Choose Your Hard
When my kids were young, I used to worry about whether we were too strict. Too old-fashioned, or too different from other families.
Then I read a phrase in Ephesians 6:4 that really stood out to me:
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
It became real to me, and I fully realized that the world is NOT called by God to bring up my kids. I am.
I am the father. I am the one God called to "bring them up".
So now, I don't care if every other family lets their teenagers have unfettered internet access. I don't care if we're the only parents who still have standards concerning music, movies, and modesty. I don't care if people think we're strange because we actually expect our kids to honor their parents and submit to authority.
Romans 12:2 says:
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
That's not a Bible suggestion—it's a Bible command. And it applies not only how we live our lives, but to how we raise our children to live their lives.
The world's playbook is producing a generation of covetous, godless, unthankful, proud young people who love pleasure more than they love God. We're living in a generation that is so confused, they don't know who they are or what they believe. Why would any Christian follow that playbook?
Parents, whatever you do, do NOT raise your kids to fit it. Raise them to stand out from the crowd, and to "be strong and of a good courage." Raise them to stand up for Jesus. Raise them to stand firm on the Word of God amidst a world that is compromising and out of control.
Is that hard to do in today's world? Yes, it is. Won't that make them different? Absolutely. Will people roll their eyes, and mumble under their breath? Probably.
The better question is: Will your kids thank you someday for it? I believe they will—but even if they don't, we are all answerable to God, not to our kids.
You're going to be criticized either way—by the world or by God. I'd rather face the world's criticism now than be judged by God later.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Choose your hard.