Read Mark 3:20–30
Don’t our children bad-mouth us behind our backs occasionally?
It hurts, right?
However, we have to discern what triggered them.
If they want to do things their way, we can respond by offering alternatives.
If they can find a better and safer way of doing things, why not let them try?
If they fail or falter, ask them what lesson they have learned so that they can do better next time.
On the other hand, children could be rebellious out of spite.
They are not aware that they have been influenced by friends and social media and indulged in immoral activity.
What they say or do could be a reflection of worldly values.
As such, we must address the issue quickly before they develop character flaws.
We could ask, “How is [this immoral activity] consistent with what you have been taught in Bible/church/school?”
Make our expectations clear that they should be aligned with their faith and good character qualities.
Straighten & strengthen the character first.
This was what Jesus did.
Jesus was at His hometown and a crowd gathered to listen to Him. [Mark 3:20]
The scribes there noticed that Jesus attracted a much larger audience than them.
So, they spread rumours about Him, “He is possessed by Beelzebul and by the prince of demons He casts out the demons.” [Mark 3:22]
Jesus knew they felt threatened by His teaching. They were concerned with their esteem as teachers.
Nonetheless, Jesus questioned them, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If Satan has risen against himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is coming to an end.” [Mark 22:23, 24, 26]
Next, the scribes accused, “[Jesus] has an unclean spirit.” [Mark 3:30]
Jesus warned the scribes, “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” [Mark 3:28–29]
They accused the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity of being ‘unclean”. This was unacceptable blasphemy.
Jesus addressed their character flaw. Their pride allowed Satan to manipulate them.
In the Old Testament, they would have been struck dead.
He showed mercy by warning them. If they did not repent, they were guilty of an eternal sin.
Straighten & strengthen the character first.
The American philosopher and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.”
