Garbage In, Garbage Out

It amazes me how much attention our society gives to pollution and the environment, of which I certainly have to agree there is a reason to be concerned.  But as so many thousands pour their time, money and lives into "protecting the environment", I am amazed that there is not at least equal awareness of the pollution being poured into our families and the need we have to protect them.  It makes me think of the old saying, "Garbage in, garbage out" - if we pollute the oceans, we will end up with polluted oceans.  Why, then, is it so hard to see the same connection with our families?  If we are exposed over and over to the pollution of our minds, will the same outcome not be a given?

Jesus was very clear on this point, when He was teaching in Luke 6 where He said, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."  I have watched this principal play out over and over with our children, and from a very early age.  The music, television and even friends we expose them to will dictate, to a degree, the actions and words we observe and hear back from them.

The other morning I was in the kitchen and overheard something beautiful from one of our oldest, who was in the other room - a worship song being sung full voice.  Now the background to this event is that this particular individual has challenged the types of music we have versus what they would like to listen to, but we have continued to encourage music that communicates God's truths.  To hear this same child singing and worshiping that morning, brought great pleasure to my heart because it is the fruit of holding to a value we feel strongly about. 

The same application is true with television - we have chosen to watch very little in our home, but the odd show or movie we have watched has often either brought direct consequences or blessings.  If we allowed them to watch _______ (worthless but supposedly harmless viewing), which may have been just silly even though not evil, we could often see an immediate change in their behaviour with us as parents and the way they treated each other as siblings.  Fortunately, the flip side was also true, if we put on _______ (something of value) I would often watch happy hearts acting out in good ways, as well as sometimes singing the songs of God's truths.  I am purposefully not giving examples of titles because I feel every parent has the right to decide what they are comfortable with calling worthless or valuable, or no viewing at all; and as parents, each of us will only have to answer for our own family someday. 

My desire in sharing is to draw our attention to a greater evaluation and awareness of what we are allowing our children to be exposed to.  If we can put time and effort into guarding the pollution of our environment, may we certainly be passionately pouring much greater time and energy into guarding the garbage that the world wants to pour into our homes.  My goal is to walk in godliness, while avoiding the trap of legalism - definately easier said than done, but let's ask the Lord to show us what He has for our individual family, and obediently guard those He has entrusted to us.