June 2, 1989

Editor
Englewood Independent
107 W. National Rd.
Englewood, OH 45322

Dear Editor

Two apparently unrelated events took place this past month that on mature reflection have a very definite and important connection. One, most area churches passed out some information for the Northmont Attacks Substance Abuse committee. This is a grass roots plan to lower substance abuse among children. The information they passed out has a lot of good common sense suggestions for parents. There is a genuine concern about the alcohol and drug abuse by children. The second was the Supreme Court ruling that prayer before a football game at a Southern High School was illegal and a violation of the first amendment.
The connection is seen in the Word of God; Romans 1:28 "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient (or reasonable)." We should know that when any people or person pushes God out of their life, God will turn them over to a reprobate mind. How else could one explain drug and alcohol use among teen-agers. Certainly our youth are not ignorant of the dangers. They simply do that which is not convenient or reasonable. Consider the number of High School graduates who celebrated graduation by drinking. They knew they could have been killed or killed someone else. Yet many drank and drove. No, they are not stupid; but God is on His throne.
We can easily see the damage our youth are doing to themselves. We are greatly concerned, and rightly suggest somethings that parents can do to retard the self destruction of our young people. Yet, on the other hand, our society is insisting on a false dichotomy between the secular and the sacred. The American people are allowing that old heresy taught. Our advertising, our educational institutions, our entertainment industry, our politicians, and many individual Americans are bent on teaching the autonomy of man over the sovereignty of God. And for that, the Bible says that God will reprobate that people. Our children will be affected. It is no wonder that our children do not feel any responsibility to the moral Judge of the universe. How can we expect our children to have any moral responsibility if they are taught that man is autonomous? They logically conclude that they are autonomous and have no judge or authority but themselves.
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7 Every adult, whether a parent or not, is furthering the problem or helping with the solution. We must understand that our youth are influenced by our society as much as they are by their parents. You are either supporting the culturally destructive doctrine of the autonomy of man; or supporting the doctrine that is the only hope of our culture, the Sovereignty of God. If you do nothing, you are supporting the individual's rights over the claims of God. You must submit to the sovereignty of God in order to help influence our culture concerning God's claim on our lives. There are still some churches that preach (that is not a dirty word) the claims of God over the carnal wishes of man. Our youth are depending on clear preaching of the total depravity of man, of original sin, and of the sovereignty of God.

By His Grace and For His Glory

Pastor Charles J. Arnett Union Baptist Church
528 N. Main St. Englewood OH 45322

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