The family is the core of any society. From history we have learned: if this smallest unit in our society is not able to provide protection, love, dignity and a boundary for moral standards, then eventually the whole society will break down. When we look around today we have to admit that it is not going too well with many of our families. The next generations will emerge, having to deal with the repercussions of hurt, rejection, abandonment, divorces, even abuse, and often times do not even know what has so deeply marred them and how to somehow get “whole” again. We all need to work together to help families to find stability, they are the future of our nation. The barometer of the well being of a nation is determined by the emotional and mental maturity of the family.
How then has it happened that things went so wrong?
We do not claim to have all the answers, but having been dealing with people for many years, we have experienced that when we introduce people to proper life principles, people‘s lives will change.
The majority of people today live by what is “legally correct”. The interesting thing is that every human being has an inner “thermometer”, the conscience, which does not regard the external laws. It is the internal moral law which has been put into our beings by God Himself. We can call it an alarm system of the soul. We could compare it with a red light showing us not to trespass, but if we choose to trespass, we are ignoring this God given alarm system, designed to protect us. In terms of traffic lights, if we go through a red light, there will be some consequences, the same happens to us when we violate our conscience.
When we violate that internal law with what we know is “wrong“, even though it might be ‘legally’ right, something happens to us. We will develop guilt, which can manifest itself in restlessness, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, psychosomatic illnesses, and other negative feelings or physical dysfunctions. All this might not even be happening on the conscious level. We have the ability to push any uncomfortable feeling deep into our subconsciousness. Nevertheless, we will experience the effects of our guilt. A research has found that today the greatest problem in society is anxiety and depression. Yes, there are also external causes for this, but inner peace will bring a character stability which will enable a person to conquer life.
Even though society wants to make us believe: as long as it doesn’t hurt others, it’s ok. We wrongly assume that whatever feels good, is good. And we experience shipwreck, not understanding how we could ever lose the plot.
Our society today is not interested in morals and godliness any more. Yes, we expect integrity of character, but we forget that without the above ingredients we will not be able to achieve this.
The established law cannot give us security or stability, it changes according to the elected governmental bodies, which greatly focus on winning votes. We are not talking here about individuals, but about a system. Democracy without the back-up of biblical truth will not function at its best. Only the moral law of God is able to give the boundary and wisdom we need to make changes in our world (inside and out).
If it is in our schools, or in any other institution, the message seems to be “protective”, but in not giving our children moral boundaries, we will in effect harm them, and this all in the name of “personal freedom”.
Generally, our youth has not been taught proper life principles. The role models many receive are found in video games, TV, Internet, etc., with devastating examples in violence, sexual immorality, wrong morals in general, witchcraft, etc. Who protects our children from this pollution and influence?
While our laws are very liberal, the family still should be responsible to demonstrate, impart and teach life principles to the young ones. Many people put blame on the government and they might be right in some cases, but no family can abdicate their responsibility to protect their children.
The Biblical principle behind authority is protection.
Any exercised authority not displaying love, care and protection as the source of motivation will only harm, no matter how good the intention might be.
When authority is not understood, both sides, the one in authority and the one under authority will struggle because the Biblical ingredients and motivations are not present. It is also important to consider that the one “in authority” has to understand his position as being one “under authority“ as well, because God is the one who has granted this authority.
One of the most devastating issues in the majority of today’s youth is the violation of wholesome principles of respecting and honouring their parents. Again, this given authority to the parents is to protect their children.
In our many years of counselling people from all ages, backgrounds, levels of society and cultures, we have seen the devastation of rebellious children. Children do not understand that their rebellion becomes a curse to them. We have seen incredible great and quick results when the young person understands these principles and submits to the parents accepting correction, choosing to honour and respect them. Such a principle for example can change whole families.
The person in authority is responsible for the well being of the person under authority. To exercise power, to be dominant and forceful does not indicate true authority. True authority comes from God and is designed to protect, to love, to bless, to give and also to discipline and correct. Discipline and correction without protection, love, generosity and care avails nothing and only causes more pain and destruction.
Politicians, teachers, pastors, parents, husbands, employers, have received authority from above, but let’s understand that authority is primarily to serve others.
