Shaping Young Minds
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” ~Romans 12:2
Painting a room in our house a few weeks ago, I happened to overhear a television show my wee girl was watching. This particular episode of Wishing Poof hammered home one main message: “Make the decision that’s right for you.” The message was taught, sung, and repeated over and over. Turning it off, I explained to our daughter how the message – “Make the decision that’s right for you” – paved the way to millions of mommies in America murdering their babies. I also went on to teach how Wishing Poof’s message was absolutely antithetical to Christianity! Jesus got down on His hands and knees to wash His disciples’ feet (John 13). Jesus declared, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12-13). Jesus made it known that He “came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Jesus taught us to love our neighbor by putting their welfare above our own, which is what He did on the cross.
After banning Wishing Poof from the Dykes household forever, I switched to an episode of Barbie instead. This episode’s sermon was, “If you believe it’s true, it’s true” (I kid you not). Repetition and songs reinforcing “If you believe it’s true, it’s true” ensued. After putting down my paint brush and switching off and banning Barbie from the Dykes household forever, I explained to my daughter that foolish people used to say, “You have your truth and I’ll have mine,” until they became more stupid and said, “You make up your own reality and I’ll make up mine,” until they reached rock-bottom stupidity and said, “You affirm my made-up reality, or else!” (which is what we see with the transgender movement). I taught her that there is ultimate objective truth, that all truth is God’s truth, that God’s Word is truth, that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, etc.
Reader, you may not need to be reminded to do the laborious work of monitoring what your children are exposed to, but I did. Nevertheless I also want to underline that what/how your children think and believe will be shaped by someone. If not Barbie or Wishing Poof, then friends, teachers, online influencers, or someone else. We, as parents, must be the ones to be diligent in making sure our children are not conformed to this world, but are transformed by the renewal of their minds (Romans 12:2). But how? By rinsing their minds in the Word, day after day after day in their education, in church participation, and . . . in family worship.
In our previous meditations we thought about why we worship and how we worship. Next week, Lord willing, we’ll consider when we worship. But today, I just want to reinforce how fundamental family worship is. What an opportunity, by God’s grace, to shape our children’s minds with the truth, that by knowing the truth they will be set free. If we don’t teach them, someone else will, and for my part, I can’t see a more excellent opportunity to bathe their minds in the truth than regular family worship. Regardless, let’s teach God’s Word diligently to our children, and talk of it when we sit in our houses, and when we drive in the car, and when we put them to bed, and when we get up in the morning.
Rev. Rob Dykes, Pastor of Preaching & Congregational Care