Heartbreak

Last week I ran across the story of Amber Cole. I couldn't bear to watch the actual video, but the stills did enough to shake me. My heart broke seeing how this young girl - and the young boys around her, for that matter - were being so casual and blase' about what was going on. These kids were outside on school property!

So, now it's plastered all over the Internet for anyone willing to watch. And people are going in on this little girl. I mean, they are attacking her as if she is a grown woman. This child is 14!

If that wasn't enough, the follow up pleas from supposed friends or just sympathetic people also raised my eyebrows. They insisted that she had done nothing wrong, and did not deserve the onslaught of criticism and derisive comments she was enduring.

So, of course I had to have a talk with my teen ministry about what was going on. We've had talks about sexual promiscuity before, but this conversation was a bit more real. Folks, our young people are not seeing their value and self-worth. Some of the things we would have never done so casually, these kids are doing the first time they hang out. It's one step over making out to them.

Young girls are thinking that they are saving their virginity, but are still performing oral sex. They don't see the big deal. They don't recognize what's so wrong.

And our young boys... like the Amber Cole video so sadly depicted, if they can get it... They will take it.

I had a true heart-to-heart with my teens. And I'm glad to know that I'm in touch with them enough to know that they are not engaging in such reckless behavior that is not pleasing to the Lord. However, they represent a small sample of our youth population at large.

There are more Amber Cole's out there. There are more young boys who are willing to take advantage of a situation. There are many young people who don't see what the big deal is.

Saints, we cannot sit silent. We cannot sit back and just shake our heads in judgment. We have to go and talk to them, mentor them, show them their value and worth. We have to be that light that will help them to think of how God sees them, how they should see themselves, and how the world sees them.

It's all of our responsibilities to help better the world around us. The Christ in us has to stand up and show our young people a better way.

Verse of the Day: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1