Article: CRIPPLED SOCIETY

Thursday, October 24, 2002 - 07:54 PM

CRIPPLED SOCIETY
By Patrick D. Andrews

"Modern psychology" made its point--allow the children to be more creative and less inhibited. They, as experts, suggested that spanking would be harmful and children are better handled with eclectic counseling. Some years later, that the chief spokesman and bachelor Doctor Benjamin Spock, married a woman with a "ready made family." Sometime later, he readily admitted that his text book method of raising children was woefully inadequate and far off the mark.

The sad testament is that his change of heart, philosophy, and position, was too little too late, because the damage was already done! The children that were allowed to throw their tantrums had grown into adults, but they lacked maturity. These uninhibited immature adults were stronger, richer, and more dangerous as they threw (and still throw) their adult size tantrums. You've read about them! They're shooting their coworkers, beating their spouses, and abusing their children. They have "raised" another generation of maladjusted tantrum throwing individuals.

When the "Spock Society" was introduced, teachers of righteousness reminded us of what God said. Proverbs 23:13-14 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 14. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Then the new age psychologists responded with their "God is dead campaign." They vehemently declared that religion was merely a "crutch" that was only needed until man gained enough knowledge to better care for himself. Perhaps they have a point--read on! Religion must include Christianity, but all religion is not Christianity. Man devised his various crutches of Buddhism, Hinduism, Modernism, Atheism, Polytheism, and the all inclusive "nothin'-narianism" They who embrace these "crutches" are religious, but not righteous.

Our problem is when we try to acceptably group Christianity with the many religions of the world? Do we accept God's insightful wisdom on how to relate to Him and others? Did God, through the Holy Spirit, inspire Solomon's writings? Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. If God is not real and Solomon is not inspired, then we may, without hesitation, feeling, or consequence, discount what Solomon has said. However, Solomon is inspired of God and what he has written comes from God. Hence, greater validity is placed on the questions of How a child should be trained and How should the child, when he is an adult, interact with his contemporaries?

Who is in control of this creation? The Creator or the creature? Romans 9:20-21 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Everything that we know comes from our learning. Christianity, customs, manners, misbehavior, courtesy, righteousness, rebellion, obedience, and obstinateness, are all the product of teaching. You, me, our children, their children, are the products of teaching and learning. The word teach is found 85 times in the New Testament. Jesus is the Great Teacher of all of us--disciples, apostles, and other followers. The great commission is all about teaching and learning. Each of us in turn, takes our turn, as we learn from a teacher and pass it on to another student. 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. We teach it because we were taught it. John 6:44-45 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
What should we be taught regarding things spiritual? God's plan addresses man's problem--sin. God knew that man would sin. He knew that Satan would come to tempt man. He knew that temptation and lust would combine to its sinful conclusion. He knew that the only way to bring man back would be through a perfect sacrifice.

Atonement for sin is essential--justice demands it! Genesis 3:22-23 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23. Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. God is just. Psalm 89:14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. The right thing must be done because He is righteous. Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Man was put from the presence of God and the only access that could be given would be by a justifiable price for sin. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. He lived and died so that we might live. Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Our crippled society needs the crutch that comes from God--salvation through Jesus Christ.