Sunday Class @ 9am; Worship @ 10am & 5pm
Articles
Lessons from the Death of a 14-Year-Old
A 14-year-old boy was recently shot and killed in Nashville. As tragic as the event may be, there are lessons we should learn from his family’s response.
“You can’t judge him.” “Judge not” - this is one of the most quoted phrases from the Bible (Matt 7:1). What is normally left out is the context that goes on to explain how to judge (:2-5) and that you must judge (:6). The boy’s mother said her son can’t be judged for the incident in which he lost his life: selling drugs. “This isn’t just about one thing,” and she’s right. It’s about a pattern, including social media profiles which depict him holding up lots of money, pointing guns at the camera, and smoking drugs. Jesus went on to say, “You will know them by their fruits” (:15-20). In other words, expect to be judged by the way you act.
“That’s his personality.” I remember years ago hearing a similar excuse given for a Christian’s behavior: “That’s just the way he is.” “The way he is” was sinful. You need to repent of your personality when it is contrary to God’s will, putting off the old and putting on the new (Eph 4:22-32). Before saying you cannot change, remember that God commands you to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2).
“No one’s perfect.” How true, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). While no one may be perfect, this does not mean that perfection should not be your standard. Jesus said, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt 5:48). You cannot simply accept your imperfections as part of who you are, but instead must “press on” to be like He is (Phil 3:12-15).
“Girls around here like that stuff.” This is how the boy’s brother responded to his social media photos holding money and guns. “He may have gotten a girlfriend from those photos.” Maybe so, but he got himself killed from that behavior. “Local ministers said Tuesday that it is essential for young people to separate themselves from lifestyles associated with drugs and crimes; otherwise good kids can end up dead.” The Bible gives a similar warning: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’” (1 Cor 15:33). With corrupted morals you can end up dead spiritually.
One minister said, “If I had not separated myself from the drug and gangster lifestyle, I would be dead.” God calls on us to separate ourselves from those who will lead us away from Him and dead spiritually. “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” (2 Cor 6:17). Continue to touch what is unclean, and He will not receive you.
As long as parents defend and make excuses for their children’s bad behavior, similar tragedies will continue to occur. It’s time for parents to love the Lord enough to have His words on their heart and teach those words to their children at every opportunity (Deut 6:5-9). Only then will the tragedies end.
