Why is it that children and teens are turning away from God and replacing Him with many of the inappropriate gods of the world?
In today’s world, children are more influenced by violence and evil more than holy things. Instead of reading the Bible they prefer Harry Potter. Instead of Christian Movies, they prefer movies that have hidden messages that contradict the teachings of Christ. They will watch a violent film where the main character is killed and therefore become de-synthetized to death. Instead of family board games, they prefer to be isolated and play violent games on their computer or many available video games.
Often a child would model the behavior of an adult which even further escalated to aggressive behavior. There was a study called the Bobo doll in which an adult would beat up a plastic life-size clown doll. The adult would do this in the presence of a child. The hypothesis is that the child would model the behavior of the adult. The adult would punch and throw the Bobo in the air. At one point the adult sat on the Bobo and hit it repeatedly. Then, the adult left the room leaving the child unsupervised.
There were all kinds of toys available in the room for the child to be entertained while the adult was away. The child after a few minutes to ensure the adult was not returning immediately, started punching, throwing the doll in the air and sitting on it and punching. All acts of aggression were just like what they observed from the adult. Poor Bobo!
Another part of the study wanted to see if the child would model the adult based on consequences that the adult received for the behavior. If the adult was punished for hitting the doll, the child did was not aggressive. When an adult was rewarded for beating the doll, the child also hit the doll and sometimes with extreme aggression, including, striking with a rubber mallet.
There was a study in Belfast, Uk in which children were told to throw Velcro darts at a board on the wall. There were a few rules, but if they followed them and hit the target, they would receive candy as a reward. The rules were simple: stand behind a red line (marked on the floor) and face your back against the target and throw backward. If they hit the target (virtually impossible), they would receive a surprise reward. When the children had no supervision, almost all cheated when they thought nobody was watching. When the children were supervised, some still cheated but not as many. And, when the children were not monitored by Princess Alice, almost none of the children cheated. Even though they were not supervised, they were shown a picture of a Princess, named Princess Alice. There was also a chair in the corner of the room, and the children were told that Princess Alice was sitting in the chair and would be watching them and making sure they didn’t cheat. Surprisingly, the children that thought of the possibility of some god-like presence watching them were the most honest. Even if they did not earn the candy like the children, who cheated.
When children believe in God, they are more likely, to be honest without cheating or lying. They like to feel the His presence and since He is watching them. Satan knows that he is losing the battle with our past generations and is now targeting our children, the future generation where violence is the norm. Even though the parents are Christian, the child is usually enticed by worldly influences from the internet and media as well as inappropriate role models.
Like the children in Princess Alice, we seem to need some sort of awareness that we are being watched. However, when are separated from God, we tend to make up our own rules; our own laws; and our own beliefs. There still seems to be this need to have a god and someone who watches over us. It has always been that way, even in Biblical times.
Mankind has always needed a god to ensure the group had someone watching them so they would not be a savage beast and live life without rules and laws. In Biblical times, they made large towers to worship gods; make human sacrifices to their gods and made idols of worship. Even when the true God-the God of Abraham Isaac and Joseph demonstrated many supernatural miracles and plaques, when Moses lead them from captivity; the people feared Moses had abandoned them, so they created a golden cow to worship. Today, we have many idols that we worship over God. Step back and look at what you worry about the most. That might just be your Sin. Now, look at what you spend occupying most of your spare time. That might be your god.
Statistics show that more than half of Christians own 3 or more Bibles. However, only a few have read the entire Bible; less than 50% had read some of the Bible, and an alarming 20% have never opened the Bible or read any scripture. Besides, the Bible was most likely displayed in the house but collecting dust. I guess families that have Bibles and confess not reading them have sense security and protection and feel God is with them. This might be similar to wearing a cross.
Can you imagine a world where there is so much violence that you are afraid to leave your house? It is entirely possible that the kind of world is forming right now and people are becoming de-synthesized to it. Think about how slowly violence is steadily increasing, and the laws are made to look corrupt and prejudice. Those who have no respect and refuse to obey the law are being treated as heroes and the law enforcement as the villains. Everyone is either offended or protesting something and lawsuits are becoming out of control. The Bible warns of these things in the last days.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”- 2 Timothy 3:1-7
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