We have all heard about parents who raise rebellious teens but have you ever thought about it the other way around? Rebellious parents? What does that mean ? The word rebellious means defiance or resistance. Do adults resist what you say? Ever felt like there’s an instance of defiance or a rebellious streak in your own parents in the way they deal with you? Realize why this happens in a parent-teen relationship. Proverbs 10:1, lets us know that children have a power over their parents ! An adult’s life can be made either glad or miserable by the children. That is a lot of power. Rebellion works into a parent’s heart by negative behavior from a teenager. For example, ever hear this from a friend? “My parent’s rules and decisions for me are stupid!” Boo hoo…….As long as a child in school lives for free under the roof of a parent Ephesians 6:12 lays out a right given them by God to tell you what to do. Where a child goes, and what a child does is an adult decision.

When you call their decision stupid, you have power over your parents. When you say bad things about them, it hurts. So, they defend themselves. Thereby, creating an instance of defiance towards you. A rebellious parent is created who will be resistant toward the teen.

In the Bible, a very wealthy father threw a huge celebration party for his prodical son who came back home. Meanwhile, the older brother vetoed his presence at the party, because he was upset over the fuss being made for his younger, wild brother. You see, the older brother never disobeyed. He chose to honor the family name. The wealthy father comforted him by this assurance, “All that I have is thine.” The wealth, the gold, the land, the cattle, the successful family business was the older brother’s to enjoy. The prodical son had no such promise. The older brother created a glad father. The prodical did not.

Guess what, teen? Parents aren’t perfect……..duh. This means you are both learning together. They attempt to help you know how to handle life, and you are training (raising) your parents to know how to handle you! It works both ways. Disobedience always leads to rebellion. Abusing your privileges always leads to more rebellion. Coming home late after curfew, or telling them you are going somewhere, and go somewhere else will definitely lead into adult rebellion. Do you break their rules, forcing them to react negatively? I know parents can seem weird sometimes. Teens can’t figure them out. It’s kinda’ like this - your education has much to do with future success. You need one, even though you may not appreciate the homework you have now. So, are you ashamed of your parents, teenager ? You’re raising them. Who? Me? Answer to yourself. Do you bring them joy or grief? YOU have power over your parents. This relationship within a good, Christian home means you’re responsible too. Hey…… p-s-s-s-t, raise up your parents right, teens, in the Lord. God assures you, “All that I have is thine.” As you make glad parents, watch Him do more for you than you ever dreamed !

Troy Clark
Youth Evangelist, Lexington, NC.

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