THE SCENARIO: A young boy of age thirteen gets a bb gun for Christmas from his parents; the boy and his parents live in a more or less suburban area, though with some rather wide open areas adjacent to most of the homes. At his first opportunity, the boy takes target practice at the neighbors’ outdoor lighting, shooting both the left and right neighbors’ outdoor lights out. The neighbors confront the boy’s parents, knowing that their boy had just received a bb gun.
In this scenario there are several points to be thought through with respect to how a Christian should act.
How would Christian parents confront their boy, both before and after the incident.
How (in what spirit, degree of self-service, words utilized, etc) would a Christian neighbor, whose lights were shot out, confront the parents of the boy who shot the lights out; how would they subsequently treat the boy who did the damage.
How would Christian parents confront their neighbors after discovering what their boy did.
Is it acceptable for Christian parents to give a bb gun to their young teenage boy.
Should the boy be disciplined, and if so, how.
How could a boy of this age be taught Christian principles in the face of what he did. In particular, what would Jesus say to this boy.
How could the parents, neighbors, and/or the boy, utilize this situation as an opportunity to witness for Jesus Christ.
Each of these seven points has at least one or more Scriptural analogs—can you find them (by analog we mean either similar biblical considerations in the context of the day, or simply a verse of Scripture that gives guidance if that is more appropriate).