Reverence vs. Recreation

"You look in his room, he's got cable TV, DVR, DVD, PlayStation . . . everything." So why did the 16-year-old son of this hard-working inner city mother go around robbing Marquette and UW Milwaukee students by gunpoint with his friends? Eugene Kane didn’t answer the question in his article today, so I will.

There are four reasons why the 16-year-old “with everything” turned into a thug: 1.) He didn’t work for his stuff, 2.) He has no respect for his mom, 3.) He doesn’t fear his dad and 4.) He doesn’t know or fear God.

"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Romans 1:28-32 (The Bible)

You can’t fear what you don’t know. Many people think fear is always a bad thing, but fear actually keeps us out of trouble. Fear can be equated to awe, reverence and respect. Because this young man did not fear God, he did not shun evil. (Job 1:8.)

No more societal excuses, please. Once we were a people who knew Scripture and tried to live by it. Now we don't, we ignore God and make excuses for the consequences. Play Stations and DVD players is not the answer.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

Comments

[Uncle Ed]

You preach it Pastor Harris! You are absolutely correct. Our prayer has to be that our city's youth find a way into our city’s churches even if their parents are not taking them.

[TheIdealVoice]

SOOO I guess those Duke guys had the fear of God when they were throwing a party with strippers, on that Kennedy cousin who murdered that girl. I guess only spoiled Inner City kids need God, not the trust fund babies.

[shoe]

TheIdealVoice, your comment defies logic. James wasn't saying that suburban kids or "trust fund babies" or anyone else does not need God -- he was simply saying that inner-city kids need God. You are taking a giant leap, intellectually, that is totally unrelated to anything he wrote.

[James T]

Thanks Shoe,

I think TIV may still be salty with me from our last go round. However I will give him this, whether you are talking about the rich young ruler or the prodigal son... Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

[TheIdealVoice]

You both missed my point. All I hear about is how everyone in the Inner City needs God. Everyone in milwaukee has a church and a daycare. Yet, when upper class kids make mistakes, like doing coke or raping neighbors, I never hear they need God, I hear he was such a good boy, or she would never be doing meth, we need to get them help(like rehab). Also, I was not salty, just a little taking back by someone telling me to shut up. I read more than most people my age and my race, or for that matter people in this nation. My views are mine to live by, and I carry them as a badge of honor.

[James T]

Didn't mean to offend TIV, it was tongue and cheek, did you miss the smiley face? I apologize and thanks for coming back.

Now to your point. I don't get your point. As you have said, everyone, regardless of class, makes excuses for their personal failings. So what if the wealthy get away with it more? It's still an excuse.

"Everyone in Milwaukee has a church and a daycare?"I don't get where you are going with this.

[tru504187211]

"Everyone in Milwaukee has a church..."...just because someone is in church, does not mean they are listening to the Gospel, receiving it in their hearts, attempting to live by that, and repenting when they do fall short...using Church as an excuse...In this case, his mother was using their material items as the excuse, so this case could be considered more of an upper class type problem.