Some of you may remember the advertisement and either have just said the phrase or cringed when the phrase was passing through your brain. For the rest of you Google it and catch up on the past. Advertisements are meant to sell people on a product even if the product might be bad or not safe for us. Advertisement then is manipulative and deceptive with some truth mixed in the equation. Since we are an educated lot, the expectations have risen and more manipulative and deception. Mikie has been exchanged for sex, fast cars, and more sex with a bit of liquor thrown in. Anything is permissible for the sale.
Our children are growing up with violence as the major theme in their lives. Of course there are shows that support current issues as well as choices. Just as Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers encouraged good behavior they also represent a passing of morality in a generation. No, I'm not going to suggest Barney is bad for us. Mr. Rogers has a make believe neighborhood where everyone talks and listens and problems are resolved because it's the right thing to do. So, where is the violence? Have you checked out some of the video games that babysit this generation of children? Have you ever played them? Killing and every kind of violence is used in order to advance in the game.
"We" let them. We let them wear clothing that is questionable. We let them say things that would have resulted in discipline when we were kids. We let them go places and be with people who we do not know. Curfew for many children is left up to them. With both parents working, daycares and babysitters are the main teaching medium for our children. Yet, we like what we have so we rationalize and justify our choices to let our kids do and be whatever they like. When they are killed in a gang related killing or in a drunken accident we have the gall to tell the public what a good child they were. We didn't even know them!
Mikie wouldn't like it. There are millions of children who do great every day. Then there are the millions of children who are forced into factory work, child prostitution, drug dealing and many different lifestyles that "other children" are brought into. It's not my child, not may family, and not my friends. Until something goes horribly wrong and we are left with the cold hard facts of reality. Contrary lifestyles are deemed right where the Bible teaches us they are wrong. Who do we believe? The more appropriate question is what do we believe.
With out church leaders and denominations lower the standard, throwing out Scripture, and embracing that which God has said is sin, it's no wonder we are in the mess we have made. Society has told us that we are too uptight and judgmental and intolerant. There is such fear of taking a stand that we are embracing that which we should feel repulsion for. I'm not talking about what the world expects. Though the world isn't doing a very good job of raising our kids. I'm not talking about petty issues. I'm talking about the very thread of life we embraced when we first accepted Jesus into our life and we were forgiven.
Telling ourselves the truth is dangerous today. For if we, as Christians, do tell the truth; that truth will cost us. If we "spare the rod and spoil the child" we are praised. If our child goes to school and tells the teacher we spanked them the previous day; our child will be in foster care and we will be facing the condemnation of all involved. "How could she/he?" "That poor child!" "I always thought that "they" were too hard on him/her." Really?!
Mikie wouldn't recognize the world we live in. But then, neither do I. I don't like it either. There are many different cultures in the world and equally as many religions. The Christian is charged with bringing up a child so they will not depart from what they have inherited from their parents, grandparents and community of believers. The question is who are we afraid of? Are we afraid of the world? Are we able to stand up to the peer pressure and expectations? We should be afraid as the world has the power to destroy any family. Christianity has a moral code as it's central belief. Jesus has modeled that code for us. The Scriptures are clear that we say, "Jesus likes it!" and act out that script.
It's going to seem as if the world is after you if you stand up for Jesus and apply Christian principles to all of our life. Jesus said that obeying him would bring problems with the world upon us. I've fallen down more than I've succeeded through my life. God has provided the grace to allow me to get back up again and try once more to live the life that pleases him. He loves me regardless of how I act. However he does dislike my sin. This same concept carries me through each day. At the end of the day or at the end of my life I would like to hear: "Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the presence of the Lord." Jesus would like that!
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