A Recurring Stupid Idea

I am working on a project right now that involves asking a simple question of residents of a given area.  The question is by design open, so to allow for a wide variety of answers.  This question is producing an answer that is so often repeated that it reflects a common belief.  It also reflects a stupid idea. 

QUESTION: What do you believe is the greatest need for this community?

ANSWER THAT REFLECTS A STUPID IDEA:  We need more recreational activities so kids will not get into trouble. 

One lady’s answer epitomizes the idea.  “We need more for the children to do; especially the teenagers so they don’t break into peoples’ houses and cars and steal stuff and get into fights.”

This opinion works its way across most social-economic boundaries.  I have heard this from people of all ethnic groups, from people of ultra low income and from the very wealthy.  It presumes that the source of bad behavior is boredom or a lack of entertainment options.  If that premise is true then the presence of something entertaining and fun should keep bad behavior at a minimum.

Don’t tell that to Joshua Martin who was horribly beaten, to the point of brain damage and a coma at a bus stop at an amusement park.  In the shadow of millions of dollars worth of entertainment equipment, a gang beat Joshua nearly to death.  There was plenty for teenagers to do to enjoy themselves.  The article about the incident and the settlement is worth reading and might give you insight about family vacations. https://www.ajc.com/news/local/35m-case-cobb-teen-brutally-beaten-six-flags-quietly-settles/egESN9ru8RpJUtgzCdV6PM/

The opinion that recreation options will prevent bad behavior is so pervasive as to be almost universal; it has even worked its way into some churches.   It is completely misguided.  People do wicked things because they are sinful and wicked.  We have a terrible time admitting this glaring fact.  I recently watched an interview with the mother of a boy who is serving a long prison sentence.  The mom of the boy said, “My son is a good boy.”   No, he is not, unless there has been a great conspiracy to frame the boy the fact that he is in prison means he is not a good boy.  In a separate interview a woman in prison was saying, “I made a mistake.”  She was referring to her killing an innocent individual while driving drunk.  That is not a mistake that is an act of selfish evil because she was selfish and evil.

In the age of church growth and pulpit, mass-therapy the church has apparently lost its ability to talk honestly and frankly about sin.  We have become afraid to say, “We are sinful people in the hands of a just and righteous God.  We are more evil than we can imagine because even our imagination is evil.” 

We have become very comfortable with sin, especially our own sin, and we pass that license on to others.  We must rediscover the part of grace that we are uncomfortable facing.  As John Newton wrote: “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear….” Before we say, “God will forgive you,” we must first say, “You need forgiving.”  We must proclaim the part of grace that leads us to say,

For I know my transgressions,
            And my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, I have sinned
            And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
            And blameless when You judge.

We do not need recreation options to help people stop being bad.  We need the grace of a true repentance; we need a change of heart that results in a change of behavior.  No one in the entire world except the church can declare the glory of grace.  And that includes the grace that tells us we are sinners, we are evil, and we are lost and are going to hell apart from the cross.