The Myth of Teenage Rebellion

Teenage rebellion is a myth. Some teens rebel. Some teens don't. Teens that do rebel don't rebel because they are teenagers. 

In primitive societies, boys hang out with dad learning to be a man and girls hang out with mom learning to be a woman. They go from child to adult without any drama or angst. 

In our nation, until the 1920's, children reached puberty later (usually around 16-18) and got married soon afterward. Again the transition was pretty smooth between childhood and adulthood. 

The 1920's was a paradoxical time for America. One of the most frugal Presidents ever sat in the White House vetoing spending bills and bringing down the national debt, while Americans themselves were offered and accepted with glee the brand new "Buy Now, Pay Later" philosophy. The bubble burst, of course, at the end of the decade. However, in the meantime, money was flowing and families were moving to the cities and suburbs from the farms. 

Teens had more time on their hands, less hard work to do, and more money to spend. Suddenly, a new thing happened. Young people were living to have fun and play, instead of working hard to help their families and preparing to have their own families. 

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Interestingly, when you study the rebellion of young people in history, they are often idle with plenty of money. Two things that don't mix well. 

Teens rebel when they are not busy working hard doing something that matters. When anyone is idle, teens or adults, they are easy prey to indulge temptation. Look at King David in the Bible. When all the kings went off to war, David stayed home and then there was Bathsheba. 

I love having fun! But the truth is, we were not created to pursue pleasure and spend our time in idleness at any point in our lives. Seeking pleasure continually causes our hearts to become selfish, self-centered, greedy, and rebellious. We want more of what makes us happy--no matter what anyone in authority (God, parents, government laws) says. 

There are more factors in rebellion such as conflicting expectations from family and/or culture. And, of course, our sin nature. 

Teens don't rebel because they are teenagers, but because they are sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. 

How can you prevent teenage rebellion?

Respect and love your teens. Maintain a close relationship with them throughout their pre-teen and teen years.

Involve them in hard work at home, at church, and in school that has meaning and purpose. Allow their life to make a difference, not be focused on the pursuit of pleasure. 

Make sure you are living out what you expect of them. They will do what you do, not what you say. Model obedience to the Lord.

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All of us have some rebellion in us. That's why Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We come into this world broken, bent on sin, because of the first sin in the Garden of Eden. 

Only in Christ, is there freedom. He fixes us and gives us a new heart, replacing the heart of stone and rebellion. 

You need Jesus and your teenagers need Jesus. We all need Jesus to change us from the inside out. If teens rebel, it's because they need to hear and respond to the Gospel. 

Make sure that your teens hear the Gospel in a loving way and see you live it out. 

If you would like to learn more about homeschooling high school, check out Unlocking the Mysteries of Homeschooling High School by Meredith Curtis and Laura Nolette, available at Amazon. They E-book is available at PayHip and Currclick. 

Be blessed in all you do!
Meredith Curtis

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