Teen Planet

"Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." (Proverbs 23:22)

"The father of the righteous will rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him." (Proverbs 23:24)

"My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well..." (Proverbs 23:26-27)

At some point over this past century or two, teens were cast into their own world. Although God’s word, and their own deepest longings, warn against this, many teens continue to live lives separated from their parents and the adult world in general.

A recent highly recommended book, “Hurt” by Chap Clark, tells the story of how teens became stranded on teen planet. “Abandoned” is the word Chapman uses to describe parents’ sins against their children – sometimes outright abandonment, but also more subtle forms of role model abdication. Chapman also details the chilling effects of this abandonment.

Yet these effects are also chronicled daily on talk radio and television. Over the past week, I have heard several stories of these stranded teens that wandered into the dark territories of Internet or cell phone (!) pornography, prostitution, or varied forms of abuse. Meanwhile, well-meaning parents who want their children to enjoy increasing freedoms find it hard to release them into such hostile territory.

But wait a minute! Who is shipping all this contraband into the teenagers’ world? Maybe they’re stranded, but clearly they’re not alone...