Immunity From Sin

Unable to sleep due to a painful injury, I sat in the recliner and turned on the television.  The show that came up was called Unfaithful: The Story of Betrayal.  It is a series that tells stories of marriages in which one or the other has been unfaithful.  I watched several episodes.  What surprised me was the number of couples who were actively involved in the church.  Some were pastors or pastors' wives. 

Is it possible for Christians to be immune from sin?  No, we are nothing but sinners saved from grace.  What happened to these couples could happen to anyone.  No one can say with confidence that they would never fall into this sin or any other.  Given the right circumstances and under the right conditions, anyone can become an active participant in an otherwise unthinkable sin.

How do we protect ourselves from being trapped by Satan's pretty pictures?  When I conducted in-service for teachers of behaviorally challenged students, I taught them what to do when being baited by a student.  I would show a picture of a haunted house for emphasis and say, "Simply don't go there."  The same can be said for Satan's traps.  If we never put ourselves in a position to be snared, we can't be trapped.  Here are a few tips that might insulate us from the sin of adultery:

• Don't be alone with a person of the opposite sex in a house.  If you need help around the house, hire someone.  It is not a good idea to ask a friend to come to the house when you are alone.
• Don't go to lunch alone with a person of the opposite sex.  Even though you are in a restaurant, rumors can run rampant and once started are very difficult to stop.
• Don't travel in an automobile alone with a person of the opposite sex.  Always ask someone to ride with you, even if it is a child or teenager.
• Don't accept gifts from a person of the opposite sex.  Gifts are not given without a reason or occasion unless there is an ulterior motive.
• If a confidential meeting is required, be sure someone else can see what is happening.  Leave the door open where you can be seen, but not heard. 
• Have a habit of sharing your day with your mate.  It is very difficult to be involved in something that will hurt your mate if you are sharing your heart with him or her.
• Pray for yourself and your mate.



My Kid is Being Bullied

"Mom, Dad, I'm in pain.  Please help me."

Every parent's worst nightmare.  Your kid is being bullied and you don't know what to do about it.  Do you teach your kid to fight back?  Do you teach him to turn the other cheek?  Do you go to the authorities?  The answer is YES!  To every one of those questions.  Do SOMETHING.

Here is what I did  when it happened to my son.  He came home from middle school and told me that on the way to lunch as they passed a parent waiting to pick up her preschooler, his friend had made some disrespectful remarks to the woman.  It was obvious from her vehicle that she was in a low income bracket.  The boy made rude remarks about her car.  After they passed, my son said, "You shouldn't talk to her that way.  She can't help it if she is poor."  That did not set well with the friend, so he began making fun of my son.  When my son got home, we discussed what the friend had done to both the woman and my son.  Then we discussed options of how to handle the situation. The following day, the boy's comments became more hurtful to both the woman and my son.  Again that afternoon, we discussed options. 

This pattern continued for several days.  Finally one afternoon, my son said, "Mom, I've tried everything you've told me and nothing has worked.  I am afraid I'm going to have to fight him."  Now the rule at my house was that if you got in trouble at school, you could double that when you got home.  I answered, "Well, if you have to I understand."  He said, "Am I going to be in trouble at home?"  I answered, "No, because you are taking up for that woman who can't defend herself.  Just remember that there will be consequences at school, so be sure that it is worth them."  He said he understood and was willing to accept the consequences at school, but he felt like he had to stop the abuse the 'friend' was giving that innocent woman.

The following day, I called the counselor at school.  I told her the situation and said, "Now I don't mind if he is punished, but I just don't want him kicked out of Honor Society."  School rule was that if the principal intervened, expulsion from Honor Society was mandatory. She said, "I think we will let the coaches handle this."  That afternoon, my son came home and told me that he and his 'friend' had been called into the coaches office.  The coach held a piece of paper in his hand and told the 'friend' that it was a list of witnesses ready to testify to the abuse he was doling out to my son and the mother waiting for her child.  The 'friend' deeply apologized and then went out of the office and told all of the other participants that the coach had the list.  When they didn't believe him, he said, "I saw the list and your name was on it so you better stop it." 

I stood as my son told me this and never told him that I had called the counselor.  He knew that there was no list, but he didn't know how the coach had seen all this take place.  He was out of college before I told him the truth.

But Theresa, I've done all that and it didn't work.  Now what do I do?

You get your child in counseling.  You continue to work with the school administrators.  You go before the school board if necessary.  If nothing else works--Homeschool your child. 

I don't know how to do that.

There are self paced curriculum sold on line that any student can do.  Hire a tutor if necessary.

I can't afford that.

Barter.  Clean house for the tutor.  Cook for them.  Do repairs around their house.  Take care of their lawn. 

Last but not least, there are laws in every state against harassment.  Do not hesitate to press charges if nothing else works.

Above all---DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHILD IN THAT SITUATION.