JUVENILE OR ADULf DELINQUENCY? by Captain Conrad S. Jensen New York City Police Department A f t e r twenty years of service in the New York City Police Department, I can truly say I’ve seen juvenile delinquency in every conceivable form, and would like to offer the only solution to the problem as I see it. The expression, “ As the twig is bent, so grows the tree,” is altogether true. The Bible tells us to train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). There can be no proper training without discipline. On this point the Word of God is very explicit: “ Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying” (Proverbs 19:18). Also, “ Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die” (Proverbs 23:13). In order to train anyone, the instructor himself must be trained. It is not difficult to understand why young people become indifferent to law and order when they have seen their parents flout regulations and criticize authority. The father who “ beats” a parking meter in the presence of his child should not be surprised when his offspring acts like a “ chip off the old block” and then goes him one better into more serious violations. God has placed the responsibility of raising the young in the hands of the parents -— not the police, or the school, or the church. Modem psychology, new “progressive methods,” and “ self-expression” are of little value when a youngster is faced with the decision of joining the gang or turning “ chicken.” With nothing better than the admonition, “ Now you be a good boy,” to fortify him, how can a boy fight the ridicule and scorn of his com panions when he refuses to commit a crime as his passport into the gang? Not until the parents see their obligation to keep the law can we expect the children to follow suit. Busy parents, working mothers, and prosperity have all played a part in the indifferent attitude of many people to the law of the land. The shortcircuiting of justice by neigh borhood “ politicians,” the telephone call to the “ right party,” and the complete indifference by many to our gambling laws has hampered much of our law enforce ment. The Bible declares: “ Righteousness exalteth a na tion: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Americans need to re-examine the foundations of our wonderful country and compare them with their own views. Convenience has taken the place of conscience. No longer must we fight for our freedoms. The “ pursuit of happiness” seems to be reduced to what a dollar can buy. Crime costs America billions of dollars a year. We spend twice as much money on liquor as we do on schools. Certainly our youth needs God, but who will point the way to Him? Their parents have been either willfully
Captain Jensen looks over busy New York precincts ignorant of God’s claim on their lives or have been busy “ building a better world.” At a time when more Ameri cans are enrolled in church than ever before, we find an increase also in the number of crimes committed by our young people. In John 14:6, the Lord Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” In order to come God’s way, we must acknowl edge Christ and receive Him as our Saviour. Then, as parents, we must “ take” our children to a Gospel-preach ing church — not “ send” them. We must acknowledge God’s Word, the Bible, as man’s only source of peace and wisdom, and teach it to our children. Bible reading and prayer in the family circle at home will do more to halt juvenile delinquency than all the agencies now at work. In Proverbs 3:5, 6, we find these words: “ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways ACKNOWLEDGE him, and he shall direct thy paths.” How do we “ acknowledge” God? By believing Jesus Christ whom Qod sent. “ And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11,12). The answer to juvenile delinquency cannot be found in a program, but in a person — Jesus Christ. Won’t you trust Him now as your Saviour? Available in tract form from the American Troct Society, 513 West 166th Street, New York 32, New York.
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NOVEMBER, 1959
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