The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

To many extents, we as fathers are unable to control all the environments that our children hear, read and see things in. Yet, we have the responsibility of teaching them as well as protecting them. In your opinions, to what length do we shield them verses expose them? In some aspects, sheltering them will only make reality harder to deal with, while on the other hand, exposing them to a limited amount of worldliness prepares them for what they'll have to do when they're on their own or by themselves at the time.

With today's technology and the vast means of communicating with strangers around the world, our children are exposed to a huge realm of sinful behavior. What is your take on online gaming, where you do things by yourself and in groups (with strangers), yet are at times exposed to some degree of idiocy or perverse chatter?

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"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day." ~Abraham Lincoln

The problem you do not know who is on the Internet, I let my kids go to games on Disney but I said no chat rooms only games..

I do not see Scripture exorting us to protect children from the world. Of course we can go too far in any extreem but I think you have misunderstood something. IMHO we are called to experience life with our children.

Deuteronomy 4:9 9 Again, however, pay very careful attention, lest you forget the things you have seen and disregard them for the rest of your life; instead teach them to your children and grandchildren. Context (NET)

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 4 Listen, Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength. 6 These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, 7 and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. Context (NET)

Deuteronomy 11:19 19 Teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. Context (NET)

Psalm 78:4-6 4 we will not hide from their descendants. We will tell the next generation about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts, about his strength and the amazing things he has done. 5 He established a rule in Jacob; he set up a law in Israel. He commanded our ancestors to make his deeds known to their descendants, 6 so that the next generation, children yet to be born, might know about them. They will grow up and tell their descendants about them. Context (NET)

Ephesians 6:4 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Context (NET)

Teaching while we sit, walk, in the morning and in the evening gives me the understanding that the Lord intended fathers to be the constant messenger of peace in the child's ear. We should be helping them build a Biblical worldview so that they have a framework for making decisions when they are on their own in the world. Instead many opt for the once a week one or two hour lesson from the Sunday School teacher to be the singular Biblical building block of the young Christian life. This while the often secular school teachers have 30 to 35 hours a week of influence to promote a secular humanistic infused worldview. The texts above and others call for a clear teaching and modeling of the Biblical understanding to prepare the next generation.

Many fathers will enroll a son in little league baseball and teach him to throw and catch, hit and slide. They'll support the coach and sometimes even get extra private lessons to get their son ahead and "on the team." They'll often drive all over to different tournaments sacrificing time and often church attendance to support the game. All the while spending little (most often no) time building the child's godly character. Then the parents wonder why the child "dumped" his faith once he went off to college. Frankly, he merely lived up to the worldview and values modeled for him while he was growing up.

We are called to live life with our children. To model Christian decision making and discuss right and wrong and the whys of the decision making process. To speak of how God has changed us and is changing our life while we drive to the game, when we eat breakfast, when we sit in the living room, at the supper table, and in all other life/living situations. We can't protect their "innocense". Our mandate is to guide them and train them to live life and make decisions for the Lord.

I guess I'm beyond 2 cents so....

Blessings,
Randy

Randy,

I've heard of a defense with Luke 17:1-3 about protecting their children from the world (the reference being "causing these little ones to sin"). I'd like to hear your thoughts on that if you don't mind.

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Studying MDiv. (Biblical Studies) at Tyndale Seminary
My Pastor's testimony "Street Kid to Preacher" - http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p ... 1A10FF286C

The unit, imo from a quick glance, is Luke 17:1-10. The unit assumes temptation will come and the woe is to the one whom is the source of the temptation.
underlining and italics mine for emphasis.
The warning here is to those through whom the temptation comes. This cannot textually be used to support removing our children from the world because it clearly does not teach this. It is warning about being the cause of sin.

No time to look further but I believe we are called to be in the world and not of the world. How is it we are to do this and not allow our children to live in the world at the same time?

Blessings,
Randy

Very well summarized Bro. Randy. While I do agree with your points, the intended question is "What do we not expose our children to?" My boys are 4 and 7. Specifically, this topic comes up with my oldest getting familiar with one of my past-times of online gaming, which he is playing some now. However, depending on where he may be in this virtual world, the appropriateness of language that teenage kids use let a lot to be desired. We do not interact with conversations, rather focus on the battles or quests at hand. I have no intent to expose them to pornography, alcohol, or other drugs. Though, I do plan to teach about them as well as let them see examples of those that have ruined their bodies in such endeavors.

I look forward to your response as time permits.

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"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day." ~Abraham Lincoln

The world... As I read these posts only one scripture revolves in my mind. To be in this world but not of it. But ultimately how do we teach this to our children? With 4 children, ages 4,2,1, and due in July I continually ponder this question. To date we have chosen to remove on demand tv from our home not because we are some kind of puritans but because of the constant bombardment of utter filth. Perhaps that is the best answer to the original question. Yes our children will encounter the world but they need not be assaulted by it on a constant non-stop basis. My wife and I choose to minimize the assault to an occasional skirmish and attempt to make our home a place of refuge. Of course I assume this will get more difficult as they get older but at this point I think the best plan of attack is to keep those activities out of our home that will allow a continual assault and replace them with more wholesome activities.

I, a father, have the unique opportunity to homeschool our 3 children. I've developed a disability that keeps me home so the "job" is mine. I praise God for this opportunity for I am able to spend countless hours with our children and help them develop into the kind of adults we hope them to be.
In my dealings with what to allow and what not to allow, I keep Romans 16:19b in mind, "yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil." (KJV) While I cannot protect them from all of the evil this world has to offer, I teach them what is "Good." I encourage them to use what is "Good" to be used as a scale, or balance, of what is right or wrong. They often use that teaching to regulate themselves in what video games to play or which ones to avoid. I've had to correct them only on rare occasions. They are 10, 8, and 7. They know what is "allowed" and actually desire to participate in what is good more than what is "bad." Often they have come to me after finding something on the internet and said, "I don't think Jesus would like us watching that."
I don't know how long that will last, but I pray that the Lord uses this teaching to be one of their guiding principles throughout their lives.
I hope I haven't given the impression that my children are "perfect." But, all in all, they're pretty good kids.

Sounds to me like it is at least the partial result of a pretty good dad! I expect that Mom is pretty good as well.

IMHO our kids are blessings and we all should see them as such. I think we are given the great responsibility to insure that their upbringing is saturated in Scripture. We also have the responsibility to live before them the precepts of faith which we teach. IMHO this can be accomplished in a homeschool setting as well as private and public school settings. This is yet another area where we are free to choose but should choose wisely as every community has differing cultural temptations and basic worldviews which they teach our children.

Just my 2 cents!

Blessings,
Randy

Thank you Randy.
I really like your comment about homeschool/public school in the various communities. You are, IMHO, absolutely right. Not everyone is cut out for homeschooling and homeschooling is not necessary in some communities. As you say, choosing "wisely" is the key.
God bless.

It is difficult to define the division for ones we love. And, where is the stumbling when it's our own children who are the witnesses for Christ...we can only bless them as Job prayed for his. All is accounted for in heaven...do we trust God even with our own flesh. Yes, but scriptural reminders are always a blessing.

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Jesus
K L Aghijlar
neither friend nor foe