I can still remember one of the first times I saw it with my own eyes – the culture trying to normalize blatant sin for my children. My son was watching the cartoon “Arthur” in our living room. I noticed wedding music playing as I was walking by and stopped to take a look in passing. There were two men walking down the aisle to be married. It was a blunt wake-up call for me as a parent that passivity is not an option when it comes to culture’s influence on what my children think and believe.
My son and I had a good conversation following that about what the Bible says about such matters, and it ended up being a great teachable moment. However, the reality is that our culture is regularly and intentionally pushing the limit on what our children are exposed to, gradually stealing their innocence, and seeking to indoctrinate them with the normalization of many things contrary to God’s truth. Here are four of those things:
NUDITY
Philippians 4:8 Whatsoever things are true… honest… just… pure… lovely… of good report… think on these things.
If you’ve watched any animated movies for kids recently, it’s undeniable that there has been a push for the acceptance and normalization of nudity. Of course, it’s always played off as just crude humor, but it’s nonetheless nudity that has drastically increased in multiple forms. From movies like ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’, the ‘Minions’, to ‘Hotel Transylvania’ just to name a few. Who would have thought that nudity would be the new normal in most new “children’s” shows?
CURSING
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying…
In one study that compared the difference between programming one decade apart (2007-08 vs 2017-18), they found that “programs rated TV-PG contained on average 28% more violence and 43.5% more profanity.” This probably comes as no surprise to most parents. No doubt you’ve noticed the increase in the use of the “F” word now allowed in PG-13 movies, once reserved only for “R” rated films. You especially see it in children’s programming where cursing may not always be used directly but is regularly implied (again, often through humor).
Having been a bus driver for many years, it doesn’t take long hanging around today’s youth to realize that their vocabulary around their friends is much more colorful than their vocabulary around their parents. Today’s culture (and sadly many parents) has not helped with this.
IMMORALITY
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.
Unlike when we were growing up with the occasional kissing or sex scene, immorality has taken on many forms in all of its kinds. A child can no longer watch cartoons without the possibility of seeing a drag queen or homosexual relationship portrayed in a positive light. I recently received a Walmart ad in my social feed for a transgender barbie doll. Major companies of children’s products and programming are no longer hiding the fact that they are actively and unashamedly pushing these things upon our children through every means possible.
According to the Bible, culture’s immorality is not inclusion, but confusion. Man has perverted God’s good gifts. As parents, we must gracefully yet truthfully address these issues with our kids. Sadly, many parents aren’t, and the culture’s plan is working as their kids are being indoctrinated ‘under the radar’. The enemy has stepped up his game, have you?
DIVISION
I Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Satan loves division. And he’s done a good job of stoking a lot of it both within our culture and within our churches. Our children are currently seeing a version of the world where brother is against brother and friend against friend. Political polarization, cancel culture, and an unhealthy emphasis on racial division and inequality has in part led to this. Our children are being taught by the culture that division is necessary, while the Bible has a uniquely different message of unity for us as believers. This requires us as parents to help our children understand how to know what to believe and how to disagree with others, while at the same time loving them as Christ does.
Parents, things like these are indicators that the spiritual warfare for our children’s hearts and minds is very real. We must be on guard and resist being passive in this fight! And rather than allowing these things to discourage us, may they motivate us to action. Because God has called our children to be light in the midst of worsening darkness!
There are no doubt more than just these four things that we could address, but the question for you to answer that really matters is this – As a parent, what does God expect of me right now to help prepare my children to stand for truth in an ever-increasing culture of compromise?
