Who’s really raising our children? Christian psychologist James Dobson writes, “By the time the average preschooler reaches 14 years of age, he will have witnessed 18,000 murders on TV and countless hours of violence. Time magazine once wrote, the average viewer sees more than 9,000 scenes of suggested sexual intercourse or innuendo on prime time TV in one year. Most of our children have iPods loaded with music (mostly unchecked) that carry the messages of violence, the occult, sadomasochism, rebellion, drug abuse, promiscuity and homosexuality according to the U.S. News and World report. It is estimated the average teen between seventh–12th grade listens to 10,500 hours of rock music. We haven’t even touched on the influence of music videos, Internet or peer pressure. Our kids don’t grow up by accident; they grow up on purpose and by an agenda.

We need to be very aware, if you have children, God has entrusted you with a precious gift and given you a great responsibility to rear them to pursue him. And there are plenty of other things to trying to pull them away. “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.” (Psalm 127:3) Be alert parents, you be the one raising your children or some other things will be glad to do it for you.

Dr. William Burnham is a pastor at Point of Grace Church in Covington. He can be reached at burnhamw@charter.net.