ISSUE:What’s wrong with my child watching television? Nothing. But are you actually paying attention to what their viewing? For this issue, parental discretion is advised.
RESEARCH AND STUDY
Recently I had the opportunity to spend four months with my adorable, charismatic, and unusually smart four-year-old niece. After school she, like most children, are ready to relax in front of a high-definition, satellite television to give their young minds an opportunity to be entertained. But what’s happening is that they are being EDU-TAINED; educated and entertained all at the same time.
The edutainment I saw did not come from sci-fi or horror films. What I witnessed came by way of popular children’s programs. These ‘shows’ are cleverly disguised as kids programming and though seemingly innocent, are giving your children an education in abomination.
According to Nielsen Media Research data, children view an average of nearly 3 hours of television everyday1. Another study found that approximately 32% of 2- to 7-year-olds have television sets in their bedrooms2. I know both statistics to be true in the instance of my niece; but what I want you to do is think about your preschoolers. All sorts of ungodly, age inappropriate and devilish information is ENTERING their young minds and EDUCATING them a minimum of 21 hours per week in the privacy of your home.
Deuteronomy 18:10 – 12 says, There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium (wizard), or a spiritist (spiritualist), or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD,’ Therefore, if your child is watching or participating in an activity that glorifies, instructs, or demonstrates how to practice the aforementioned - your child, is by default, participating in an abomination. You may be thinking ‘Not my baby!’ Well, throughout this new series, you’ll see how the enemy has interwoven abomination into animation.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Ask God to show you the truth in this series and how it applies to you and your family. Ask Him to prepare your heart so that you’ll be open to make the needed changes. This is not the time to point fingers or single out relatives and friends. If you’re a parent, relative, or guardian who’s allowed your children to view such programming – repent! This is not intended to bring condemnation. This is an opportunity for us all to take note and be proactive.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Tonight or whenever your schedule permits, sit down and watch television with your child. Actually pay attention and LISTEN to how many references and inferences are made to witchcraft, sorcery, wizardry, vampires, zombies, fairies, curses, spells, magic, powers, and the like.
Copyright 2011 © Real Issues Ministries®. All rights reserved.
1 1998 Report on Television. New York, NY. Nielsen Media Research; 1998.
2 Roberts DF, Foehr UG, Rideout VJ, Brodie, M. Kids and Media at the New Millennium: A Comprehensive National Analysis of
Children's Media Use. Menlo Park, CA: The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation Report; 1999
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