"they have been filled with every kind of wickedness... they disobey their parents... 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 1:29-32
Learning to live with my parents (especially my quarrelsome mum) has been a big reason for why I left CAPT, for why I felt guilty whenever I thought of the convenience of living there. You see, 2 years of seeming good relationship with my mum was put to the test this summer holiday. It was the distance, not any real change in me, that explains the superficial improvement.
At any rate, this verse I read tonight was a chilling reminder. How often have I thought of disobedience towards my parents as something of a non-sin? Something that is but a good to have, that is by no means as grievous as the archetypal robbing and murder? But in these verses the bible is clear, disobedience towards parents (of course this needs to be qualified, but let's take it as self-evident for now) are against God's decree and very deserving of death.
The other chilly part of this verse is how we approve of those who also disobey their parents. It's the cool thing isn't it? To speak badly about our parents, to boast about our latest episode of rebellion. To affirm others when they say that their parents are stupid, to encourage them to continue in their disobedience...
Oh God, help us to have what it takes to obey our parents in the right way, help us also to encourage our peers to love their parents, to treat them with honour and respect. Help us to turn the tables on this unhealthy, unholy culture.
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