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Dangers To Our Families #1 Not Understanding the Dangers Introduction: Solomon observed a young man and warned him of one of the dangers he was facing, in Proverbs 7. The young man did not listen and went on the way to destruction. Young people tend to be naïve, they think they immortal, nothing will happen to me, mom and dad worry too much, etc. Parents have a great responsibility to fee, cloth, teach, protect, discipline, admonish, and encourage their children. They are supposed to be psychologist, psychiatrist, managers, comforters, and protectors. Parents and children need to understand the dangers they are facing in these times. In this series of lessons we want to look at some of the dangers we are facing and what the Bible says we could and should do in order to protect our loved ones. I) The Job of Parenting Has Changed A) In times past 1. Top concerns of parents centered on their children’s health, and what their children needed. a. At one time polio killed and crippled hundreds of thousands children. b. Childhood diseases and early detection of serious illnesses has improved the lives of many children. c. Many still struggle at putting food on the table, replacing clothes that children outgrow or wear out, but by and large we get it done. Unlike the days of the depression when my parents went without food and clothing, our children are being taken care of. 2. The environment [neighborhood] was safe a. Children could play by themselves b. They played in the neighborhood, at local parks in relative safety. c. Parents watched out for and corrected each others children. B) Today 1. Parents are afraid to leave their children home alone, to send them to the store by themselves, or let them browse in the store while they go else where. 2. Playing outside in some neighborhoods can be dangerous. Drive by shootings has become part of our vocabulary. 3. Parents are not present to supervise each others children. a. Many children come home to an empty house; parents do not know what is going on at their own homes or the homes of their children’s friends. b. Correcting some else’s child can have dire consequences, so many parents do not watch out for other parent’s children. II) Parents biggest nightmares: Kidnappings, sexual assault, and murder A)Various news stories 1. February 7, 2002 a seven year old girl, Danielle VanDam, was taken from her home. While in bed David Westerfield took her. Her body was found about a month later. 2. Elizabeth Smart, was taken from her home in Colorado, June 2002. March 2003 she was found and her abductor arrested. She had been raped, and drugged. 3. Two girls kidnapped; one was raped before police killed the kidnapper. B) What can parents do? 1. Isolate their children? 2. Worry themselves to death, become paranoid? Numbers 14.3 one reason given for not entering Canaan was their fear of what would happen to their wives and children. 3. Pretend these things do not happen. C) Parents can understand the facts 1. In 1999 there were 1,800 children killed in this country. 2. Since 1993 the rate has declined. 3. The rate has always been very low in small towns and rural communities. 4. 85% of all U.S. counties did not have a single child killed in them in 1999. 5. Children under the age of 4 account for 75% of all child abuse deaths 6. Stranger abductions are rare a. 100 stranger abductions each year b. 57% children abduction murders are committed by a stranger c. 1.3 abductions occur within a 1.2 block of the child’s home D) Parents can teach their children to be careful 1. Do not go places by yourself, take a friend with you, Ecc. 4.9ff 2. Do not talk to or some place with a stranger 3. Trust your fear instinct, lock the doors, etc. E) Facts we have to face 1. Random acts of violence can and do happen, Ecc. 9.11 2. Parents must act by faith, Matthew 6.34 F) A bigger danger children face is bad parenting 1. Approximately 80% of child abuse is perpetrated by a parent or caregiver. 2. Parents not providing love and instruction to their children, Ephesians 6.4 3. Parents not being aware of what their children are facing. We must be alert and diligent in communicating with our children. Conclusion: We are going to look at some specific dangers in the upcoming lessons: the internet, peer pressure, band messages from our institutions. One of the greatest blessings you can give your children are parents that love God and are unselfish. D.T. @ Westside Church of Christ 01.07.07 |