A CURSE UPON OUR CHILDREN

 A CURSE UPON OUR CHILDREN

 

James 3:8-10 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

 

  Reading James for personal application, and again assuming “curse” and “cursing” means as when I smash my finger, I became curious and checked Strong’s, finding that it is far more than profanity.

  The words have to do with “imprecation” and “execration”.

  Imprecation means to invoke evil on someone. Execration is crudely akin to it.

  My mind, as it is oft wont to do, then segued to a contemporary cultural form of imprecating our children apart from truth.

  There is something today deemed the WCI (Worthy Child Index), a reflection of the self-esteem movement, it apart from God and godliness, it all about ego-centrism. Wanting a child to not suffer lack of ego-centric self-esteem requires a high level of excusability with overemphasis on mental and physical accomplishments as personal identity. Acted out by Christians that claim belief in God’s Word this requires denying biblical truth about ourselves. (Rom.7:18; 12:1-3)

  Listening to Christian parents, what I most often hear is conversation bragging about their children’s successes in sports, academics, et al, with seldom a mention of good Christian character traits. So what do children hear and believe as the way to live?

  Making grades, awards, and achievements as quantifying identity curses our children to walk apart from God. Additionally, in this practice our children are stressed as they compete to be winners by this world’s standards rather than dwell in Christ’ peace. (Jn.16:33) (Example: A ball game is not seen as sport or exercise, but as a striving for identity.) And where does it leave them when they lose that worldly identity?

  Let us take care that we not imprecate our beloved children with worldly standard. 

EBB4.