We live in a sexually deviant society. Our homes are invaded almost daily with the radical, modern culture. Even Christian parents, trying to shelter their children from the wider world, find themselves trying to explain “gay marriage” and “transgender bathrooms.” Schools, libraries, and day care centers are hosting “drag queen story hour.” Children’s cartoons increasingly feature gay parents. Schools and universities pretend that by identifying as the opposite sex, a person suddenly becomes that sex. The “village” that we’re supposed to trust to help us raise our children has lost their credibility. But just like Esther, your children were born for such a time as this. Raising children in a perverted world means we are forced to have conversations on topics that we never even thought about as kids.
My husband and I discuss this almost daily. We’d so much rather not discuss why a man wants to dress up as a woman, or why two women want to get married, why we don’t let the little boys go into a men’s restroom alone, why our daughters take careful precautions when going out, and more. But we have to remember that God knew this time was coming, and he gave us these children at this point in history. As Mordecai told his niece Esther when she was given the enormous task of saving the Jews: “You were born for such a time as this.”
So what is a parent to do?
You cannot ignore this. You must meet it head-on.
First, PRAY. God did indeed give you these children for this time, and He will guide you. Pray for wisdom from His word, pray for direction, pray specifically for how you can raise your children in this “crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:15)
Second, DISCIPLE. Daily instruction in God’s word is key in raising children in this age. God’s word is very clear on men and women, marriage, sexual perversion, and right and wrong. It’s very clear on the hardening of hearts to the truth, and on fools being led astray. Read it with and to your children daily. Memorize passages. Explain how they relate to our times. It is impossible to courageously engage the culture without a firm foundation.
Third, DISCUSS WORLDVIEW. If our children are to be exposed to the 21st century culture, they must be double-exposed to your Christian worldview. They must put on the whole armor of God. They must be able to see every cultural and political happening in the light of Scripture. They need to understand that there is nothing new under the sun. Discuss current events with them. Play devil’s advocate, and ask them to defend the scriptures.
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Fourth, PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN FROM HARM. Children are the victims, and more and more, they are the targets in this hyper-sexualized society we live in. Pedophilia a booming business, with children being snatched from their homes, school yards, and the aisles of grocery stores and sold into sexual slavery. Pedophilia is rampant in Hollywood, Washington D. C., and in the churches and schools. It’s everywhere. Don’t assume your church, school, or town is immune.
The LGBT community is purposely targeting children with sex-ed in the schools and all forms of entertainment. This movement is dangerous and evil. It uses its victims and throws them away, dehumanizing boys and girls in every way.
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“Ideas have consequences, and bad ideas have victims. And the consistent casualties of the sexual revolution are children, and that victim count climbs year after year.” (Source)
Watch your children in public. Teach them how to respond to questionable situations with strangers. When ever possible, don’t let them wander alone. And here’s the really uncomfortable part: re-evaluate the groups and people you’re comfortable with — church programs, youth outings, sports teams, camps, sleepovers with friends. I’m not saying to look at every person you know as a sex predator; I’m saying to pray about every situation with your children and others, use discernment, and trust your instincts. A large majority of sexual abuse comes from a person the child knows, and dabbling in pornography is where it starts.
None of what we see today surprises God
Remember: He destroyed the earth with a flood when wickedness was rampant in the earth. Sodom and Gomorrah were deep in sexual perversion when He destroyed them with fire. We may feel shocked and defeated when these behaviors permeate our culture, but God has seen it all repeatedly since the creation of man.
[clickandtweet handle=”” hashtag=”” related=”” layout=”” position=””]God has given you a task: to raise godly children in a godless world. Instead of living in fear of what the culture can do to them, we can embrace this calling and prepare our children for the battle.[/clickandtweet]
Our children can be encouraged to keep their focus on God’s purpose for them. What does God require of us?
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22: 36-40
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee? but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27
We are not commanded to approve of sin, but we are commanded to love our neighbor, do justly, love mercy, walk humbly, care for widows and orphans, and keep ourselves unspotted from the world.
My friend Bambi (Fitly Spoken) wrote a great post after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage at Revive Our Hearts. It’s what first encouraged me that our children were born for this time. I think you’ll find it very encouraging.
My friend Bambi (Fitly Spoken) wrote a great post after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage at Revive Our Hearts. It’s what first encouraged me that our children were born for this time. I think you’ll find it very encouraging.
History is full of exciting tales of heroes. But if you look closely, almost every historic hero was someone who swam against the tide, who stood for what was right, and proclaimed unpopular truths.
Remind your children of this when you study history together. The right path is always the narrow one. When we teach our children about culture through the lens of Scripture, they know that they serve a big God who is eternal, and not a temporary popular culture.
Stay strong, parents. You may be raising a Daniel!
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Amen, sister. I cannot believe it's gotten to the point that they are making laws about bathrooms. Bathrooms are the hot topic. So ridiculous. People don't know up from down anymore. But this is our world, and we have to make the best of us. We have to work within our time, not just wish things were different.
This was an eye opener for me. I am a very happy person most of the time and I tend to tune out the things of the world that I feel are wrong or anger me. By doing this, I don’t know that my children are learning anything other than what they absorb from their surroundings. They know our stance on things such as this but we have not taken the time to truly discuss it and let them know what they will face. Thanks.