|
May. 8, 2008
Training Children in Idolatry
I was recently posed the question, “How do you ensure that your children develop a God-oriented heart?”
I am participating in a small group study of Ted Tripp’s book, Shepherding a Child’s Heart. Mr. Tripp explains how man is designed by God to worship. That is part of the need God creates in us—the need for Him. Because of this, humans are easily bedazzled and impressed. We are designed that way. God designed us that way so that we would fill that need by choosing Him, worshipping Him.
But how can children choose to fill the urge and need to worship with God when many (most) parents throw at them anything and everything that awes and impresses them? If a little boy likes Spiderman, it is not long before he owns Spiderman underwear, Spiderman pajamas, Spiderman light-up tennis shoes, eight Spiderman t-shirts, all the Spiderman toys, Spiderman movies, Spiderman books, Spiderman coloring books, Spiderman dinnerware, Spiderman sheets, comforters, curtains, wallpaper border, and a sleeping bag…. Same goes for Dora, Sponge Bob, Blue’s Clues, Batman, Disney, Barney, or whatever the child starts to show an interest…
Hmmm. How are children going to choose to be in awe of and worship an invisible, infinite, omnipresent, omnipotent God when we continually give them tangible, visible, understandable gods.
Wasn’t that the Israelites’ problem? They were used to living in Egypt with tangible, visible Gods. The Pharaoh was a hero, who called himself a god with super powers. He was visible, tangible, audible. People were easily awed by him. There were statues, hieroglyphs, and action figures of him and his gods to see, touch, and feel. When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, God became real to them through the plagues and His supernatural works and protection. But, when Moses disappeared for a few days to the top of Mount Sinai, how quickly did they forget the invisible God and clamor for their tangible ones?
And just like parents do, when children are impressed or pleased and they run out and buy the Spiderman toy, Aaron ran out and got the Israelites their golden calf. It’s so much easier to just please them, to make them content, than it is to train them and teach them about the invisible God!
Think about how God tried to solve this problem for the Israelites. He commanded them, when they got to Canaan, to destroy and/or drive out EVERY inhabitant of the land and to not mix with them. God knew how quickly the Israelites would be lured and awed and impressed by the tangible, visible, false gods of the Canaanites, and their groves and altars and trinkets and jewelry and idols. And they were. Even the most “godly” of them thought nothing of having “idols” decorating their homes.
Isn’t that just like today—where even our Christian leaders think nothing of filling their homes with idols to entertain and awe their children. The Israelite girls copied the dress and styles of the beautiful and popular young girls of the Canaanites—much, I’m sure, in the same way young girls today copy the style and dress of their favorite Disney channel star. They couldn’t resist the beautiful groves and fascinating rituals/gatherings that were all the social rage if you were “cool.” Much like today we can’t resist the movie theaters or the TV or the video games, or the clothing with the idols plastered all over it.
Have you ever had a Godly leader suggest to you to consider turning off your TV? To not watch movies? Isn't this the same thing as God telling the Israelites to drive out/destroy the Canaanites.
We parents take the easy route. It is easy to let our children idolize things because they are designed by God to worship and idolize something. Giving them their idols keeps them happy and content. We like to see them excited, loving something, and taking an interest. We cater to their desires and their passions, help them amass their collections. But don’t we most want to see them excited about God?
Don't get me wrong--I'm not saying we shouldn't build a healthy appetite for our children in Godly interests--things they will one day be able to use for the Lord. But we must be discerning. When it comes to activities and the things we allow our children to put first in their lives as priorities--how does it measure up in the long-term plan towards Godliness and a life that serves God and makes a difference for His kingdom?
How many parents, as their children get older and older, start to complain and worry when their children aren’t interested in putting God first? Yet, they do not realize they are the ones that gave their children the idols that taught them to not put God first. How can we complain when our children aren’t excited about God when all their lives we’ve encouraged their excitement about their favorite cartoon characters, pop stars, and movie stars? It is hypocritical.
I am certain someone reading this is offended. I am not telling you what to do. Do whatever you feel is right before God. But please, consider, do you want your children to grow up with a God-oriented heart? Remember the first and great commandment: Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. That should be your ultimate goal for your children. You want them to grow up to seek first the kingdom of God. How you do that is your business, and your responsibility as steward of these children.
Might I suggest you try to be objective, take a step back and look around.
- How have you decorated their rooms? What characters are on their clothes? What movies/TV shows do you encourage? What toys do they collect?
- Do they know more about Dora or Spiderman than they know about Jesus?
- Or, more specifically, are they more impressed by Batman than they are by Jesus? What would hold their attention more? A Bible story or a Batman movie?
Oh, it is so easy to just let them love these things. But is it harmless? No.
Is it easy to train up children in the love and admonition of the Lord? No.
But what do you really want for your children?
I have been really working to help my 3-year-old grow in awe of God and Jesus. Although he knows who Dora is from a book given to him by an aunt and a toy phone I let him buy with a gift card (because he liked the phone, not because he loved Dora), I do not feed him the TV show or any other Dora things. It would be so easy to please him and buy him these things and teach him to “worship” Dora. He doesn’t have a clue who Spiderman is, or Batman, or Blue. He just received some really obnoxious Spiderman underwear and pajamas from a well-meaning relative -- and while we appreciate the thought and gesture, we got rid of them.
Unfortunately, we cannot completely control all the environments he is exposed to. He learned who Barney is by (sadly enough) going to church where the toddlers were pacified with Barney videos. I can’t avoid these “idols,” but I don’t have to feed his desire! It is so easy for a child to be awed by a “god” they can see, feel, touch, and hear—and wear on their underwear and sleep on in their sheets, and play with in video games, and play with in their toys.
How do I make my child awed by an invisible God more powerful than they could imagine?
First of all, I must not get him used to visible, tangible, imaginable, audible, worldly gods. If my child is used to being awed by the superhero he can see and be entertained by—mindlessly—how is he going to get his mind around the concept of an infinite God with greater powers and far greater wisdom than one who fixes problems the way we want them fixed?
First of all, I eliminate the competition. That’s what God would do. That’s what He commanded the Israelites to do. Smash the golden calf. Destroy all idols—and avoid those who would encourage you or tempt you.
Then I must, like Moses did for the Israelites, show and prove God’s majesty to my children. I must sow in my child the concept of the most Almighty, most powerful, inconceivable, omnipotent, infinite God. When I talk to my toddler, I tell him how Jesus made him, and how Jesus made everything, and how Jesus is everywhere and he can see us and hear us. I explain, as often as possible, why we do the things we do in order to please Jesus. I ensure that my toddler hears the name of Jesus umpteen-thousand times more than he ever hears the name “Spiderman.” It is my job to make Jesus real to my children. I tell my toddler Bible stories, tons of awesome Bible stories! The impressive stories of Jesus' miracles—great stories! Creation! The Flood! Babel! The Plagues on Egypt! Parting the Red Sea! The Walls of Jericho! David and Goliath! Raising the dead. Healing the sick. Feeding the thousands. Better than anything Spiderman ever did! I can take him outside and show him the wonders of creation. I can show him each sunset and tell him that God made it especially for us--painted fresh. And by speaking constantly of Jesus, my toddler, hopefully, will feel like he knows Jesus, and can picture Jesus as He was, and know the character of God through Him.
As my children get older, I encourage their prayer and conversation with Jesus. I teach them how to listen and be sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I don’t numb or obliterate this relationship with God by giving them shallow satisfactions daydreaming about movie stars, pop stars, and sports icons. I guide them in their prayers, helping them to recognize God’s answers to prayer, to feel His grace, and accept His love, and see His Providence. When they ask me questions, at times I prompt them, "Have you asked God what He thinks?"
I teach them how to study the Bible by sitting with them, and reading with them, and helping the Word of God come alive verse by verse. I help them apply it, and then as the Lord works in their life, I help them to see the results.
Many of my friends and family have known for a long time that I don’t do “idols,” but I don’t know if they really know why. Many of those who buy gifts for my children know not to buy anything Disney, or Superheroes, or not even animal prints. But do they really understand why? It’s not just a preference. It is a desperate and determined attempt on my part to make sure I don’t fill my children’s need for God with empty idols that would so easily impress and entertain them. I want my children to be awed by God. Perhaps I have failed to make my reasoning clear to them.
And when we’re "bored" around here, with nothing to do, God help me, I will not turn on the TV and give my children idols. I will draw them close around me, and tell them more about the immortal, invisible, most-high God, the creator of heaven and earth. I will tell of His greatness, His love, His majesty, His infinite wisdom, His power. I will tell the stories of His faithfulness, His miracles, and His wonderful providence. I will fill that God-given desire to worship by giving them God to worship. And when I fail to do so, I pledge that with God's help, I will do better next time.
The Bible tells us to be in the world and not of the world. If I can (God help me) train my children to know God, to hear Him, to see Him, to feel Him, then when they are in the world, they will not be impressed by any cheap imitations. They will be able to go anywhere, do anything, and they will not be swayed, deluded, or diverted from the One True God in any way. They will know how to walk in the Spirit and not after the flesh.
To go deeper, read my post on Children’s Appetites…
And may God so richly bless you and pour His grace upon each of you, dear readers, as you seek His best. You are in my prayers. |
| •
Post A Comment! •
Send to a Friend!
|
Comments
|
Posted by 
Posted by 
Posted by 
May. 10, 2008 - A voice crying in the wilderness