![]() Scripture tells us to fit or cover our feet in the gospel of peace. Our teens can go about living righteously by aligning their actions with God’s instructions in the Bible, especially the Golden Rule to “do to others what you would have them do to you” ( Matthew 7:12). When explained in this way, the importance of living a righteous life becomes clear. In contrast, the word “self-righteous” means egotistical and hypocritical-behavior that teens know will eventually lead to misery and loneliness. If your teen has a negative connotation with the word “righteousness,” it may be because she’s confusing that word with the word “self-righteous.” The word “righteousness” means goodness, integrity, decency, and fairness-all states of being that can lead teenagers away from sin and toward a happy life. We can tell our teenagers that instead of working to win the fleeting praises of the masses, they can choose to embrace the lessons of Scripture and store up lasting treasures for themselves in heaven ( Matthew 6:19-20). During these times of insecurity, we can remind our children that “what people value highly is detestable in God’s sight” ( Luke 16:15). There will be times when our teens worry that they’re not following the latest trend or imitating a choice made by a peer. While social norms come and go, we rest our faith on the promise that “the word of the Lord endures forever” ( 1 Peter 1:25). Truth has the power to sanctify ( John 17:17), bestow grace ( John 1:17), and set us free ( John 8:32). We know as Christians that God’s Word is Truth. ![]() ![]() We can encourage our teens to “suit up” for battle against peer pressure by teaching them about the purpose behind each piece of God’s armor. In particular, we should encourage our teens to “arm” themselves against peer pressure by putting on the“full armor of God” ( Ephesians 6:10-17). Luckily, Scripture also tells us what to do to handle the bad company that might corrupt good character by giving us a roadmap we can use to help our teens overcome the pitfalls of peer pressure. Scripture warns us of the perils of peer pressure in cautioning that “bad company corrupts good character” ( 1 Corinthians 15:33). Peer pressure to engage in negative activities can be challenging for teenagers to withstand because teens are already dealing with a fluctuating sense of self, hormones, and the stresses of increased responsibilities. Peer pressure can affect many aspects of a teenager’s daily life, ranging from diet, choice of clothing, and level of physical activity to attitudes about school, drugs, and sex. Teens can also feel peer pressure more implicitly, such as when they feel pressure to make choices that everyone else in their social circle is making. Teens can feel peer pressure when their friends use suggestions, dares, or putdowns to get the teen to do or not do something. ![]() ![]() Simply put, peer pressure is pressure people feel from their friends or peers to behave a certain way. While each parent worries about something different depending on their child’s personality and circumstances, one worry that all parents of teens have in common is the fear that their child will be led astray by peer pressure. Parents of teenagers often fret over their children’s choices as they watch their teens navigate the multifaceted years between childhood and adulthood. Raising teenagers requires constant guidance and a healthy dose of patience. ![]()
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