What’s wrong with you people?

You may have seen stories this week about a group of girls at Gloucester (MA) High School who had made a pact to get pregnant. The district superintendent is quoted as saying these are generally “girls who lack self-esteem and have a lack of love in their life.” Frankly, I can’t believe he said that publicly, but it’s no doubt true.

What they’re also lacking is the presence of the giver of life (John 4:10-13; John 14:6) in their lives.

It’s easy to shake our heads and wonder “where were the parents”, or “what’s wrong with you people”, but what should a Christian’s reaction really be? If, like me, you live hundreds of miles away from this particular group of girls, there’s likely nothing at all you can do that will have any influence on them. I can’t tell you how to respond to those over whom you do have influence, but I think you should ask yourself a few questions and respond accordingly:

  • If you have teenagers (boys or girls, doesn’t matter), how will you handle the subject with them? Keep in mind that not discussing it also sends a message.
  • How do you respond in public when you see kids “just being kids”? I mean they’re not causing any harm, they’re not being inconsiderate, they’re just doing things kids do that tend to annoy non-kids.
  • Is your example positive or negative? Just my opinion, but I don’t see any middle ground. There’s no such thing as a neutral example. Jesus said “every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:17). There is no “medium” tree.

Back to the question in the title of this post — What’s wrong with you people? Actually, it’s the same thing that’s wrong with all of us, and it’s one of those 4-letter words that’s only spelled with 3 letters: S-I-N. Sin separates; sin causes pain; sin kills. God provides a way of escape though, through Jesus (1 Cor 10:13), but it’s up to us to accept His way, and to live His way. These girls lack self-esteem and don’t have any love in their life? “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19), and the first step out of any sin hole is accepting the love He’s already given us.

No related posts for this topic.

Posted on June 20th, 2008 by Bob Mathews
Filed under: Christian life, Jesus, Society

2 Responses to “What’s wrong with you people?”

  1. Julie, on June 21st, 2008 at 9:52 am Said:

    I think a lot of teens that go out and get pregnant like that have no male figure in their life that gives them the physical affection, just touch even, that they need. “They” say we have a spiritual vacuum inside, but there’s also a physical vacuum. As humans we crave not only the knowledge that people love us, but physical love too.

    Probably four vacuums. Jesus grew in ‘wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man’. We require nurture in all four areas to complete us.

  2. Bob Mathews, on June 21st, 2008 at 12:37 pm Said:

    Well said, Julie; I think you’re right. Thanks for the thoughts.

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