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A Kinder Generation
Gap The
August 12, 2009 Messenger-Inquirer contained the following headline,
“Researchers find a gentler generation gap.”
During the 1960’s the term “generation gap” was used to describe
the different values of the parents from their children.
It was a time of different hair styles, clothing, attitudes toward sex,
and drugs between the two generations. The
It
should be noted that each generation has its own experiences and ways of looking
on life. The younger generation
admits that the older generation has better moral values. However, both
generations have grown up with the mantra of being non-judgmental.
Both generations have grown up in a sexually promiscuous society.
The 1960’s was the tune out, turn on, and drop out age.
Young people experimented with drugs in the name of self awareness.
The birth control pill allowed people have casual sex without
consequences, or at least that was the mind set.
The current generation has many of the same attitudes.
The problem is neither generation is abiding by God’s word.
Judges says there was a generation that knew not God, Judges 2.10.
If
I wanted to be pessimistic I could point out that one reason for the generation
gap is a lack of maturity. My
generation seems to refuse to grow up. They
are still partying it up and just having a good time.
Child training is not one their priorities.
Therefore, their children are allowed to do whatever they want.
Buried
in the middle of the article I found the following sentence. “Parents
also say they are spending more time with their children than their parents
spent with them” This I found
encouraging and a reason to rejoice. Deuteronomy
6 commanded parents to teach their children God’s word.
When one reads verses 7- 9 you see the consistent need for training and
instruction. Children need to learn
God’s word every day in the house. This
required parents to talk with their children.
There is a difference in lecturing and instructing.
To be an effective teacher one has to listen to the student and answer
their questions. During the 1950’s
and 60’s our society was experiencing rapid changes.
One of those changes was from the farm and rural environment to the city
and urban setting. Children were
living in cities and parents working at factories and businesses.
They were being left alone. I
do see parents being actively involved in their children’s lives.
Most children really do care what their parents think and most parents
want to help their children. The greatest influence in a child’s life is their
parents. –
Dennis Tucker |