just doesn’t really interest
me. On several occasions, when people find out these two things about me, their
response is something like, “Wow, that is so awesome. I wish I could do that.”
or “I wish I hadn’t started drinking when I did.” I never know how to reply to
these because I don’t think of these things as feats; it’s just how I have
decided to live out my life. The amazing thing about our Lord is that even if
you’ve crossed the line with sexual boundaries or made mistakes, Jesus died on
a cross for our redemption from our sins. “Wash me clean from
my guilt. Purify me from my sin” (Psalms 51:2). Even
if you have started you don’t have to continue. There is freedom in forgiveness
and life abundant in the Lord.
The world has shown us that sex is for our own pleasure
without regard to the other person or our future spouse. God shows us that sex
is designed in the context of marriage, uniting a husband and a wife.
·
“Drink water from your own
well—
share your love only with your wife.
share your love only with your wife.
Why spill the water of
your springs in the streets,
having sex with just anyone?
You should reserve it for yourselves.
Never share it with strangers.” -Proverbs 5:15-17
having sex with just anyone?
You should reserve it for yourselves.
Never share it with strangers.” -Proverbs 5:15-17
·
“Run from anything that
stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness,
love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with
pure hearts.” - 2 Timothy 2:22
How many of us would love to own the rarest of cars? Virginity
should be owned in the same light. Imagine owning a polished pearl necklace
with no blemishes. Each time we cross the border of engaging in sexual
behavior, we are losing a pearl because we are giving it away to the other
person. If we choose the vocation of marriage, how many pearls will be left? God
wants it to be the same blemish free and full necklace you started with. He can
restore your pearl necklace back to its original state by His grace if you have
given some pearls away. God is good and gracious. He loves you so very much and
wants you to accept His grace that He freely gives. You don’t have to earn it;
you just have to say yes to it. His arms are open wide and He is waiting for
you to come to Him. Let today be the day you take the steps forward toward Him
and let Him radically change your life.
The
following blog has helped shape a new perspective on this topic:
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