I don't want to grow up !

I Don’t Want to Grow Up! -

Part of our problem in society I believe is that the child of today does not want to grow up. I have noticed a disturbing trend in young people and today’s child.

Many today see adulthood as a time of pain, drudgery, worry, worry, WORK, bills and deep unfulfillment. Childhood on the other hand is a time of play, fun, carefree pampered indulgent and lazy.

This is wrong – I know some of you will see that response as controversial, but hear me out.

American youth on a whole are resistant to growing up. They now have safe zones on college campuses to protect the fragile thinking of young people. They are being coddled in our colleges, homes and businesses. The purpose of the college experience isn’t to make the student feel they are in a well-insulated bubble. The child of today is a video game social network junkie. Many are stay at home and stay at home children. The business world ranks today young people very low on the scale for critical thinking and being able to work with others. They also score low when it comes to honesty and integrity issues. Many they say do not know how to work. I have been in a number of homes lately and watched the youth excuse themselves from the table to “play” while the parents struggle with the work load. I have also witnessed a number of young people sitting in front of TV and “hanging out” with friends but refusing to go to work and get a job because it wasn’t fun.

The good American parent has bought into the devils fallacy that life is all about being happy and we definitely must make sure a “happy Childhood” is the ultimate priority.

Historically Children were seen as a human resource to help the family – yes they were loved but they were expected to pull their own weight. Each did what they could to contribute to the family.

Somehow it all has changed; child labor laws were enacted, children began to be seen as financial liability. Family size was cut drastically ( now the typical family is 4) The mantra became don’t have anymore children than you can afford. Attitudes toward children have changed and children’s attitudes have been polluted by the schools and the government

In a recent article I read of a mom rejoicing because her kids were back in school. She would finally get to clean her house – the towels would no longer clutter the bathroom – there would no longer be half drunk Kool Aid cups and Popsicle wrappers strewn everywhere. Whats wrong with this picture? Who’s responsibility was it to clean this? Kids don’t want to grow up – who wants to give up a period of total self indulgence.

I believe when children are pampered, adulthood looks unattractive and even something to be feared. Instead of being something to look forward to – and all of society suffers.

Galatians 4: 1-2 “Now I say that the heir as long as he is a child does not differ at all from a slave though he is master of all. But is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.”

In God’s view childhood is a time of training to get ready for adulthood and to become a productive part of society and to become equipped for God’s service.

What about spiritually growing up? Are the children growing up to love the Lord God with all their heart? We are witnessing the dumbing down of the American people ( two generations )and the church has not escaped this same cancer to dumb down our children and youth . We are witnessing the change in church and Sunday school curriculum. Many of the parents are they themselves “spiritually dumb”. So how can they help their children to grow in things of God if they have not learned the blessed truths to teach their own children?

Deuteronomy 6:1-4 The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as front-lets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.