Romans 12:2 – 3 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Stop a moment and look around. We all feel it, hear it, see it, smell it … the culture around us. It seems to be decaying at an accelerated pace, right before our eyes! Once we saw the decline of society only in retrospect – now we watch it in 3-D {literally} and face the consequences in living color.
What’s a mom to do? Run for the hills? Lock the doors? Hammer into our children’s minds the differences between good and evil? Turn OFF the TV? Worry, fret … pray?! … Relax – this is NOT a trick question. There is no simple, direct answer to the dilemma of culture shock.
As a mom I would like to see this out of control world subdued so that my children can live in peace and safety. But, God’s ways are higher than mine. He works from within as well as from without. Our God changes the heart and navigates lives – turning the tide of culture and ultimately advancing His Kingdom.
Meanwhile, ‘back at the ranch’ {just kidding – we live in the ‘burbs’}, I have choices to make – daily. Because, the world that influences my children the most is in our home. It’s my hope to create an atmosphere of comfort, nurture and growth in our home. This involves everything from sights, sounds, texture, smells and attitudes {starting with mine!}.
The spirit of our homes and the details of daily living create a culture that offers so much more than the world can deliver. I want to give my kids a higher road to build their lives upon, a reason to live above the norm.
As Paul exhorted the Roman church, likewise we can prove to our families what is “good and acceptable and perfect” - in God’s eyes.
Why so much fuss over home-life? There’s a two-fold reason. One is to preserve this present generation from the unthinkable ways of the world; the other is to equip them to go out and preserve the culture, themselves. Perpetuating goodness.
For we are not better than those around us – but we DO have the answers and can show the way. “Christ in us” is the only hope of glory this side of heaven.
James 1:27 - “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: go visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
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I sometimes feel this way, too, though less so now that I have children. I used to want to become a hermit on a mountaintop, but now that I have kids, I want to show them the whole world, and I’m realizing that there is so much good in the world, so much to love and enjoy, and so much worth fighting for. Every generation, back to ancient times, feels that the world is going you-know-where in a hand basket…but sometimes I think we need to have a little perspective that we can’t get living in the midst of it all. Evil has always been around, and always will be–but so has good, and so it always will be.
Run for the hills? Lock the doors? Hammer into our children’s minds the differences between good and evil? I feel this way often. You said it well. It’s a reminder to me of the importance of praying for our children … Thanks for sharing!
I think Satan often likes to distract us with fear…. or maybe I’m the only one? Whenever I start to feel that way I take a moment to make sure my focus is on Christ. It can turn the entire day around!
Romans 12 is one of my favorite chapters. Great post. Thanks for the needed reminder!
So true…great post!
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Hi Debi,
Just stopped by for the first time and so enjoyed your post. I agree with you 100%. Thank you for speaking the Truth and shining God’s light. May we be an example of Christ to our children and give them an environment that will build them up in the Lord and not the world. May our homes be sanctuaries where the Spirit of the Lord is present and His holiness abounds. I always need the reminder to be that “gatekeeper” of my home and my children. How quickly the world can swoop in.
Looking forward to getting to know you more.
I think one of the hardest things for me as a parent is that I’m still trying to shake off worldly ways myself and thus have a hard time guiding my children in the right direction. Thankfully I can keep pointing them to God’s Word, praying God will work in all of us at the same time.
P.S. Thank you for your sweet comment the other day — you’re such an encouragement.
Well written and inspiring. Glad I stopped by!