Because You Are Young

1 Timothy 4:12

Unfortunately we have reached an age where adults have decided not to hold young people responsible for their own actions. When a "child" commits a crime, disobeys rules, disrespects, elders, the like "we" have decided not to hold him or her accountable. A friend who teaches in the local school system told me that administrators to her not to admonish students for cursing or talking back. When a child steals or does not show up to school, the parents are punished. This allows children to grow up learning that there is always someone else to blame for his or her actions. What happens when these same children become the adults?

As the lyricist writes, I believe the children are our future. Unfortunately we are not teaching them well. What's even more tragic is that in the future they will have to lead the way because they will be the adults.

In the scripture, Paul instructs Timothy to not allow others to look down on him because he is young AND commands him to set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Paul says in a nutshell that a person's physical age is not necessarily an indication of his level of maturity. Further more, physical age SHOULD NOT be a factor in submission to a legitimate authority figure, as Timothy.

Let's stop teaching our young people to pass blame around. Teach them what is right and hold them accountable when they do something different.