Two for the Price of One

(Proverbs 22:15 KJV)  Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

This is a twofer verse.  You get to reject two common beliefs of our pagan culture in one swoop.  That is to be expected when you read and apply the Bible.  What God has to say causes a real jarring of teeth in the secular world.  First the Bible teaches that children are foolish.  Second it teaches that physical punishment is not evil.  That is enough to send the trend setters of our world screaming down the aisle. 

Unfortunately it also causes many in the church to start looking for excuses.  Too many who attend church on a regular basis live in a world that rejects what the church should be teaching.  It is much easier to adjust our beliefs to the expectations of our neighbors than to be salt.  Most are familiar with this verse. 

(Romans 12:2 KJV)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

J.B. Philips has a paraphrase of the New Testament.  I generally avoid paraphrases but he wrapped this one around my head in such a way that I keep coming back to it.  This is from memory but I remember his putting it,

“Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.”

So?  We are being squeezed.  We are being pushed and pulled.  We need to be alert to the pressure and refuse to compromise.