Be Ye Separate

Just a Ponder

Blessings!

   I have been pondering some things and though my ponder is not yet complete I am prayerfully writing down my thoughts here.

   The ponder is about growing and learning. I have recently been in a discussion with a dear friend over these very things. This week it was over the types of things our children are taught in some fashion or other. Whether it be a government school, the church or the playground, matters little. It's realy all about life and what is in it and how we teach our children to face it and live in the godly understanding that we cannot avoid the world simply because we forbid or avoid certain things.

   I have come to find over the years (8 children later) that when children are hidden from the truth (yes sometimes the truth is ugly) that they become dangerously curious. What I mean by that is, children are curious anyway (aren't we all) but when they are told they cannot know something or if something comes up in their life (they do find influence beyond the parents), they realy don't know how to maturely and carefully examine it for what it is.

   This can be anything from movies to books to things learned in church to newstands outside of every restaurant and market. Headlines that read frightening things and political upheavals.

   Do we, as careful Christian parents, hide these things? Or do we help the children to understand certain things about them in a light of wisdom? It's so easy and tempting to hide them away and never let the see anything that might be ungodly, unhappy, frightening, or otherwise contrary to our lifestyle and beliefs. But the fact is, they will find it. With or without us they will find it and explore it and may even be lured away by it's temptations. I say all this from experience. Losing my elder children to the world and it's very ungodly ways has shed some true light for me.

   I'm not saying that we should allow movies with nudity, vulgarity, foul language and such into our homes. But they are going to hear and see those things, eventually, in their unfortunate relationship to this world. You see, we are told that we cannot avoid being IN this world for we are born in it but we CAN avoid being part of it. Bear in mind that just because we know of these things and have some experience with these things doesn't mean we are PART of the world although it's easy to slip that direction.

   In our home we do not have regular television. What I mean is, we don't have cable or satelyte (I don't even know how to spell it:s) or even a regular old fashioned antenna. Is television wrong? I don't think it's necessarily wrong but I do think that many folks simply use it as a babysitter and don't monitor closely enough what their family is watching. I think that certain viewing can be harmful and especially if a parent is not there to change a channel or turn it off when something becomes inappropriate.

   On the other hand, we DO have a television that has a dvd player. We have a movie night where we sit as a family and watch a movie together. These movies are carefully screened and chosen. We choose to weed out the graphic violence (and other graphic things), language, etc and watch things that do not upset our careful balance. All of our children have seen and heard unfortunate things but we are quick to turn it off. This has shown them that we find it offensive and unnessary. They too have developed a dislike for those things. Not because we shielded them but because we showed them by example that we avoid those things as well.

   We have many movies that are family viewing quality. We also have a few old television series and some old black and white movies and musicals. Now not all of those are appropriate just because they were "old" movies, so we were careful which ones we felt were alright for our family. And we have a lot of historic documentary type things to watch as well.

   Recently I was admonished because we were watching a film on archeology. Specifically about the Egyptians. My grandfather was an archeologist. I was told that I was teaching our children ungodly and satanic things. Was I really?

   The bible speaks of the egyptians in many chapters and about their ungodly behaviors. Their gods and practices were spoken of often. The historical accounts of these things brings a reality to the bible that my children hadn't realized before. By watching it all with them we are able to discuss and to throw out the chaffe and find the truth within it. The egyptians really existed. They really did these ungodly things. They really did have traditions and such that carried over for thousands of years. Am I wrong to allow the children to see or know about these things? Am I being ungodly myself?

   Is it wrong to show a child an innocent cartoon? Many feel that the older cartoons are bad because of the violence. It is true that when children are very tiny they don't know, necessarily, that a cartoon is an unreal character. But don't we teach them that cats don't really have nine lives, that animals and people don't get up and walk away after falling from a building let alone having a safe or piano land on them? Of course we do. Are these cartoons evil? Do you want them to be? Or do you let your children know they are simply silly and unreal stories?

   What about books? I have heard from many folks (Christian folks) that they don't read fantasy to their children nor do they allow them to read it for themselves. Fairy stories are lies and filled with sorcery and ungodly things. Yet those same folks with read (and watch) Veggietales! Vegetables don't talk! Jonah is NOT a pickle! I could go on but you get the idea. So what makes those different from the fairytales? In my estimation they are really not any different, in that they inspire children to use their imaginations and they teach useful life lessons. IF a parent is there to explain and tell them the moral of these stories.

   These same Christians will recommend more modern books like Beverly Lewis. Don't get me wrong, I have read her books and enjoy them. But truly they aren't always such godly situations being shared in those books. There are moments of disobedience, fantasy, anger, even lust! One, in fact, is about promiscuous behavior and sex before marriage, children out of wedlock and lies and devience to cover it all up. Godly? Hmmmm. Yes these books are touted as good Christian novels.

   Then there are the classics. Edgar Allan Poe, Samuel Clemence, Lewis Carroll, and many others. Many of those folks were raised in religious homes of one kind or another. Why? Because the majority of people on this planet during their era were God fearing people. Not all of them were godly people in their later years. Some wrote fantasy, some wrote from their hearts, some wrote from their fears. All wrote with an eloquence that has not been equalled in the modern world. Is it wrong to read those things? I don't think so. In fact, my children not only read those from time to time but they also have done the research and know who and what those authors were and what they became. They aren't blind to the fact that these men and women were human just like them, me, their father, their grandparents, and all the other folks that wander this planet.

   It came to my attention, many years ago, about the lifestyle of a certain king that ordered a version of the bible to be written so that the layman could read it. It's a version that is revered by many and some tout that it is the only right version. I am not disputing what is a right version and what is not, that is not my point. My point is, that it hasn't stopped me or my family or millions of Christians from reading it anyway. He was a fallable and sinful human being. He made mistakes and bad choices just like all of us. He was far from perfect and never professed to be. But his choices and lifestyle didn't turn me from the biblical truths. From God.

   My children have been hurt over the years by other professing christians because of their enjoyment of the classics, the old movies, and other things. I assure them that some folks simply feel that it is wrong for them and feel the need to share that. Right or wrong, God will judge me for what I've taught my children. God will judge them for their adult choices. God will judge the world for all that has happened. We ALL fall short of the Glory of God. He who is without sin may cast the first stone. It surely wont' be me:) For I am a sinner. I am unworthy of His grace and mercy yet He bestows it upon me anyway. I am a fallen soul that can only be lifted by my Saviour. I cannot come to the Father alone. I can only come to Him through my faith in Jesus Christ. Good AND bad, I will stand before my Lord and answer for my sins. I am so very blessed to have that chance:)

Well, I guess I'm done with this ramble. Still pondering things and who knows. perhaps the Lord will show me more clearly what I need to know in this ponder.

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

That is a lot to 'chew on'!!!

{ 04:02, Tuesday, September 25, 2007 } { Posted by gokings13 }

I tell my kids "*I* am responsible to God for your upbringing."
He has told me to Train you up in the Way you should go.....I am doing what He tells me to.
*IF* I am doing it in my flesh, or wrong, HE will let me know when I get to Heaven (if not sooner).
I remind them that we are all wonderfully and uniquely made, so the way we do things is not how sally's family is doing things.

We do have satellite..I love to watch sports......
BUT
since they were old enough to teach, we would sit and watch together. I would explain the 'hidden' meanings behind commercials.......and the hidden meanings behind some movies......and now that they are older, they can SEE the hidden agenda. It's 'obvious' to them. Honing in the discernment skills!!

I have taught them that the Bible is their measuring stick. That it is the ONLY Truth on this planet, and it is the ONLY thing that you can count on (tangible on the planet), that they should measure everything against it, and if it doesn't line up...........move on.

I believe in 100% honesty with kids (at their maturity level) is the best policy. If you don't eat pork, and the kids ask why, you explain WHY, without degrading those who do eat pork, in a very matter of fact way......point to the Scripture references and explain how the Lord has spoken to you, the mother and head of the children.....and move on. ((Pork is an example)) If they continue to pry and ask, explain as deep as they can handle at their maturity level.

These are good questions!!
have a great day!
laura

~~~Well said. You have added more to my puzzle of ponders. Thank you:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 11:47

VERY, very well said

{ 04:08, Tuesday, September 25, 2007 } { Posted by CarolinaWren }

Thanks for sharing openly, I really enjoyed reading. This touches upon so many things I have often questioned and does so responsibly and, in my opinion, from a godly perspective. I look forward to reading more!

Maria :)

~~~Blessings!
I think that anyone who truly desires to seek the Lords will in their lives will ponder these same things. Sometimes I ponder myself into sleepless nights (like last night:s). I am blessed you enjoyed it.
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 11:49

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{ 06:19, Tuesday, September 25, 2007 } { Posted by LivingSimple }

Loved this entry...so much wisdom in your words!

~Kris

~~~Blessings!
I am blessed. Thank you for letting me know:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Edited by SisterLori on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 11:50

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{ 14:38, Tuesday, September 25, 2007 } { Posted by Joanne }

Very nice post, Lori. I feel the key here is the *maturity* of the children. I feel that there are some things that are appropriate at a later age when they are better able to discern and also when a parent is the guide. Kids will face many things when they grow up...and if we completely sheild them, they will not know how to make choices. But, like I said....we parents have the responsibility to determine when they are mature enough....and as Christians, it is usually far older than society's standards :o)

There are programs on TV that are just plain fun for the kids.....they are not sinful. We are admonished to separate from *sin*. I personally feel that Veggie Tales is a sinful and disrespectful distortion of sacred scripture for the sake of entertainment.
Joanne

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{ 20:30, Wednesday, September 26, 2007 } { Posted by chimicole }

You are a wise lady. Thank you for your thoughts.
(I would LOVE to be rid of the TV... I think it is evil, but hubby likes it! At least I have him talked down to basic cable. So I guess that's better than nothing!)