In the 1960s, Bill Roberts went from youthful innocence to the killing fields of Vietnam. Thirty years later, as a grade school principal, he is often reminded of the fact that America is still at war. Once again he feels the adrenaline rush through his body like it did while fighting in the jungles of Vietnam. Bill Roberts' war is against the deadly explosion of youthful violence that began some 20 years ago.

Epidemic of violence

After a 15-year-old confessed to the May 1998 school shooting of 22 students and his parents in Springfield, Oregon, commentators pointed out that explosive violence had crept from the poor, inner-city communities in the 1980s and early '90s onto the manicured lawns of suburbia and the rural settings idealized in the American dream.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta reported that homicide is now one of the greatest risks to our youngsters. While The National Council on Crime and Delinquency reported that recent mass murder attempts and episodes, "had nothing to do with drugs or guns. And some were from affluent communities and intact families."

In the last six years, 11 of 12 mass shootings with multiple victims happened in cities with populations under 80,000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that nine of these were cities with less than 52,000 people.

Initial studies indicate a shift in violent youth behavior out of the low socioeconomic stereotype. Harvard School of Public Health professor Deborah Prothrow-Stith characterizes the movement of youth violence from poor urban communities to the rest of the population and regions as an effect similar to any other epidemic. "It's the second wave," she said. "First [it strikes] the most vulnerable community, and then it spreads."

A childhood jungle

Youth violence is, at its core, an outgrowth of a crisis of values. Successful parenting requires values flowing from a firm commitment to children. A commitment that requires time, attention and resources. In their absence, children grow up in a hostile jungle. It doesn't have to be so.

Consistent, nurturing guidance of children works. Demonstrating love works. These parental commitments help stop violence through prevention. They require a child-centered approach that touches the spirit rather than a manipulation of material circumstances masquerading as attention.

A central theme of Jesus Christ regarding children is that they are to be loved because "of such is the Kingdom of God" (Mark 10:14). He showed that true love works. The explosion of youthful violence is a clear warning that time is running out to begin practicing Christ's approach to child rearing.

Most youth violence comes from environments where violent adult behavior is modeled and acted out in what National Council on Crime and Delinquency president Krisberg calls a widespread "nihilistic (a total disbelief in religion or moral principles and obligations) culture that does not promote community and social values."

Not only are right values ignored, but also wrong values are often celebrated. "Go to the movies and listen to the music," says Krisberg. "It's violent, it has misogynist (a hatred of women) in content. There's gross materialism and no ennobling values celebrated."

A new battleground

The war of youthful violence continues in many communities around the world. At Bill Roberts' Portland school ground, a battle almost erupted because a 12-year-old student had grabbed a basketball from a gang member during recess. A few days later, as school was letting out, gang members arrived with revolvers under their coats. They were ready for the boy.

Teen boy

What surprised Roberts and led him to instinctively sense he might witness a murder was the bizarre readiness of this 12-year-old with no violent history to take on the gang single-handedly.

As the boy raced out the front door toward the gang, Roberts grabbed him, handing him to two assistants who restrained the youth in the principal's office while Bill confronted the gang. This battle, today anyway, was prevented.

In schools across the nation, principals experience such potentially deadly conflicts daily. Although this situation was resolved peaceably, Roberts is sure he will see similar problems again.

In some British schools violence and disrespect for authority have clearly gotten out of control. One East Anglican instructor wrote an article entitled "How we teachers have lost control of the classroom" (Sunday Telegraph). He said that there is only one target that matters: "reducing violence in schools."

Need for spiritually motivated love

Former Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Colin Powell, said the problem of troubled youth is the greatest threat to the future of the United States.

Youthful violence has its roots in a parental culture that has spiritually abandoned them. More money, expensive schools and government programs run by well-meaning bureaucrats cannot substitute for parental love. Western nations often look to institutional programs for salvation from social crises, but this is one money can't buy.

The 15 million children living in poverty are not alone in a landscape of emotional, interpersonal and spiritual impoverishment. Many children in the world's more prosperous nations are growing up without enriching values conveyed by the intimacy of sacrificial parental love.

Many of them have no concept of the sanctity of life--even their own. "This is the way we want to go out," read the suicide note from Columbine High School gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who killed 13 others in a rampage of bullets and homemade bombs before they turned their guns on themselves.

Having had materialism substituted for love, many of today's children have no comprehension of an overriding purpose to life, no sense that life is about much more than todays wants and needs. They have scarce knowledge of an Almighty God with endless love who holds out a special purpose and destiny for each person--man, woman and child alike.

Regrettably, these devastating social trends affect almost all segments of society. Even professing Christians aren't immune. Too many political and religious leaders alike have largely abandoned belief in absolute standards such as those that flow from the immutable law of God.

Serious consequences

The Creator of all humankind said He would abandon the nation whose parents refuse to retain the spiritual knowledge flowing from the law of God and His authority to define right and wrong.

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you... Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children" (Hosea 4:6).

Youthful violence is not a mystery. Make no mistake; it is a tragic sin for all concerned. But the good news is that the spiritual principles that have always worked still continue to work. Families, communities, societies and nations don't have to be destroyed if they will only seek the spiritual knowledge that shows us how to truly express love.

Recommended Reading

The United Church of God is very concerned about the direction our families and youth have been taking. We have published a blueprint for stable homes, communities and societies: The Ten Commandments. Without a solid understanding of this most basic of all biblical laws, society has little chance of really helping its youth--the next generation--its most treasured possession.