In Reply to: Re: Why so many SG exers are not Christians posted by Oldtimer on March 11, 2004 at 09:03:22:
I was watching Ophra last week. She was interviewing a twelve year old who so hated her "rubber stamped" upbringing that she ran away from home and turned to prostitution -- the money was good and the freedom to think and do as she thought best (however harmful) was great. Her street involvement made her very mature for her age. She was honest about her parent's rigidity being responsible for her rebellious behavior and they, the parents, were humbled - humbled enough ot learn to lighten up.
You're right about the Fam rubber stamping things. Yet, it's funny how when I joined and first started reading the Letters, most of what I read was about having a personal walk and relationship with the Lord, burning free to get out the lit, leaving old bottles and old bottle homes behind, etc.. It wasn't about enforcement and legislation at all. It was all about hearing from Him for myself and going into all the world. What it devolved into is a whole other thing, and unfortuntately, I devolved with some of it. I wasn't all that well put together back then that I could teach my own kids to think for themselves. They rebelled when they hit their teens and I had to learn to BACK RIGHT OFF.
I have a teen right now who wants to test all the limits. I give this one a very open hand and let him know that it (his life and any good fruit in it) has to come from him. Legislating some of his older brothers and sisters just didn't work at all. In fact, that invited rebellion, like I said. Now, I pray desparately, and make my home as safe a place to land as possible - to make it safe for him to succeed or fail, and try again, while he's in my care. I do have some very firm boundaries about drugs or drinking on the property, though, or stealing, and things like that (it has to be safe for me and mom and his younger sister too.)
Same for the school. The're trying to be gracious, but they can also be firm. There's some the letter of the law at times though. Some teachers are very mature, and understanding, and good. Others are: well, FORGET IT - atrociously hopeless.