Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.  Proverbs 19:18 

 

When Allied troops captured a young American fighting alongside the Taliban, a major American newspaper wrote: 'The parents of John Walker Lindh, the child of privilege turned Taliban terrorist, didn't put their foot down when he announced he was going to drop out of school, didn't interfere when he decided to become a Muslim, were actually proud of him for pursuing an alternative course. His mother said it was 'good for a child to find a passion.' They didn't object when he asked them to pay his way to Yemen, or when his new circle of friends included gunmen. As long as he could remember, his oh-so-progressive parents had answered 'Yes' to his every whim, every fancy and every passion. The only thing they insisted on was that nothing be insisted on. Newsweek called it 'truly perplexing' that Walker was attracted to this narrow, intolerant sect. There's nothing perplexing about it! He craved standards and discipline. Mom and Dad didn't offer any; the Taliban did! If his parents had been less concerned with open-mindedness and more concerned with developing their son's moral judgment, he wouldn't have ended up where he did. His road to ruin didn't begin in Afghanistan, it began with parents who never said, 'No!'' Listen: 'Discipline your son in his early years while there is hope. If you don't you [not he] will ruin his life' (Proverbs 19:18 TLB ). Dare to discipline - your child's life depends on it!