Good day dear readers. I hope you are well and blessed.
Again, it’s been a while since my last post. I’ve been busy with some knee surgery and rehab. And, I might add, the meds they give you to keep you from losing your mind actually cause you to lose your mind. Meds kind of take you out of your writing mode. Well, praise God, I am over it now. However, my knees are telling me my hockey days are done. Truth be known, they were done quite a while ago.
When I started out to write this post I was going to publish a Facebook post written by Tony Whitley in whole. I am not one of his “friends” on Facebook; but, I read the story as a result of a comment made by one of my own friends which caused me to see the post. It was entitled “Rant Alert: Disney.” I then intended to do a commentary on it. He had published it a few days before my surgery. I immediately contacted him and got permission to use it in whole if I wanted. After sitting down to start writing, I re-read the article and decided not to quote it in whole. Not because he didn’t have good things to say; but rather, I wanted to say them in a slightly different way. My aim is to provide a more Biblical perspective of his post. My thanks to him for giving me the inspiration and theme for writing this article. I am kind of getting back to my original theme of “The Way I See it.”
The main gist of Whitley’s post was about the way our children are being influenced by Disney movies. In particular he was concerned about a “gay” moment in Beauty and the Beast. He went on to write about other Disney movies that display magic, sorcery, killing, being disrespectful to parents, and violence among other things. Mr. Whitley rightly makes the suggestion that parents are charged with the duty of bringing up their children with proper values and not relying on the likes of Disney to do it for us. I loved it.
I readily admit that Disney tends to shed parents in a bad light. Try finding a positive father figure in one of them. If you even find a father figure, I guarantee you he will be exhibited as a bumbling goof and it will be up to the children to save the day. Is this really how life should be portrayed? Is this what the Bible tells us about parents? Nope. Quite the contrary. In fact the Apostle Paul emphasizes one of the Ten Commandments in Ephesians 6:1-4 by saying: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
Children’s main stream media wants you to believe the lie that this scripture is untrue. I also love how Paul followed this encouragement with instructions for the fathers (parents) to properly perform their duties in raising their children. Children disobey their parents from time to time. It is, however, up to the parents to properly address the situation, engage them, and make appropriate corrections. In fact, Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to do so by saying: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” It is therefore the parents’ responsibility to make sure that their children are prepared properly for a long and prosperous life. I’m not going to quote all the scriptures about parenting and children in my rant. However, I suggest using the “Helpful Resources” tab at the top of the page and doing a little research on your own.
So what shall we do? Shall we continue to permit our children to watch things that Disney cranks out on a regular basis? I will say “Maybe… sometimes.” But, we have to watch it with them and explain to them the things that are contrary to God’s teaching. Sorcery and witchcraft are an abomination to the Lord. We have have to let them know that in no uncertain terms. Do not even get me started on Harry Potter. It’s not just Disney folks. All sorts of media is being disrespectful to parents and it is not proper.
I have heard it said while I was bringing up my own children (before I became a Christian) that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles portrayed a wonderful sense of justice. And I agreed with them. From what I’ve seen lately, their mode of operation has not changed. What mode might that be you ask? Let me tell you. Their first reaction to a sense of being wronged is to bring violence into play. If one doesn’t think our children learn from this, one is completely ignorant. The Lord instructs us to make nice with our neighbors and even pray for our rivals. Violence in the Bible is supposed to be the last resort. I will also add that in any case it is up to the authorities to exact justice. Justice is not at the whim of an individual. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dragonball Z, and others seem to be judge, jury, and executioner.
The bottom line is that we live in a rather corrupt world with a warped sense of values (and getting worse). In the United States my observations say that our generations no longer generally adhere to the values the Lord wants us to have in our hearts. I think this is because, like in times past, we have sacrificed our values to the world. Why? Mainly because we are lazy, busy, or just plain not aware of the ramifications. If you are reading your Bible regularly, you are at least aware.
Dwell on these words written in red letters in some Bibles. In context, it is Jesus praying to the Father for his disciples in John 17:14-21. Dwell in particular in the last three verses because your children should also be your disciples!
14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
Jesus sanctified himself that his disciples might be sanctified. In the same way, as parents, we need to sanctify ourselves that our children might be sanctified. What are we watching? We may be in the world; but, we don’t have to be of the world. At the end of the day it is all about our children.
Indeed, we live in the world. However, we don’t have to partake in the the things that are not edifying to our children nor do we have to permit them to do so. We don’t have to let them watch or read about Harry Potter because those books and movies do not in any way, shape, or form glorify God or bring sanctification to our children. Finally, it doesn’t do much for our witness to a world that desperately needs Christ and His values.
And yes folks, I get it. It’s hard to raise children. It’s hard to tell your kid that they can’t do something that all the popular kids are doing. Nobody said parenting is easy. Nobody said being Christian was easy. But you know what? I care more about my kids’ eternal salvation (more than they know… even though they are already grown up.) and I would hope you care just as much about yours.
Children don’t come with an instruction manual. Or do they? The Bible is full of great parenting tips. I challenge you to check it out.
I don’t want to drag this on forever. So let me leave with this last little re-quote: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Blessings,
Casey
P.S. I would like to say that the spammers of the world are getting on my last nerve. I’ve put on a spam filter; but, it is not getting all of them So, If you would like to make a comment (make it relevant and civil) or get placed on my email list so I can automatically let you know when I write a new article, send me an email to casey@threerustynails.org and state the title of the article in the subject line. That should stop the rest of those no good rascals. 🙂 If you have a relevant comment for the forum, I will post your comment at the bottom of the article. For privacy, I will use your first name and last initial only on your comment. I don’t sell email lists. Thanks! – Casey