In an ever increasing materialistic world, many are struggling to know how to bring up their children in a Godly way. Decisions about the toys, books, games and videos that we select for our children’s entertainment seem to bombard us at every turn. Unfortunately it would seem our lack of time often results in decisions being made on the spur of the moment rather than being prayerfully considered. Many parents could testify to having ‘given in’ to a child begging for a novelty toy or book as you walk the aisles in a Supermarket or Department store. How many of us actually have the time to watch every video the children watch or read the books they read? Many people argue “It’s just a game or fad” or state that “we can’t ban everything, after all EVERYTHING can’t be evil…” Where do we draw the line? How do we know what is okay for our children to play with?
What does God say about bringing up children in this day and age? God has told us to train our children to choose His way. What does this really mean? If our children attend Sunday school and have some Christian friends - that should be enough shouldn’t it? After all, children know the difference between ‘good and evil’ don’t they? I believe we cannot assume that they do. It is our job to not only tell them, but show them “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it” Pr 22:6.
There are certainly mixed opinions about what we should expose our children to. This ranges from extreme views of ‘banning everything with a glimmer of evil’ to an attitude of ‘anything goes.’ However, both extremes do not endeavour to develop a sense of Godliness in our children. Banning everything in the home does not teach children how to make decisions with discernment and exposing children to all forms of evil in our society without properly training them will not encourage them to choose God’s way.
Christian parents need to teach their children to become discerning for themselves - after all we can’t be with them 24 hours a day and sooner or later they need to make decisions for themselves. We can do this by modelling Godly decision-making about the games and toys we buy for our children. Berit Kjos (www.crossroad.to) suggests that as your children grow and develop in the knowledge of the Lord model how you make decisions. Tell your child why you wouldn’t want to buy certain things yourself “Spark awareness in a young child with comments such as, “That monster looks mean!” Teach them a Biblical attitude towards evil before they learn to delight in gross, ugly characters. Make comments such as, “Who would want to play with that evil monster? I don’t even like to look at him. Let’s find something that makes us feel happy inside.” It would seem that many children’s toys are doing just that - encouraging our children to see ugly demonic looking creatures as ‘cute’ and someone you are able to make ‘friends’ with. We should be encouraging our children to find entertainment that is uplifting, positive and wholesome. As the apostle Paul summarised,
“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - let your mind dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:7-8)
What an excellent measure this is for the choices we make about our entertainment - both adult and child alike! Let us encourage children and teens to make informed decisions about the activities and entertainment they spend hours participating in.