Caesar's Children

I don't want to lay a guilt trip on everyone with this one but Voddie Baucham makes one of those clarion call statements that needs to be on everyone's radar.  Voddie states that if we send our children to Caesar's schools why are we surprised when we end up with Caesar's children.  Obviously, he would like all children in Christian schools, as would most parents - another blog on that.  The point though, is that one of the many things that we as parents must do is make sure the balance of power as far as influences go, is not the world but Christ.  Your child probably spends at least 50 hours a week in school activities and another 20 in worldly sponsored media.  At best, your child spends five, that is 5, in church related functions.  Not to despair.  God has designed children so that parental input has much, much more salience to children than church or school.  However, you have to use that influence.  In Christian Smith's book Soul Searching, it is clear that running a close second to parents, hanging out with a Christian peer group is a major predictor of faith perseverance.  Your child really must find a sense of belonging in a Christian social network.  That is your job since they can't drive or choose wisely.  If they understand from you that your choices of influence for them are TV and soccer on Sunday and inappropriate movies or video games then that is where they will begin to believe they belong.  If your child can't go to a Christian school or you want them in public school that is not a big problem.  The big problem lies in what else they do and your conversations about their school experience.