“Terror Trainees: New ISIS video shows indoctrination of kids as young as 5.”
This headline, from the Fox News website, Tuesday, February 21, 2015, under their heading, “Terrorism”, sends shivers down most of our spines. “How dare they!”, we say. “Poor children!”, we say. Both of those, rightfully so. However, let’s not miss something here…actually, a few “somethings.”
#1. Children are being taught the values of their parents.
#2. Children are being taught to recognize both that they have an enemy who is dangerous to them and what that enemy looks and acts like.
#3. Children are being taught to use the weapons of their warfare provided to them by their fathers against their enemy.
#4. Children are being “welcomed” (obviously for the most part in this example, conscripted) into the “whole” of the mission.
Tell me, please, how does that substantially differ from what Becky Fischer of Kids in Ministry International (kidsinministry.org) set out to show the Christian world in the film Jesus Camp (2006 Oscar nominated documentary) that caused such an uproar in both secular and religious circles.
Becky was vilified and verbally “crucified” for…
#1.Teaching children Godly values, heritage and the practical application of those things.
#2. Teaching children that the devil is real, that he is their enemy because they love God and that they can recognize the devil’s tactics.
#3. Training children to use their God-given “weapons of warfare”, – not against people but – against the strategies of the devil.
#4. Making room for the children to be active participants in the spiritual lives of their families and their churches.
The devil ALWAYS perverts what God means for good. Let’s not let him co-opt any more of what God desires for his children – of any age.
Is it any wonder that God has been shaking the Church around the world for the last 20 + years to return to its roots to train, equip and release the children and teens to intercede and be active participants – both inside and outside of the church. Trust me, it’s not just, “Cute!”: it’s as serious (in some cases) as “life and death!”
I know I am not the only one who has seen the problems of our children telescope (or domino) down through the age groups.
25 years ago it was our Sr. High schools that presented the most (discipline, drug, moral) problems. That (almost silently) morphed to the Jr. High or Middle Schools where the same problems became more widespread than they had been at the High School level. Today, we have elementary age children selling and using drugs, sexually accosting other children on and off of school property and being taught myriad lifestyles that are anything but Christian.
Let’s not let the world tell us that we’re just like the terrorists. Let’s not let the Church tell us that children should be seen and not heard until they are adults. What we teach our children – at home and at Church – can either hinder (or even maim) them for life or equip them to live life to the fullest and fulfill all that God has for them.
Let’s bless our children by not only seeing that they HAVE the best (schools, doctors, dentists, activities) that we can give them, but by instilling them with a love for God – equiping and releasing them TO BE their best for Him!
Mary Tome – Advisory Vice President
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