“The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.”
(Proverbs 29:15)
Prepared by Patrick J. Griffiths
In calling for our August Fast the Elders found themselves facing two overwhelming and thus troubling concerns. First, it is rumored how there was/is significant gossip circulating within the larger body of Christ as it exists in Waukesha among some troubled individuals. Our struggle is how to speak to gossip. Gossip is sin, yet it is elusive and deceptive. It appears as “news” or “prayer requests,” yet it is nothing but idle curiosity at best and destructive doubt and slanderous at its worst. You cannot allow gossip to go unchallenged. No one admits to gossip although it is prevalent and a plague within the local and larger body of Christ. Because it is so subtle (which is the nature of gossip), prayer is one’s only recourse; thus, the call to pray and fast. Second, another concern for prayer and fasting is the issue of unresolved hurt. Although the topic of hurt within the context of counseling is larger than can be addressed at this time there is one aspect of hurt I wish to note.
This type of “hurt” is the consequence of unaddressed sin from one’s childhood. Or when addressed by the parent, it is so persistent the parent gives up and allows the child to have their way. This pattern of “getting one’s way” becomes engrained and continues to show itself in adolescence and eventually adulthood.
When one is told “no” when one wants a “yes”, one’s initial response is inevitably fleshly; even if the “no” is for one’s good. We simply do not like being told “no”. The “no” hurts our feelings. We see this all the time with children. If we do not address this in a child, they become unruly teens and self-centered adults.
As parents you must break Adam’s will within your child. If the child does not learn to submit and respect authority as a child, they will become unmanageable throughout life. The weight of this responsibility falls heavily on parents. If they do not discharge their responsibility, then God will find other means; ultimately all will bend their knees and bow their heads before God.
I desire to finish this thought in tomorrow’s meditation. May God use this to break through and apply Calvary’s healing balm to our sinful “hurts”?
