“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” I John 1:8

“I believe children are born good. Children learn about sin from other adults.” This new mother was adamant about her feelings. She would not accept the idea of original sin as it was being discussed in her young married’s Bible class. Children were just too innocent in her mind to have a sinful nature. Chuck Colson likens this thinking to “whistling past our children’s graveyard”.

William Golding didn’t believe in original sin either, at least until World War II changed his thinking. In 1954 he published his first novel, Lord of The Flies, a powerful and disturbing parable about the sin nature in every man, including children. The book describes what happens when kids stranded on an island lack any moral guidance by adults.

We don’t need Lord Of The Flies to find evidence of what happens when adult moral guidance is missing. Too many kids are raised in a moral vacuum and expected to figure things out for themselves. One mother even describes how she encourages her teenage daughter to bring boyfriends home to have sex because she believes it will be safer. No discussion or consideration of moral implications and consequences is discussed. This is her idea of providing moral guidance.

This “hands-off” approach to parenting (and grandparenting) is why teenage pregnancy and abortion has skyrocketed. It is why parents of kids like Eric Harris, Dylan Kiebold (the Columbine shooters), and the three Massachusetts girls who tormented Phoebe Prince till she killed herself, are totally clueless and surprised by such horrific acts committed by their own children. Moral guidance is the responsibility and expectation of good parenting, and grandparenting. That’s right—grandparenting!

Grandparents, even if your grandkids are blessed to receive excellent moral instruction at home, that does not remove your responsibility to also teach and model righteousness (See Deut. 4 and 6). And if moral guidance is missing at home, then your responsibility becomes even more critical. Don’t fall for the lie that they will figure it out on their own, even though, by God’s grace, some will figure it out. Such foolishness is akin to whistling past your grandchildren’s graveyard.

What are you doing to provide a godly moral compass for your grandchildren? I’d like to hear some of your stories and ideas. Obviously, a good starting place is on our knees seeking God’s wisdom and grace for the task. I also believe there is great value in getting together with other grandparents to pray, study God’s Word, and share ideas for teaching the truth to our grandkids. I hope you will also participate in Grandparent’s Day of Prayer on September 11th. There’s just too much at stake eternally, wouldn’t you agree?

GRANDPAUSE: Regeneration is not about reforming a life, but transforming it. Regeneration brings to the heart something that was never there before…new life, new hope, new heart, new goals, new purpose, new love. –Roy Lessin