There is a certain allure to the ways of the world. As the old saying goes, people are attracted to the bright lights of the big city because that is where the action is located. Of course the action many seek often turns out to be the exact opposite of what they originally believed it to be, thus resulting in great disappointment. This means that what had the appearance of being fun and exciting is nothing more than depravity wrapped up in a pretty bow.
This is nothing new really as examples abound in Scripture, perhaps most notably in the decision by Abraham’s nephew Lot to live in the area of Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 13:10 states, “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.” Note that little historical insert of “before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah”. I am sure this area of land called out to Lot because it was lush, popular, and likely full of life. Unfortunately, appearances were not what they seemed as behind the façade was a culture replete in sinful abominations to the extent those cities experienced judgment from God.
Let’s fast forward to more recent times and allow me to share why I even bother to bring up this topic. All around us we have the continued and every increasing allure of the world. Following the ways of God is typically presented as old-fashioned, boring with those who desire to be biblical in their approach to life described as killjoys. Parents if you have pre-teen or teenage children you know what I am talking about. Godly parents are the epitome of boring in the minds of children, especially when the bright lights of what their “friends” are doing comes into clash with godly behavior.
Recently, when researching bead making patterns on the internet, my daughter came across the world of hippies and soon after that, discovered information on the party gathering known as a rave. I can somewhat understand how she came across hippies as after all, hippies and beads have some sort of logical connection. With that said, I am still trying to figure out how rave parties filtered into the bead search criteria. Let’s just say some clever marketing is taking place.
In the same manner as Sodom and Gomorrah seemed appealing to Lot, hippies and rave parties seemed interesting to our teenage daughter. Now mind you, she knows little if anything about the actual facts behind the hippie movement with its free love, false approach to peace, and drug induced stupor nor does she have any true insight into what actually transpires happens at most rave parties. However, the manner in which both were promoted on the internet made them seem harmless and a group of people who just wanted everybody to love each other and the other being a cool hangout spot to meet with friends and to have a “good time”.
My wife and I took this opportunity to outline to our daughter the facts about the hippie movement as well as exactly what takes place at most rave parties. I’m not sure at this point much of what we said sunk in, but all in all it was a needed and important conversation to have. We could have just ignored her interest with the approach that it is “just a phase” and she will move on to something else. Such an approach would have been incorrect given that a wandering mind left unchecked, especially a young impressionable mind, will find a way to see out those fleshly desires more often than not. Part of the conversation was the reality that the peace and love presented by the hippie movement and their associated pursuits (i.e. sex, drugs, rock ‘n roll) is a false sense of peace and love, one that does not align with how God defines love and proper relationships. Furthermore, it is impossible to just hang-out at a gathering such as a rave and to ignore the activities going on around you, namely the bodies grinding, the partaking of drugs, and the pounding beat of the music specifically intended to generate the fever pitch of depravity.
These bright lights of the big city are all around us and they seem very attractive both for adults and most certainly for young impressionable minds. Walking the straight and narrow path seems rather dull and boring to many, especially when the aptly named “highway to hell” is lined with all manner of seemingly fun and exciting pursuits. The reality is that those fun and exciting pursuits lead to death, many times physical but more importantly, they lead people down a path to spiritual destruction on an eternal scale, something far more disastrous than physical death.
Parenting is hard and it is tempting to want to be hip and cool with your kids. You may be tempted to let you children be friends with those of questionable character and social habits just so your kids won’t feel left out of “socially inept”. While creating a protective dome around your home and children is going to the opposite extreme, it is important to be fully aware of what your children are doing, with whom they are doing it with, and what they are viewing on all manner of electronic devices. All Lot had at his disposal when deciding whether to make his move to Sodom and Gomorrah was word of mouth and what he could see with his eyes. Children have all manner of devices at their disposal that are constantly feeding the allure of the world to their waiting eyes and ears, making our job as parents even more difficult.
Despite the difficulties, it is imperative that you are an active parent. When your child brings up something for conversation, engage with them and ask questions as to how they found out about that topic and share with them the truth of God’s Word, especially if what they have discovered is associated with the bright lights of the world. Left unchecked and undiscussed, they could very well get sucked into the vortex of worldly desires and the pursuit of the flesh. It may be baby steps at first in regards to allure, but that is all it takes sometimes to start bad habits and bad relationships that lead to future pursuits of ungodly and unrighteous behavior. Remember that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. To use that analogy, your children are lumps of dough that need to be constantly molded and shaped by you as parents with the truth of Scripture. When the leaven of the world is allowed into the dough (the life of your child), bad things can happen.
Be diligent parents. Be involved in the life of your child and be aware of who their friends are, what they are listening to, what they are watching, and be proactive in conversation especially when they bring up topics that clearly or even clandestinely are attempts to bring validation to ungodly pursuits. Share with them God’s way and why that way is best. Help them understand why Sodom and Gomorrah is not the place to set up camp. This is hard and it takes a great deal of patience and effort but it is part of your job description as a parent. Never forget the following passage:
“You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deut. 11:19-20)