I think in all our hearts we want to protect and keep kids as innocent as we can for as long as we can. We want to still believe kids would do the right thing if it wasn't for the adults in the situation leading them astray. Stephen D. Keener, Little League International president and CEO. “This is a heartbreaking decision. What these players accomplished on the field and the memories and lessons they have learned during the Little League World Series tournament is something the kids can be proud of, but it is unfortunate that the actions of adults have led to this outcome."
The story brought to mind a time when I had the unfortunate opportunity to serve as a review team for a high school dance team. The review team was to determine whether the dance routine was appropriate or not. I got out of that duty as soon as possible. But who is to blame for students dancing in inappropriate ways. The teens or the adults who are teaching the teens to dance? When people look down on those students for their performance do they place blame on the teens or the adults in the situation.
In a lot of situations I believe kids/teens know more than we give them credit for knowing. They may not be as innocent as we want them to be. However, they usually are just quick learners of what has been modeled to them as acceptable and good behavior.
Jesus gave one of his strongest warnings for adults who lead kids down a wrong path in Mark 9:42 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea."
The standard of behavior in our culture needs to be raised! It won't be changed by our complaining. It will only be changed when the people of God realize what is at stake and we raise our standard of behavior and mentor kids/teens to raise their standard of behavior.
