by: Jonathan Painter
Very few people want to take responsibility! It has become a major problem in the last three decades, and we are living in a society that has been immersed in its grasp, and we are suffering for it. Unfortunately, unless our society undergoes a major change, we are not going to see a difference in this area for quite some time.
The other day I attended a lecture presented by two psychologist on child behavior. It was stunning to see how these people made every excuse in the world as to why a child’s misbehavior was a medical issue, or attention deficiency problem. In other words, it either could not be helped, or it was the authorities fault because they were not showing them enough attention. It was in no way the child’s fault. They also claimed that “if we want to have a positive connection with the child, we do not want to give negative commands.” In other words, never use the words “no” or “don’t do” because it will just make them want to do it.
I sat and listened to the lecture for nearly an hour and a half, and the conclusion I came to was this is the reason many in our country don’t want to take responsibility for their actions. Our children are being educated in such a way as to avoid ever having to take responsibility for what they do. As they grow older, they maintain the mindset of, “It’s somebody else’s fault.” It is a mindset that lasts through adulthood, and has given us a generation of adults who don’t want to take responsibility.
There is a very valuable lesson to be learned for teenagers in this generation. “Learn to take responsibility!” Our nation was founded by men who were not afraid to take responsibility, and we desperately need a generation of young people who are willing to step up and take responsibility for their actions.
We have come to the point in our nation where every sin committed is a medical or mental disorder, but this simply is not so. It is called REBELLION! We try to fly homosexuality under the banner of some kind of disorder, but it truly is sin. Sodomites are not that way because they were born with a disorder, but because they are rebellious against nature; however, if they were to admit this, it would mean that they would have to take responsibility for their actions, and they are not willing to do that, so it is a “sickness”.
Let me just plead with you, young America, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS! If you lie to your parents, admit it, apologize, take the punishment and move on. If you cheat on a test, don’t try to shift the blame, fess up to it, take the punishment and move on. We need to see young people who break the trend of excuses as to why they couldn’t, and take responsibility for what they do.
Jonathan Painter
Youth Pastor
Lincoln Baptist Church
Lincoln, NE