The purpose of this new series is to help parents defend their children and other children across the country and around the world. We have readers from almost 200 countries and territories and most tell us they have little voice in how children are treated.
As we mentioned in the first part of the series, Satan’s goal has always been to destroy the family. It’s part of the devil’s war on God’s plans for humanity and this planet. The deception began in the Garden of Eden and continues to this day. The question before us is about a proper Christian response to the war on children. What should we do?
A Reasoned Response
Our response to any attack on children should first be reasoned. That means it should be logically valid. It should also be informed and thoughtful. We’ll get to those in a few minutes.
The first thing we need to do is understand why children are under attack. Why would anyone want to hurt a child?
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. Genesis 1:27-28
Satan knew that humans would be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, so he attacked that very mechanism of fruitfulness – the human family. By introducing sin into the human race through deception, the devil injected an evil poison into humans that would multiply across the earth even as people were fruitful.
For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 1 Timothy 2:13-14
Keep in mind that Satan is God’s enemy. Satan’s attack is toward God. It’s personal. We learn in 1 John 3:8 that “the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus came to earth the first time to accomplish what would lead to Satan’s ultimate destruction (Crucifixion and Resurrection). Jesus will return to earth a second time to complete what He started (Rule and Reign Forever).
Reasoned, logically valid responses are difficult in the kind of world we live in, but that’s the challenge before us. We need to take every aspect of the war and determine how to address them logically.
Before we start, let me add a warning. Much of the war on children makes no sense. It’s illogical. Which means that many of the people behind the war are not logical in how they think or reason. That means their responses are often illogical and unreasonable. Think about that for a minute. We need to respond reasonably to people who are often unreasonable. That will make our job harder, but not impossible. I find it helpful to be honest about the task before us.
So, what’s next?
An Informed Response
Our response must be “informed.” What I mean by that is we need to know the facts before we respond. It’s easy to respond emotionally when we see bad things being done to children. That may be okay if we’re trying to save a child from a bully’s beating. We rescue the child from harm even if it means we have to hurt the bully. We don’t have to know why the bully is beating a child, we just need it to stop. However, before we enter into the public arena and attempt to be heard about the war on children we need to be armed with facts and the proper way to share those facts with people in position to change the outcomes of bad behavior (warring against children).
Whether the war on children involves issues about education, health, sex, identity, religion, crime, etc., Christians need to develop an “informed” response. That means knowing the truth about every issue and being able to present that truth with some specificity. Details matter when responding in the war on children.
A Thoughtful Response
Third, our response should be “thoughtful.” What I mean by that is how we respond to attacks on children. A good response will be reasoned, informed and thoughtful.
The concept of “thoughtful Christianity” is summed up well in Ephesians 4:15 where we are told to speak the truth “in love” and in 4:25 to “speak truth with his neighbor.” Christians should “speak truth,” but they should speak it “in love.” That’s part of presenting a thoughtful response that is reasoned and informed.
Christians also need to speak “with grace.”
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6
Speaking “with grace” means being gentle and kind. Proverbs 15:1 — “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” This doesn’t mean we don’t speak with passion. It just means that we share our passion compassionately and without being harsh. A harsh answer, if if it’s true, often stirs up anger. As Paul wrote to the Philippians — “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5)
But It’s Emotional!
The war on children is often an emotional issue. People say and do things in the heat of battle that can be less than “thoughtful.” Take the abortion issue for example.
Legalizing abortion was one of the big stories I covered as a young news reporter in the late 1960s. Emotions ran high – very high. People on both sides protested publicly. Court battles raged. Even though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of legalizing abortion, the war continues almost 50 years later. Emotions continue to run high. Why? Because abortion is a war on children.
I know that many people will disagree with that statement. They believe that opposing legalized abortion is a war on women. The sides are clearly lined up against each other. One side sees a war against children. The other side sees a war against women. Is it one or the other? Or is it both?
How should Christians respond to the abortion war? Keep in mind that some Christians support legalized abortion while others oppose legalized abortion. That means Christians are often lined up across from each other in the war. How should Christians respond to an issue like abortion when they disagree with each other? They should all do the same thing:
- Respond reasonably (logically valid)
- Respond with information (fact-based)
- Respond thoughtfully (loving and kind)
Christians who disagree with each other need to take a step back from emotional responses and think before they speak. Can they develop a reasonable, logical response? Are they informed? Do they have truth on their side? Can they respond “in love” and with gentleness and kindness? If they can, then they’re ready to make their case. If they can’t, they should wait until they can.
We need Christians who can speak logically and lovingly in a world that is on a collision course with the family. The war on children and families is real. Christians should be able to respond to the war based on the truth of God’s Word.
That, unfortunately, is where things break down. Christians often disagree on what is true in God’s Word. For instance, many Christians can’t even agree whether Jesus Christ rose from the dead or is the eternal Son of God. If Christians can’t agree on facts that are basic and central to Christianity, is it any wonder that Christians often disagree about social issues affecting children and families?
Pray
So, how can Christians come together to fight a war when they are on different sides of the war? That makes it more difficult, but it doesn’t change the way we wage the war. The Apostle Paul gave us some insight:
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Paul addressed several major problems in the Corinthian church in what we know as 1 Corinthians. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to respond to their response. One group in the church responded as they should in obedience to Christ. However, a second group did not respond in obedience. How did Paul respond to that group?
Paul told people in the disobedient group that even though he was a flesh and blood human being, he did not war according to the flesh. Paul wrote that his weapons were not carnal (fleshly, worldly) but “mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
That’s good advice for Christians everywhere. We need to depend on God’s power and not our own. That means we look to God in prayer and not to our own fleshly devices. A vital part of our making a reasoned, informed and thoughtful response is to first depend on the power of God. Ask God to guide you as you engage in warfare for the souls of children and families.
Next Time
Now that we have a game plan for fighting the war on children, we’ll get specific on the facts. The abortion wars are first on the list when our series continues.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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