Did the christ have a different line of thought other than using them as an example of teachableness and meekness? i often wonder how he would feel about his people using the young as examples of integrity putting great responsibility on them coaching them to set up thier own magazine route. Instead of enjoying association participating in school sports where valuable charicter traits are learned such as sportsmanship, assertion, generosity, and trust the "spiritual youth" will devote his energies to the studying of doctrines that bless the slaughter of billions, that only by living a life of slavery to a leadership that forgoes compassion, tolerance, and forgivness will they not be put to death. Would jesus approve of sending our young adults out into the world without the right tools needed to start a well adjusted life? for example the society has volumes of rules and procedures for the young witness, but what information is there for the teenager that persues his own course without watchtower rules? the truth is the black and white us against them mentality is destructive because as parents if we cannot prevent our own children from refusing a life of servitude to the org than we are encouraged to punish and withdraw from them. the result is some teens rebel and because we have not given them a chance to experience a normal life they race headlong into self abuse through drugs, alchohol, and promiscuity. we in effect are told to wait on the sidelines to see if our children will come back to us under conditions that have been established by a publishing co. the saddest part of the equation is the young person has experienced so much damage some of which is irreversable that they see the congregation as the only way to recover and WE AS PARENTS have ingrained that line of thinking into them. i know this is not always the case but it seems to be a mental cycle that is repeated over and over. does our lord approve of this type of mental training? consider some alternative ways of raising a child.
TOLERANCE the thought of accepting the teen for who they are and allowing them the freedom to dye thier hair or grow it out, wear ridiculous clothes, experience dating WITHOUT the view of marriage, look at thier peers as equals, allow them to growup without the burden of being no part of the world. to enjoy holidays and birthdays as they are intentioned, as times of joy and friendship.
ACCEPTANCE no matter what our children become they never become someone elses child. always love and respect them regardless if they are straight or gay, join the military, join a church of a different faith whatever.
LOVE anytime someone tries to stress or even separate your love for your child or change the way you look at or treat family , remove that evil force from your presence. it is never okay to allow anything to break family ties.
Just something that has been on my mind
EA