What are we teaching our children during this election?
Something disturbing happened in our house the other night. During our bedtime devotions, the conversation turned toward the Presidential election and our children piped in with surprisingly dramatic comments that basically implied that if the "other guy" wins, life won't be worth living! What?!?!?! Why would they say that? What have I been saying that has led them to these conclusions?!? We hardly ever watch the news or talk about politics when the kids are awake, but if we have, in any way, led our children to believe that our hope and reason for living is tied up in an election outcome then we have done them a major disservice!
I share this with you because we need to be careful what narrative we are perpetuating in our homes. When our kids hear us half joking that this is the end of the world, how will their brains process that information? In this time of great uncertainty, here are some things we know:
Whoever wins this election will be a sinner. He will do some things we like and some things we don't.
We will show respect to whoever holds the office of President (because God's word directs us to do this) and we will obey their mandates insofar as they do not require us to disobey God.
No matter what happens in November or anytime in the future, Jesus is the Savior of the world. He is the King above all kings. He will continue building His church and reconciling all things to Himself.
There is only one hope and Savior for the world and we don't have to choose Him - He chooses us. Praise God!
These are the things I want my kids to hear me saying over the next few weeks.
Speak true, parents. Our kids are listening.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Psalm 20:7
"You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. but you are the same, and your years will have no end."
1 Peter 1:10-12
