Joey and Carla Link
October 1, 2025
No parent wants to believe they have a rebellious child. We may say our friends and neighbors have a rebellious child but rarely do we speak to parents who say “I have a rebellious child!” Actually, few people today use the word “rebellious”. It is more common to say “Their kids are out of control!”
We have a tendency to see the best in our kids therefore it’s difficult to see the worst. What parent doesn’t celebrate when their child on the soccer field kicks the ball to make the winning goal yet forgets the same child couldn’t remember to get his soccer shoes packed for the game even after you reminded him 4 times, so you had to go home and get them!
Or for some strange reason, this same child that can have so much endurance on the soccer field can’t seem to push through and get his homework done on time without your constant reminders, or get his bed made or take his laundry to his room and put it away. But he can remember when it’s time for soccer practice.
Parents think, “Surely it can’t be rebellion if my child simply forgot to get his shoes packed in his bag.” “Rebellion” is a tough sounding word. We will say our kids do what they know is wrong, yet we won’t call that rebellion. What’s the difference? I think parents fall into this trap because we don’t have a good definition of what rebellion is and ultimately it allows kids to rewrite their parents’ and God’s code of what is right and wrong. So, what is rebellion?
“Rebellion” is “knowing and believing what is right and what is wrong and still choosing the wrong.” Many times, it comes out in “I forgot” or “I didn’t have time” and we assume this child is speaking truth. What did he spend his time doing instead of getting his responsibilities done? Watching television, playing on the computer, on his phone?
A young man, husband, father, son and child of God named Charlie Kirk was recently assassinated. You will never see him talking with college students or young adults that he doesn’t proclaim the Gospel as his basis for truth. He not only stated he was a Christian; he proclaimed it to the world. He had no problem answering questions by saying his response was right because it was based on the truth of God’s Word.
Charlie Kirk was a friend of the President of the United States and many other political figures. He spoke God’s truth to all he met. It is said over 100,000 attended his memorial service, which we watched on the television. At least another 20 million watched online and on tv. What an incredible example of God taking something meant for evil and using it for good!
We hope you want to teach your kids that doing what is right or wrong is based on God’s truth found in His Word. We saw a beautiful picture someone painted of Charlie walking towards God when he turns around and hands a baton to a crowd of people reaching out to him who are still on earth. When God gives your child a baton, will he/she be ready?
Take action:
1. Teach your kids how to do the right thing even when they don’t want to
2. Be willing to correct them when they choose not to
3. Be sure to praise them when they do
Remember: Right is right no matter if no one is doing it, and wrong is wrong no matter if everyone is doing it.
“Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:19
Whenever we let our kids get away with a rebellious action, meaning they chose to do what they know is wrong, we are teaching them that’s okay. This verse says we will be called the “least in the kingdom of heaven.” That’s a sobering thought, isn’t it?
“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful
to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God
will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings
shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
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