I've been reading through the Bible this year, and I'm in the book 2 Kings right now. This is definitely not a book about a joyfully obedient Chosen People doing all the right things. (Aside: One reason I'm convinced the Bible is inspired by God. If the Bible was "written by man," as I hear sometimes, we would have made ourselves look better--all clean-cut and spiffy.)
So far, each chapter has been, "King So and So started reigning in Judah or Israel. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He made Judah or Israel sin greatly. Then, he died and the next King did the same thing." Yes, there are some Kings who followed King David in worshipping the LORD alone and not chasing after other gods, but they were the minority. (King David, by the way, was far from perfectly obedient.)
Today I finished reading chapter 17. After generations and generations of idolatry, here's where God's people find themselves: "So these nations feared the LORD and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children's children—as their fathers did, so they do to this day." (vs. 41)
Usually a kingdom went from Father to Son. "Daddy always did this, so it's normal. I don't know any different. May as well keep doing it." Whatever we see our daddies doing, we do. No matter how destructive.
Mommas were influential in the lives of their children, as well. (see 2 Kings 8 & 15) "Momma always said..." A mother's words and how they're said will lead her children somewhere. They'll either guide her children toward or away from the LORD. Whatever our mommas say, we trust. No matter how misleading.
There's a sort of jumbled mixture of "fearing the LORD" and "serving their carved images."
The following we hear and see:
- Go to church but don't talk about it too much. It makes others uncomfortable, even other church people.
- Don't worry what people think, but be sure to wear this outfit or have that car or go to this club.
- Money isn't everything, but I want you to be successful and have more than I did.
- Marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman, but you're probably going to have sex before marriage, anyway. Just be safe and don't get pregnant or get a disease.
- Treat others the way you want to be treated. Well, except for homosexuals and liberals and minorities and foreigners...
- You have to believe in God if you look around at creation. However, this is your life. Live for yourself. Do what you want. Sleep with whomever you want. Buy whatever you want. Worship yourself, your body, your desires.
“Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin."
(Deuteronomy 24:16)
Parents cannot take responsibility for their children's actions. My addictions were my own, not my dad's. My lack of self-control is my sin, not my mom's.
"The LORD passed before [Moses] and proclaimed, 'The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.'"
(Exodus 34:6; Exodus 34:7)
However, parents must not be ignorant to the effects our behaviors and words have on our children. One parent's addictions were lived out in front of me my whole life, and then I stepped right into those same shoes. One parent's lack of self control shows itself in words and actions, and then I step right into those shoes.
Parents, be wise and godly in your life. Church won't influence your children, you will. Children, be wise and godly in your life. Trust the holy God, not a sinful people.
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