At the Mall: The Watch Letter

Colossians 2:8: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

A few years ago, our Pastor Chief Apostle H.C. Gunn preached a message titled, "Prom Night." It was a warning about the dangers of what can happen to a child when parents allow their children to go to prom. No having fun isn't a sin, but when we know that the place we are going to or are sending our child to has many sinful temptations or a legacy of sin than Godly wisdom says don't even allow them to be placed in that situation. Proms come with the celebration of sexual immorality (losing your virginity or participating in multiple sexual experiences), drinking, drugs and listening to and dancing to profane music -- a recipe and gateway for our children to fall into a lifestyle of sin and separation from God, which also sounds a lot like today's social media and television.

Chief Apostle Gunn explained during the message that he had a vision, at the time, of a young lady in room and there was wall-to-wall mud. It represented sin and the intention of the young lady and the worldly behavior she wanted to participate in. Listen to the message "Prom Night" by clicking here.

During that message, he went over the scripture 1 John 2:15-16: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

Recently, I have been dealt with about the mall. The mall is a powerful representation of the things of the world. It looks bright and pretty and there seems to be so much fun to be had but what is behind a lot of the things and people at the mall is darkness.

I had a dream some weeks ago about a child who was at the mall and shopping, which seems innocent, but each t-shirt they picked up or looked at represented a bad decision or action. And the child wanted to make the bad decisions or action. It was like they had unending options of sin to partake in. Think about a mall, there are so many stores and so many people to deal with. The Bible tells us that the path to salvation and heaven is narrow but the road to hell is wide.

Now, I am not saying that going to the mall is a sin. Sometimes, we need to buy things, but today I am writing about what the mall represents.

There is a history with the mall that is deeper than we often deal with. Historically, when parents have wanted to get rid of their children for some hours they send them to the mall to roam around. Sometimes parents even bribe their children with trips to the mall. They dangle brand named clothes and shoes as a way to "befriend" them, convince them to do something or reward them with something they probably should have done anyway. Sometimes parents want a child to be overly consumed with fashion, fun and trends so they don't have to deal with the real issues or so the child is blinded by flashy things instead of the truth. I am speaking from experience.

Also, when children want to sneak around, purchase or do something that is not holy, a good place to go is the mall. You can blend in, your parents aren't watching, and most likely what/who you are talking about or to, or what you are purchasing isn't being monitored. I am speaking from experience.

Going to the mall isn't a sin, but what about the choices that are made at the mall or the intent behind it when we send our children to the mall. What kind of clothes can they buy at the mall? The tightest pants and dresses, revealing and short shirts and skirts, and ripped jeans. But it's not just the clothes it's the bad connections, unclean talk, exhibitionism, learning how to dress, walk and talk like the world, and more that’s waiting for our children at the mall.

Some may be offended by this post or think I am being too religious. Some will say, she does't have her own kids … and that is okay. Because this message is about intent. And that's what the "Prom Night" message was telling us. Intent is something we all must deal with and learn from. Let's think about that. When we send our children to the mall what's the intent in our heart? When children ask to go to the mall what's the intention in their hearts?

Let me share what my intentions were when I went to the mall in my days of youth.

I was having secret meetings with boys
I lied to my parents about which mall I was going to (sometimes I was two cities away from home)
I was wearing revealing clothes in hopes for attention
I was waiting around hoping for someone to ask me for my number, especially older guys, OR giving away mine
I was buying or listening to music that was not appropriate for my age
I was hanging with people who were bad influences
I was using language and carrying myself in a way I would not at home
I was looking for clothes that would make me look older or more appealing
I went to the stores with my friends that sold "adult products and cultural novelties"
And the list goes on

A red flag alert has gone up in my spirit about the mall. It is symbolic of a lot of things.

We can plan trips to the mall, but can't plan to pray or fellowship with the saints.

We can save money to spend at the mall, but we can't plan to give.

We can spend hours walking around a mall, but think being at church, having Godly meetings or choir rehearsal is too much.

We see our kids going to the mall with inappropriate attire knowing that it makes them a target for rape, trafficking or for them to appear to be something that is not good, and it is okay with us. We see our kids spend all their money at the mall and not tithe or sow and that is okay with us too. We see them talk about going to the mall weeks ahead of time but never hear them talk about God like that and that's okay with us ..... because we as adults do the same thing in our own ways.

We all have a mall in our lives. Maybe our mall is online shopping or online dating. Maybe our mall is a person's house we go to that we shouldn't. Maybe our mall is a friend, family member, co-worker, or love interest we keep going back to that we know if full of temptation or worldliness. Maybe our mall is at our jobs or a place we volunteer. If there is a place where you know is no good for you or your child or that you know you or your child is not strong enough to handle ---- let it go. It's not worth it. I am speaking from experience in all these areas - both as a child and an adult.

When I was a teen my parents thought one of my friends was so good because of the family she came from (they were well-off, leaders in the community). They trusted her and so I was never told no when I asked to go places with her. But she was a liar and manipulator and fast, and I became the same way in my heart and actions too ... and we got into all sorts of trouble and dangerous situations ---- even once I could have been kidnapped after meeting a stranger who I had only talked to on the phone several times.

What kind of spirits, curses, danger and demonic activity is waiting for us and our children in the malls of our life.

The word mall can talk about a high traffic area or a place that offers a variety. Perhaps when you look at this from a spiritual angle it can represent a place where there is no moderation. The word mall is also rooted in the word alley. An alley can often be a narrow, dark passageway that is hidden or placed between things.

At the beginning of this blog, I shared: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Beware means a warning has gone out. Going to or sending your child to the mall when done in vanity, or based on tradition is the same thing as following after the world. As I said, no going to the mall to shop is not a sin, but is it right for you and your child and is it being done with the right intent and at the right time? This is a question not just about the mall but about life. We should ask it about everything we do, every relationship we are in, everywhere we invest our time and money. What is our intent????

1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Earlier this month, Chief Apostle Gunn sent a message to our whole church that simply said "Parent Your Children."

It is easy to say, I am a parent: I provide food, shelter, and clothes and make sure they go to school. But the parenting he is talking about is the parenting in the Bible as outlined by God. Guiding your children with Godly wisdom. Being a Godly example. Not allowing them to be turned over to sin. Teaching them the value of serving God and the testimonies of what God has done. Teaching them to love God and not the world or money. Teaching them to help and give freely. Teaching them that being educated in the things of God and excellent moral conduct is more important than good grades at school. Teaching them balance and not to be spoiled. Not bringing a curse on them or entangling them by your own actions and decisions. Teaching them integrity and not to lie or hide. All of this is parenting according to God's standards, not peoples'. A powerful synonym for parenting is to rear. That means to place them in the right position not the wrong one.

In the Bible. it says we are to point our children to God like arrows. Psalm 127:4: “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.”

What are we doing with our arrows? If we see our child pointed in the wrong direction are we rerouting them or setting them up to fail God and fail in life? When we find ourselves pointed in the wrong direction are we changing course?

Please join me in praying for parents, children and all of our abilities to make Godly decisions. Let us also pray for Chief Apostle Gunn as he continues to try to reach our young people and spread the revival God wants them to experience. He is believing God for a billion soul revival that God has decreed will start with our youth, and I am too.