Everyone Else Is Doing It

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Psalm 19:7-11

From preschool to high school the cry reverberates through parents’ ears, “Why not? Everyone else is doing it.”

The staunch parental reply, “Well, you aren’t. You know the rules.”

Rules. Limits. They offer us protection, make us wise, give us joy, success happiness and peace of mind. Your child might disagree, and there are times you might, too. Let’s be honest. Rules mean boundaries, discomfort, limits. Society dictates it would be great to have complete freedom…no rules. Wouldn’t that be great? No.

Ted Koppel once told a college graduating class,

We have actually convinced ourselves that slogans will save us. Shoot up if you must, but use a clean needle. Enjoy sex whenever and with whomever you wish, but wear a condom. No! The answer is No! Not because it isn’t cool or smart or because you might end up in jail or dying in an AIDS ward, but No because it’s wrong…

God loves us enough to draw boundaries and to enforce them. Rules are good. Especially when they are God’s rules, clearly and lovingly enforced by an adult.

We as Christians are continually faced with the choice to follow God’s rules or follow the crowd. It seems a simple choice, but our human flesh is weak. How often does God hear us…the adults…whine quietly to ourselves, “Why not? Everyone else is doing it”?

Lord, thank you for loving me enough to draw boundaries for me and to enforce them. Help me do the same for my children.