Parental Wimphood

A most interesting and hard-hitting column, written by Tami Paikin Nolan appeared in the Hamilton Spectator some time ago, and as far as I am concerned, she hit the nail on the head.

Tami was addressing the issue of a generation of youth which somehow missed a major part of their education - moral guidelines. What seems to be the main missing link in their learning experience is how to say "no". "No" to promiscuity, fornication, adultery, pre-marital sex. Tami goes on to say:

“By whatever name, it is a lesson a generation has missed out on because a generation of pseudo-progressive or just plain cowardly parents has failed to teach it. Why these parents have wimped out so miserably is not quite clear. But is has been a devastating abdication of duty. Their silence amounts to a licence for their children, no exam required.”

Tami goes on to tell the good news that many youth are responding positively to presentations by Beverly Hadland to student bodies. She is proclaiming that chastity and self control are positive attributes. Tami ends her column with these words:

“It is a sad commentary on our age that Beverly Hadland's common decency, common sense message is so remarkable, so noteworthy.

And she's dead right!

My deep suspicion is that the parents of this “lost generation'”we've been talking about, deep down in their own hearts, knew they were making a serious mistake. The parents of this headless herd of lost and lonely kids were raised in a different atmosphere. They were informed of the dangers and sinfulness of promiscuity and adultery, but they chose to rebel against what their inner hearts demanded. And their rebellion was not just a change in social awareness and behaviour - it goes much deeper than that. They have rebelled against God. Now our society is reaping the whirlwind harvest of that rebellion. It reminds me of the prophet who spoke much the same of his own day, Hos. 8:7:

"They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind."

David, the Psalmist saw the same problem in his day, and suggests the answer in Psa. 78:7-8:

"That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God."

But there is hope for the hopeless, help for the helpless and salvation for those whose guilt is confessed. Read Num. 14:18:

"The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation."

The problems appear to be the same in every generation, and in every country and culture. Only the symptoms seem to differ from generation to generation. But the prophet Samuel adds a grim and solemn warning in 1 Sam. 12:15:

"However, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as it was against your fathers."

Repentance is needed; first by the wimpy parents who abdicated their role as parents and guardians. Then a serious looking to God for the wisdom to turn this “lost generation” around.

Enough of being wimps! Let's get some steel in our spines!