That's Debatable: The Entitled Generation
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| (Image courtesy of http://www.spectatornews.com.) |
Over the next few posts, I will focus on debatable issues among Christians today; namely, how God wants His people to respond to current political and social issues. I believe the Bible is the source for all knowledge and truth for any and every time and occasion. Therefore, by God's Spirit, I will do my best to interpret some of the most difficult passages of the Bible to assist in understanding how Christians are to respond to some of today's most highly debated topics.
Each generation seems to have a characteristic distinguishing it from the rest. "Baby Boomers" were those who were born in the time period after World War II into the late 1950s. These children were labeled as such because soldiers returning from the war came home to their wives or girlfriends to have families in an affluent economy, following the depression in the 1930s (Wikipedia).
The following generation, born anywhere from the early 1960s to the early 1980s, was labeled "Generation X" and characterized by their desire for social diversity and acceptance, as well as high achievements in education (Wikipedia).
Following this generation are the "Millennials" (also "Gen Y"), those who were born anywhere in between 1980 and 2000. This generation is characterized as sophisticated, since technology increased a lot during their childhood. Perhaps as a result they are concerned with the larger community, both local and global (Wikipedia).
Finally, the most recent generation was born in the time span between 2000 and 2012. They are still young at the date of this publication, but they are growing up in many societal changes and technological advances (Wikipedia). Known as "Generation Z", I am going to controversially declare this generation as "The Entitled Generation." As an early disclaimer, though, I will make the case that entitlement is nothing new and all generations have suffered as a result of entitlement.
Entitlement says, "I deserve this because it's my right." Entitlement is selfishness. Selfishness is sin. Sin will always result in death. Therefore, entitlement is a deadly problem.
Entitlement can take many forms. At it's earliest stage, babies demand certain things because, in their mind, it is their right. A baby is born selfish. We don't like to hear that and many people want to dismiss this as untrue. However, the Bible says that "the human heart is deceitful above all else, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9) and everyone is "already condemned" (John 3:18) for being born into sin because sin is a human condition passed down from Adam and Eve. Because of these truths, babies act in selfishness. That is why parents are put in place to guide children into the truth of right and wrong. "Train up a child in the way he should go" the Bible says (Proverbs 22:6). In Deuteronomy, Moses tells God's people to "write God's commands on the doorposts of your home and on your gates, to talk about them when you lay down and when you rise, and to teach them diligently to your children".
Parents, I believe, and the breakdown of family, are the key causes in creating an entitled generation.
What happens when parents do not train up their kids in righteousness? Without training in righteousness, the natural state of fallen man - sin - will automatically train up the child in works of unrighteousness. This, of course, is not to say that all children trained in righteousness will never depart from the faith when they grow older. God is sovereign and who can understand His ways? The main responsibility of parents, however, does not change: continue to train up children in the ways of righteousness and dissuade them from evil.
Selfishness has plagued humans from the beginning. It is a problem often manifested today in rebellion toward rules. "You can't tell me what to do." Oh, how great is the sin of this generation. People dishonor their parents, rebel against authority, and despise righteousness. When selfishness is allowed to persist in children, it will create a society like we have now. And it will only get worse.
Christian parents, please train up your children in the way they should go. Regardless of what the status quo is around you, stand firm on the word of God and His promises. Take care of your responsibility before God. You are not training up your children only for your children's sake, or even your own sake; you are training your children in the ways of righteousness for God's Name's sake. That is a worthy and favorable calling.
I believe with all my heart that if we as Christians return to the roots and promises of our faith from God, He will honor us with children and even entire generations of peace and godliness. But we must return to the faith.
Get in the Word. And teach the Word, fathers. Wives, support your husbands in this. In doing so, you will be blessed by the eternal God in Heaven.
"The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort, and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish" (Pope John Paul II).
Entitlement can take many forms. At it's earliest stage, babies demand certain things because, in their mind, it is their right. A baby is born selfish. We don't like to hear that and many people want to dismiss this as untrue. However, the Bible says that "the human heart is deceitful above all else, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9) and everyone is "already condemned" (John 3:18) for being born into sin because sin is a human condition passed down from Adam and Eve. Because of these truths, babies act in selfishness. That is why parents are put in place to guide children into the truth of right and wrong. "Train up a child in the way he should go" the Bible says (Proverbs 22:6). In Deuteronomy, Moses tells God's people to "write God's commands on the doorposts of your home and on your gates, to talk about them when you lay down and when you rise, and to teach them diligently to your children".
Parents, I believe, and the breakdown of family, are the key causes in creating an entitled generation.
What happens when parents do not train up their kids in righteousness? Without training in righteousness, the natural state of fallen man - sin - will automatically train up the child in works of unrighteousness. This, of course, is not to say that all children trained in righteousness will never depart from the faith when they grow older. God is sovereign and who can understand His ways? The main responsibility of parents, however, does not change: continue to train up children in the ways of righteousness and dissuade them from evil.
Selfishness has plagued humans from the beginning. It is a problem often manifested today in rebellion toward rules. "You can't tell me what to do." Oh, how great is the sin of this generation. People dishonor their parents, rebel against authority, and despise righteousness. When selfishness is allowed to persist in children, it will create a society like we have now. And it will only get worse.
Christian parents, please train up your children in the way they should go. Regardless of what the status quo is around you, stand firm on the word of God and His promises. Take care of your responsibility before God. You are not training up your children only for your children's sake, or even your own sake; you are training your children in the ways of righteousness for God's Name's sake. That is a worthy and favorable calling.
I believe with all my heart that if we as Christians return to the roots and promises of our faith from God, He will honor us with children and even entire generations of peace and godliness. But we must return to the faith.
Get in the Word. And teach the Word, fathers. Wives, support your husbands in this. In doing so, you will be blessed by the eternal God in Heaven.
"The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort, and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish" (Pope John Paul II).
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