Something my husband and I have talked about is how what is OK for us isn't necessarily OK for our kids. Most parents reading would probably agree with that statement at first blush, but when we break it down, there is food for thought.
First case in point: movies. It is easy to watch something as an adult, trying to see it through the lens of a child and decide it is appropriate. Or, we remember something we watched at our kids' age and let them do so as well. I'm sure we're not alone in realizing that can backfire big time. We were raised very differently than we're raising our kids, and their sensibilities are different. I also think that in general, we can assume our kids can handle some things they really can't. Furthermore, the older I get, the more I think about distancing myself from actors whose worldview really clashes with a Christian worldview. It is hard for kids to not look up to performers they enjoy watching (think Star Wars...and some of them are flaming liberals). Is this OK? We each need to think on it.
Music is another area where this really matters. Anyone reading my blog knows I'm not a fan of contemporary Christian music as a steady appetite in church. One reason is because of the emotional nature of CCM. People can get accustomed to only thinking they are close to God based on how they FEEL in church, which is heavily driven by certain forms of music. It can cloud the reality of God's word and truth in our lives if we base our standing with God on emotions, and it's doubtful anyone can deny that music can manipulate emotions! The other reason I do not prefer CCM in worship is because it is often shallow. Unlike hymns, modern music is often not built on life-changing, theological truths, but instead on simple repetitive phrases. The third reason is that the approach often lowers God in our eyes rather than raise Him. He is diminished to a more human level. Finally, with contemporary Christian music, the focus is more on the singer (or singers depending on the church, as well as the writer of the song) than the Savior, and the beat can supersede the message and be carnal in nature. What concerns us here is that kids raised on this sort of music are in a very different place spiritually than their mature parent. It isn't the same for us to hear this sort of music from time to time. A steady diet of it, when spiritual appetites are just developing and being instilled, can lead to a weaker Christianity. My final thought on this issue is that with churches moving to more of an entertainment minded approach, essentially marketing Christianity to be cool and popular (ideas I strongly disagree with), the music plays in to this. I don't think you'll find a church with sacred hymns of old marketing Christianity.
I think as parents we need to remember that just as growing body has different nutritional needs in order to be strong, the same is true as educational and spiritual development is taking place. In general, I think we need to work a lot harder at having a very high view of God rather than keep Him where this culture has Him in our worship, and I think we as believers need to work more at being in the world but not of it.
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