Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

     I don’t know what it is like to be a Christian teenager involved in the local church. I was a teenager once. I was also a Christian then. I was not involved in church at that time. I’m sure that the temptations and pressures are just as real to a “church kid” as they are to any other kid. With the protection and leading of the parents , I would hope they would honor the Lord with their lives. Sadly however the problem usually starts with the parents.

     The other day someone I know overheard a group of Christian teens. The discussion was about two horror movies. Red flag right away. What is the deal? Why are they watching these things?  I can’t answer that. I see Christian kids embracing the world howbeit ever so subtly as well. Kids embrace the current fashions, hairstyles, and entertainment of the world. Why? I think there are two significant answers.

     Mom and Dad don’t walk the talk. Sure, everyone goes to church faithfully but they leave the Lord there. Kids don’t see their parents living out what they profess. They don’t “catch” them praying or reading their Bible. They see what they watch on TV. They hear sarcasm and a lack of love in their conversations. What do you expect? Training begins in the home.

     The other important factor for this failure is not being desperate enough. Christians in America are probably the biggest spiritual wimps in the world. I speak generally. You know if you are one. We are reaping the fruits of yesterday’s believers who fought and sometimes died for our privileges today. We are not persecuted very much. We are not being jailed (yet). We are not being killed. We are not desperate for the Lord! We don’t depend on Him like we ought. Therefore our kids don’t see Him working mightily in our lives.

     I don’t want good kids. I want godly kids. I want them to serve the Lord in their younger years. I want to stand before Jesus Christ on that day and be able to say I raised my kids for Him. Good is not good enough. Our goal should be godliness and it certainly begins with us. May we raise our kids to be holy as He is holy.