If you have kids who are older than 11, they’ve watched pornography online, at least if they meet the national average. This is one area where we want our kids to be below average.
A new porn video is produced in the United States every 39 minutes, and $100 billion will be spent on pornography this year. The world is as scary as it’s ever been, but it’s not just out there. It’s in here too, pretty close to home.
I’ve heard disturbing things lately about kids who grew up in Christian homes who are addicted to porn by the time they finish high school. God will forgive them, of course, but the scars remain forever. God’s daughters are objectified, sex is distorted, and a young couple enters marriage with baggage that may never leave them. We simply can’t overstate how important it is for us to protect our hearts and the hearts of our children.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23).
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:6-8).
Your heart is who you are. Out of it flow the springs of life. You can be uncommonly attractive, incredibly intelligent, and a gifted leader, but if your heart is corrupt, nothing else matters.
Our kids are growing up in a hyper-sexualized culture. If you glance at the magazines in the check-out line or turn on the television, you’ll see images that present a grossly flawed view of what God wanted sex to be. Parents need to be cautious. The Internet is a wonderful tool, but it can also bring copious amounts of heart-corrupting garbage into our homes.
Be vigilant. Protect your kids even when they object . . . you want their hearts to belong to God. If your right hand offends you, cut it off, Jesus said. Do what you have to do to prevent the first ungodly image from entering your home. Set restrictions concerning Internet use. Use filtering software. Don’t let kids surf the Internet away from the rest of the family.
Maybe this sounds radical, but we’re fighting for the hearts of our children. If Satan has his way, he’ll fill your child’s heart with sin and filth. If he can grab your child’s heart while he’s young, it’ll be hard to undo the damage.
Give your children’s hearts to God. Let his Spirit fill them with love, wholesomeness, and purity. This is a fight that we dare not lose. Our kids need someone who’s mature and wise enough to do whatever needs to be done to keep them safe.
Purity is worth the fight. —Chuck
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