| In past generations, negative peer pressure typically took the form of someone verbally inviting you to do something you both knew was wrong. We sneaked around, whispered our plans, and tried to not get caught! Peer pressure was pretty easy to identify even though it was sometimes difficult to turn down.
The standards, while they may be culturally adapted, must remain grounded in God’s Word. Help your teenager see that God’s Truth does not change and that right and wrong are not open to individual interpretation. Continuing to build strong relationships with our children marked by grace and love, will keep the communication lines open and give you opportunities to discuss how to identify and avoid wrong and pursue what is right. Knowing that God wants the best for them, and that you are behind them, will give your teenager the strength and courage to make good decisions. “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”John 8:32 (ESV)in HIS service, Pastor Mark P.S. The blog titles and main ideas come from Walt Mueller’s book “99 Thoughts for Parents of Teenagers”. I personalize and modify the message, and also add Scripture. You can read past posts on our church website HERE. |
Today’s teenagers live in a very different world. Negative peer pressure now usually takes the form of an unspoken expectation to do what the majority of the peer group thinks is normal and right. The concepts of moral right and wrong are much fuzzier today. It not only makes peer pressure harder to resist, but it makes it even harder to recognize as “wrong”.