I think it's long past time that we "cut off" all these universities that indoctrinate students and are largely responsible for much of this family estrangement that is happening. Think about it. Parents are paying these schools to turn their own children against them! It's time for a boycott. Send your kids to a trade school instead.
Cutting off family, especially publicly doing so, is very much encouraged by Marxist ideologies. Communists have long encouraged children to rat on parents. And a disproportionate number of those who are no contacting their parents are doing so under the influence of Critical Theory ideologies.
I was always somewhat puzzled by the phrase in Luke 1:17 that says John the Baptist would go before the Lord "to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children." (In the source in Malachi the turning goes both directions.) It didn't seem to be a rampant problem that needed to be solved like other sins. With more and more enthusiastic abortion, wilful childlessness, and intentional estrangement, I wonder if we're beginning to see the problem.
I’m leading today on Psalm 139. Your closing paragraph reminds me of the Psalmist’s words: “where can I go from our spirit? where can I flee from your presence?” The response indicated there is NO place a believer can flee where Christ is not alongside.
One thing that really drew my attention was that the article quotes Amy as saying (not verbatim), “Why should I accept that sort of treatment from my family when I wouldn’t accept it from anyone else?” in response to her brother calling her actions manipulative and immature. In my view, that’s exactly why one *should* accept that sort of treatment from one’s family - because we don’t accept it from anyone else. Her actions were manipulative and immature - being unwilling to even attempt a compromise over the wedding (her mom suggested a separate small party with just her family), and shutting down conversation on it, blaming her mom for being recalcitrant. If you won’t hear criticism from the people who love you not because they like you or prefer your company, but because God chose them for you, who are you willing to hear it from? If my mom said those things to me, I would be hurt, yes, but I would know that she loves me even though she said them, even if I thought she didn’t have the whole story. People don’t accept that kind of thing from their friends precisely because friends can - and sadly often do - dump you for not measuring up to their standards, and being told that from a friend can be a signal that the friend is about to start pulling away from you, or that they secretly dislike you. (It shouldn’t be, but that’s the way things often play out in a fallen world.) But it is precisely the unchosenness of family that safeguards against this behavior, and I believe this is one reason God created the family. Incidentally, church relationships are similar: Each individual person chooses to be a Christian and to go to that church, but each church member does not choose each other church member. God can really test your patience through annoying people at church, and that’s a very good thing for both you and the other person. Spiritual family should work the same way as physical family.
One has to ask when we confront “changing notions of what constitutes harmful, abusive, traumatizing or neglectful behavior,” how in the world do we build a lexicon that spells out exactly what is happening, which is a clear revisionism of the past that justifies current resentment and a growing age of self righteousness. Of course therapists will lean into this, creating drama where drama does not need to exist, cutting off support so that they can elevate their own social necessity. This is all, of course, at the expense of those whose language to describe actual trauma are having their language and experiences appropriated, while others continue an exaggerated narrative of their own grievances.
As a parents of a child who has "cancelled" us, I read your article with great sorrow--and understanding. This cancelling is a result of disagreements of faith, politics, and morality i.e. a grandson who is transgender. Mind you, we have in no way been harsh or pushed our beliefs on them--in fact we have only been kind and loving and as supportive as we could be--up to a point. They basically said, "If you cannot CELEBRATE our chosen lifestyle, then you cannot be part of our lives." We have done all we can. We have trusted their hearts to God and pray for them daily (hourly) that His will would be done. Our hearts are broken.
I think it's long past time that we "cut off" all these universities that indoctrinate students and are largely responsible for much of this family estrangement that is happening. Think about it. Parents are paying these schools to turn their own children against them! It's time for a boycott. Send your kids to a trade school instead.
I agree with you John!
Cutting off family, especially publicly doing so, is very much encouraged by Marxist ideologies. Communists have long encouraged children to rat on parents. And a disproportionate number of those who are no contacting their parents are doing so under the influence of Critical Theory ideologies.
I was always somewhat puzzled by the phrase in Luke 1:17 that says John the Baptist would go before the Lord "to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children." (In the source in Malachi the turning goes both directions.) It didn't seem to be a rampant problem that needed to be solved like other sins. With more and more enthusiastic abortion, wilful childlessness, and intentional estrangement, I wonder if we're beginning to see the problem.
Thanks for this work!
I’m leading today on Psalm 139. Your closing paragraph reminds me of the Psalmist’s words: “where can I go from our spirit? where can I flee from your presence?” The response indicated there is NO place a believer can flee where Christ is not alongside.
One thing that really drew my attention was that the article quotes Amy as saying (not verbatim), “Why should I accept that sort of treatment from my family when I wouldn’t accept it from anyone else?” in response to her brother calling her actions manipulative and immature. In my view, that’s exactly why one *should* accept that sort of treatment from one’s family - because we don’t accept it from anyone else. Her actions were manipulative and immature - being unwilling to even attempt a compromise over the wedding (her mom suggested a separate small party with just her family), and shutting down conversation on it, blaming her mom for being recalcitrant. If you won’t hear criticism from the people who love you not because they like you or prefer your company, but because God chose them for you, who are you willing to hear it from? If my mom said those things to me, I would be hurt, yes, but I would know that she loves me even though she said them, even if I thought she didn’t have the whole story. People don’t accept that kind of thing from their friends precisely because friends can - and sadly often do - dump you for not measuring up to their standards, and being told that from a friend can be a signal that the friend is about to start pulling away from you, or that they secretly dislike you. (It shouldn’t be, but that’s the way things often play out in a fallen world.) But it is precisely the unchosenness of family that safeguards against this behavior, and I believe this is one reason God created the family. Incidentally, church relationships are similar: Each individual person chooses to be a Christian and to go to that church, but each church member does not choose each other church member. God can really test your patience through annoying people at church, and that’s a very good thing for both you and the other person. Spiritual family should work the same way as physical family.
One has to ask when we confront “changing notions of what constitutes harmful, abusive, traumatizing or neglectful behavior,” how in the world do we build a lexicon that spells out exactly what is happening, which is a clear revisionism of the past that justifies current resentment and a growing age of self righteousness. Of course therapists will lean into this, creating drama where drama does not need to exist, cutting off support so that they can elevate their own social necessity. This is all, of course, at the expense of those whose language to describe actual trauma are having their language and experiences appropriated, while others continue an exaggerated narrative of their own grievances.
Reading your comments is like reading a Sunday School lesson or a sermon.
My wife and I are traveling today I was glad to read your post.
As a parents of a child who has "cancelled" us, I read your article with great sorrow--and understanding. This cancelling is a result of disagreements of faith, politics, and morality i.e. a grandson who is transgender. Mind you, we have in no way been harsh or pushed our beliefs on them--in fact we have only been kind and loving and as supportive as we could be--up to a point. They basically said, "If you cannot CELEBRATE our chosen lifestyle, then you cannot be part of our lives." We have done all we can. We have trusted their hearts to God and pray for them daily (hourly) that His will would be done. Our hearts are broken.