Material that is inappropriate for children often bears a PARENTAL ADVISORY warning label. The label is intended to help parents steer their children away from profane words, images, messages or activity.
Sadly, instead of steering their children away from profane words, images or messages, there are some parents who actually steer their children full speed ahead toward the danger zone. With that in mind, today's message is truly a parental advisory--it is an advisory for parents regarding our own behavior and whether our content is appropriate for children.
PARENTAL ADVISORY--Some of us seem to forget that children are just that--children, not "mini-me" miniaturized versions of adults. We rob children of their childhood when we expose them prematurely to profane words and images that their young brains and emotions are not designed to handle.
Children's brains are not as fully developed (or in some cases, as warped) as adults', and regardless of how precocious or talented a child is, there is a tremendous difference between their physical, emotional, social and spiritual growth and that of an adult. They deserve a chance to develop free of the baggage that may have saddled us down.
PARENTAL ADVISORY--How can we get upset at our children for receiving disciplinary notices at school for using profanity or other inappropriate behavior if we use the same language in front of or actually directed toward them? When we tell our children to respect themselves and others, and then we proceed to disrespect them and others with our language or behavior, we appear hypocritical at best, and at worst we send a dangerously mixed message.
We are truly misguided if we think the old "do as I say, not as I do" command is going to miraculously cause our children to not absorb the profane words or behavior in their environment or to absorb them but somehow not release them. Our early childhood environments deposit things that can shape our entire future as adults. What goes in must-- and will-- come out, sometimes with embarrassing or costly consequences. Prisons are full of people who simply could not overcome their environments or joyfully embraced them.
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?" (James 3:9-11)
PARENTAL ADVISORY--Parents, we can't have it both ways. The scripture is filled with references to God telling us to distinguish between the holy and the profane. There are no package deals and no layaway plans offered. We are not allowed to put off profane language and behavior until we are "grown." Our age or stage in life are irrelevant with regard to that which is profane. There is no expiration date given -- what is profane will always be profane, no matter how old we become.
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)
If we teach our children that it is ok for adults to curse someone out, fight, lie, cheat or steal because it is somehow justified we "call evil good." If we encourage our children to run toward a street or schoolyard fight but run away when authorities arrive to break it up, we "put darkness for light." The advice we give our children should be miles apart from what they would hear from one of their immature buddies.
PARENTAL ADVISORY--Producing or birthing a child does not make anyone a parent. We must first be born-again in Jesus Christ before we are healthy enough to "train up a child in the way he should go...." Without the fruit of the Spirit operating in our lives, how could any of us ever hope to have the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness or self-control required to raise children?
We've heard the warning, "kids, don't try this at home" whenever an extraordinary and potentially dangerous stunt is performed. Well, "parents, don't try this at home" when it comes to raising children without the daily guidance of the Lord or outside of a supportive community of faith. The African proverb is right--it takes a village to raise a child. And, the best way to make sure we don't raise a village idiot is to saturate our lives and our children's lives with the presence, power and wisdom of God.
Parents, let's keep the PARENTAL ADVISORY warning labels on the covers of CDs and movies. Let's not be the ones who need to wear the labels ourselves because we are the ones displaying content that is not suitable for children.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
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