General Issues: Don't blame me!
Researchers in the USA have finally discovered why teenagers commit so many terrible acts of violence, theft, drunkenness, sex, or bad behaviour. It's official ... because it was apparently written up in an education journal ...
it's because of hormone turbulence.
Over the years I have encountered many parents who had been searching for a really good excuse for their childrens' misbehaviour. We have become experts at blaming someone else, or something else, for our own deliberate sinful acts. Maybe the bank robbers would be freed if they pleaded, 'I only did it because of financial turbulence', or the thug who was suffering for physical or emotional turbulence. Maybe kids in schools could always blame their academic failure on educational turbulence.
The Bible is clear in its definition of SIN. Galations 5:19-21 tells us that the acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy. fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like.
However, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
The rest of the passage goes on to say that those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Let us not make excuses for our sin any longer, but ask the Lord to help us overcome them, and produce more and more of the Spiritual fruit that God intends for us.
Remember, God gives peace, not turbulence.
Col
(Col is an elder, teacher and a school principal)
