The 18 year old myth...

Here are some excerpts from "The "18 Year Old" Myth.." article written by Anna Neumas and published in the July/August 2002 "Crowned With Silver"magazine. I found this article to be very thought provoking...especially to 'christian' Americans!

“…There is an “18-year-old” mentality that has infiltrated our society and also the church. This mentality believes that at 18:
~ A child is no longer a child.

~ This person now must make their own decisions, separate from the family.

~ The parents no longer have a right to give any instruction or to expect obedience from this person.

~ The 18 year old should become independent, which in the majority of homes means that they should move out of the house. Mostly, this means that they should either go to college or work full time on their own in order to live in an apartment with other young people their own age.

~ Rebelliousness in the attitude of an 18 year old is looked upon by society as normal, and so ties the hands of parents from correction, because these children are now looked upon as adults.”

“Where did the 18 years of age thought come from? It came with the draft, or the conscription, as it is also called. It was never induced in the United States until during the Civil War (1861-1865), then World War I (1914-1918), and World War II (1939-1945) and then Vietnam. The Revolution of the United States against Great Britain was voluntary. There was no need to make men sign up for this war because the majority of our land wanted to be free from the rule of a King. Later, when the Government took control of who would go to war rather than the people, they made it a law that every male citizen who lives in the United States must register with his local board within 30 days before, to 30 days after, his 18th birthday.”

“Over just a very short century, our society as a whole, has developed the attitude that at 18 years of age, a child is totally independent physically, spiritually, financially and educationally from his family. If they can die at war, they should be able to be independent in all areas of their lives.”

“The question should be to each of us who are claiming Christ as King of our lives, “Is this mentality Biblical? How does it line up with the Word of God?” The Bible tells us this: “And said, for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” (Matthew 19:5 KJV) “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. “ (Mark 10:6-9 KJV)”

“The Bible tells us very clearly that the reason a child shall leave home is to marry. It is absolutely ridiculous that Americans are sending their children away at the age of 18! What I find remarkable is the fact that our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Messiah, didn’t start His ministry until He was in His 30’s! Yet our own society believes that an 18 year-old is ready to start his???!!!”

“Have we sealed within our children the truth of the Word of God versus the myths of our generation? Even the world is seeing that leaving the home at the tender age of 18 only leads to folly. How much more should our children be guided by the Holy Scriptures so that they have an answer when people say, “You’re 18! Your parents can’t tell you what to do any more! You need to be out of the house living your own life.” Or are they going to believe “Honour thy father and thy mother” only until the age of 18?”

“Start now, dearest friends, instilling Biblical values versus the world’s. Our children will have peace and joy and contentment as the rest of the world extinguishes their children’s contribution to their family simply because they’ve reached the age of 18.”


[ July 17, 2002, 12:22 PM: Message edited by: Farmer's Wife ]

 

Dear Miss Scarlett, (I just wanted to say that...it sounds so southern! )I thought you might find this interesting. The lady went on the article and said that she had watched a news segment from "60 Minutes" which was entitled, "Mammosi". The footage started with handsome young in their late 20's through 40's driving fancy cars, etc. They were successful businessmen; charming, normal Italian men. But what was so very astonishing to the American journalists, was that these men lived in Italy, with their parents . The men that were interviewed said that this was normal for Italian society; that a man simply stayed at home with his parents until he married. If he didn't, he would be lonely, he would seek out companionship, and maybe get into a lot of trouble. Being at home with a family who cared about them kept them wholesome and out of places where they shouldn't be.

"There is a very sobering reason for why many are reaching the age of 40 and are still unmarried. They asked each of them why and their answer was, "There are no women who are willing to be wives and mothers. All the women of today want to work and not care for a man or child. They want to be independent from a family rather than have a family."

The article went on to say that some schools were closing down in another part of Italy because the Italian women of that community were not willing to be tied down with children or have a man to boss them around. They wanted freedom and independence from that life-style. Therefore the schools were closing down because there are no children.

Now, here are my comments: It's sad but true too many of us women have accepted the feminism lie. It is one of the biggest tools of satan to destroy the design of the family as God instituted. I pray that more women will wake up and realize this before it's too late!

 

My husband lived at home with his parents until we married. He had his own checking account. His Daddy taught him wisely about credit cards so he didn't have to learn it the hard way. He also learned how to cook, clean, and do laundry. He had bought many things... such as everyday living neccesities, even some useless junk , vehicles and, of course, the house we first lived in. So, you see, a man doesn't have to leave home to learn to do these things.

[ July 20, 2002, 09:46 AM: Message edited by: Farmer's Wife ]

 

Does anyone know of any specific scripture, that says when/why (other than for marriage) a person is to leave their father and mother?

[ July 20, 2002, 02:06 PM: Message edited by: Farmer's Wife ]

 

Scarlett, I guess what I was trying to get at was...leaving home to get away from Mama and Daddy and experience the world is unBiblical. Yet, that is the main reason most young people leave home. This is another tool of satan to destroy the family! It can lead to serious trouble and much heartache. We, as God's people, need to abandon these worldly philosophies and get back to the Bible. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." ~Colossians 2:8 (KJBible)

I read in Luke 8:1-3 about Mary Magdalene, Susanna and the other women. Joanna, the wife of Chuza, was also listed among the women. Are we to assume that she forsook her husband to minister unto Jesus? I don't think so. Therefore, we cannot assume these other women forsook their families either. Perhaps their families were with them?.

The Bible does not say that Lydia had a career and business outside of her home. It says that she was a seller of purple. For example, my sister is a seller of fresh farm eggs. That does not mean that she has a career in the egg business outside of her home. Lydia was from the city of Thyatira but was living in Philippi. Could it be that she married and that's why she moved?...or, perhaps, her parents moved and thus so did she. The Bible doesn't tell us why she moved...so, again that's more speculation. Acts 16:15 does mention Lydia's household. That could include her parents, husband, children, servant, etc. The Bible really doesn't say that Lydia was 'out on her own', so to speak.

Look at the reasons these men in the Bible you mentioned left home. It most certainly was not the reason most young people leave home today! Most young people leave home today because 'society' dictates it. I think that's one of the points the author of this article was trying to make. In our American society today, people are looked upon as "strange" if they remain at home until they marry.

On the flip side of that, marriage is a clear and definite command to leave home. Many times, today, I see young people get married and stay with Mama and Daddy until whenever. This is not Biblical. Scarlett, I really like what you wrote about marriage. I pray that more of God's people will realize these truths!