A few years ago I was involved in the Beth Moore Bible study When Godly People Do Ungodly Things. My biggest take-away from that study was the purpose of the temple wall, or the “rules” set forth in the Bible.
You see, back in Old Testament times, the temple wall protected all that was within the walls of the temple. The key word is protected. It wasn’t placed arbitrarily. It wasn’t placed to trap people in. It was placed to maintain that sacredness of the temple.
In the same way, God protects us with the guidelines He sets forth in his Word. Some people (and I was one of these people in my early 20s) look longingly beyond the walls, because they mistakenly believe that what is on the outside is more fun, more exciting, or more (insert any adjective here).
But the truth is, God’s word and the commands he gives us are not to confine us. They are to protect us and keep us pure. They aren’t there because God is a dictator who wants to control us. They are there because God loves us and wants us to experience fun, excitement, or (insert any noun here) within the safety of his loving care.
And this is what I experienced last night with my teenage daughter, my friend, and her two teenage daughters. We went to see The Newsboys in concert, and what I saw were teenagers having some good, Godly fun!
They laughed. They danced. They raised their hands in the air. But they were not praising the created…the musicians, the sound system, the beautiful weather. They were lifting their hands in praise to the Creator. Dancing before the King of Kings.
So many secular concerts these days are filled with alcohol, drugs, and scantily clad teens, worshiping the new hot young singer on the scene. This is considered “fun,” yet it can be so dangerous. I have no doubt that teens who attend secular concerts have fun for a while. But ultimately, the high is short lived, and the experience is unfulfilling.
But teens who know their Savior, who follow His ways…the teens who stay safely within the confines of the “temple walls” not only have fun, but have a lasting joy that lingers long after the concert is over.
So, my message to my daughter, my daughter’s friends, and teenagers everywhere: Go. Have fun. But remain in the safety of the temple walls. You will not only have a fulfilling experience, you will be protected from the “fun” the world throws at you. The kind of fun that can end up in tragedy and despair.
Follow the Lord, and you will never go wrong.
That is so beautiful, Lynnae! They had such a fun time worshiping without having to worry what other people thought. The music and worship was great, the weather beautiful, and the entire evening perfect! We loved it!