____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ March 1, 1992 ____________________________________________________ Teenager, What Is Right Or Wrong? by Bob Baston As a teenager, the decisions involved in walking the strait and narrow path (Matt. 7:13-14) are difficult to make, much less carry out. It has not been very long since I was a teenager, and I can remember that the pressure of influence from my peers often carried more weight than that of other Christians. Each teenager must make certain decisions about things of this world which tempt him unmercifully at this impressionable age. Often this process may be sub-conscious, taking for granted certain convictions which came about through good teaching and diligent study. But more often, it is a difficult struggle between what we have been taught and what is appealing in a carnal (fleshly) way. As we see our school friends participating in dancing, mixed swim parties, the use of alcohol, vulgar language, and the use of harmful drugs, the tendency is to become confused. We know what our parents have said, and what the preacher has said. But we cannot escape the fact that some or all of these things look enjoyable. Satan's devices are as old as sin in their deceitfulness (Rev. 12:9; John 8:44). As he beguiled Eve and changed the command of God by one word (Gen. 3:1-7), so is he capable of tempting in a manner which is the subtle intrusion into young hearts not yet set on a perfect course. Paul says, ``So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God'' (Rom. 10:17). Being faithful and a good example will not be easy. But knowledge of God's word will certainly help. Paul had to buffet his body to keep it in subjection (1 Cor. 9:27). When you are about to make a decision as to whether something is right or wrong, I urge you to consider what I am about to say. Remember first of all what the word of God says. Then, proceed to ask yourself the following questions concerning what you are about to do. 1. Did you ask other people's opinion about it? 2. Did you argue with yourself about that thing you want to do? 3. Do you feel uneasy about doing it, after you have decided it was suitable to do? 4. Can you give thanks to God for providing this for you to do? These questions did not originate with me, but are simple, common sense questions with which we must deal. To illustrate question #1: If you have to ask your mother if your shirt is dirty, then you are in doubt and should not wear it. Teenagers can often fall into the trap of asking the wrong people the merits of some activity. Good parents may not have the corner on knowledge, but try them out sometimes. You might be surprised what they know. If you are so unsettled about this activity that you are in constant warfare with yourself over it, then it is not worthy of your participation. The world has always loved darkness in order to hide their sins. If you are uneasy and want to hide your participation, then you should not begin that activity. Your heart can become hardened (Eph. 4:19). The Bible says to give thanks for all things (Phil. 4:6). Can you honestly thank God for your participation in the sinful practices mentioned earlier? If not, that alone should cause you to refrain from unrighteous fulfillment of pleasure (1 Thess. 5:22). Young friend, I urge you to think seriously about these four questions, and God's word, as you give consideration to some of the activities that are so common among young people today. ___________________________________________ Disobedient To Parents by Mike Willis Among the works of the flesh listed in Romans 1 is the sin of ``disobedience to parents.'' Paul commanded children to ``obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right'' (Eph. 6:1). Christian children should never be a problem to their parents. The children are commanded to obey their parents because of their relationship to God; a child cannot maintain a proper relationship with God while having an ungodly relationship with his parents. A parent might not be the kind of parent he ought to be and, therefore, not be worthy of the respect normally due to parents. Nevertheless, Christian children must submit to them because Jesus commanded them to submit. (The relationship is very similar to that relationship a Christian sustains to the civil government. Christians must submit to the civil government, even if that government is murdering Christians. That was the historical background when Paul wrote in Rom. 13:1, ``Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities.'' Even as all Christians are expected to obey the government in all circumstances, except in cases where the demands of civil authorities conflict with duty to God, so also must children obey their parents in all things, except when the commands of the parents conflict with duty to God.) Another characteristic of a degenerate society is a generation of young people who are disobedient to their parents. I have witnessed teenage boys and girls speaking to their parents as if the parents were dogs. The amazing part of the verbal exchange is to witness the parents passively sit and allow the child to talk disrespectfully to them, or, even worse, to watch them defend them in that action. When disobedience to parents becomes a general characteristic of all of the society, that the home is being rather seriously attacked is obvious. The home is the foundation of society; when the foundation crumbles the whole structure will fall. Parents must have enough foresight to turn off the TV, re-establish communication with their children, decline involvement in unimportant activities which steal the precious time for family togetherness, and dedicate themselves to raising a family that loves God and each other. The years that one has his children living with him are all too short to be wasted in family strife. ___________________________________________ The way to break a bad habit is to drop it (selected). Goliath was surprised when David hit him with a stone because such a thing never entered his head before (selected). When you meet temptation--turn to the right! (selected) ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________