SYNOPSIS:

GENRES: Action/Adventure and Science Fiction/Fantasy

TIME: 2 hr. 40 minutes

RATED: PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking.

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OUR THOUGHTS ON THIS MOVIE

(Recommended Age Group: 13+ years)

Obviously Avatar is not a movie for kids. However, if you have teens and you’re not offended by seeing movies made by non-Christians with a non-Christian worldview—which describes almost every movie that comes out of Hollywood—then you’ve probably already seen it.

We’ve spent quite a bit of time in preparation for writing this article, reading reviews and comments from viewers about this movie all over the web. Frankly, the thing we came away amazed about is how so many Christians seem to be offended with Avatar’s non-Christian content.

In the comments we read, it has been criticized for being anti-God, anti-America, politically biased and supportive of non Christian religions. The question we were left asking is, “You paid money to see a movie made by non Christians in Hollywood. Why were you expecting the movie to reflect a Christian worldview?”

We live in a fallen world, but we’re citizens of God’s Kingdom. We’re called to grow in our Faith and to help bring others into the Kingdom so they can do the same. We are not citizens of this world whose task is to make everyone else—non-Christians—behave themselves so that we can have a nice place to bring up our children. Yes, we should care what goes on around us, however, it’s our focus or emphasis that we’re talking about. We can’t make others behave differently than they believe they should, just so they don’t upset us or contradict our worldview.

There’s really only two honest ways for Christian parents to deal with Hollywood’s movies. Either do your homework and only go see movies that are made by Christians and have a Christian worldview. Or go see some reasonable and rating-appropriate movies fully expecting typical Hollywood content—because that’s what you are going to get—and then discuss the movies with your kids.

We at ChristianParentingDaily believe that movies can provide an awesome opportunity to talk with our kids about the difference between the way the world sees things and what the Bible teaches. We of course don’t believe that Christian parents should intentionally serve up a plate full of rotting food just so that they can have a discussion with their kids about how awful it made them feel. Watching ‘R’ rated movies and/or movies that you know contain a load of garbage, and fooling yourself that you’re seeing it so you can talk about it as a family is hypercritical.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

However, watching reasonable movies and using them to help your kids learn to chew on the meat—or fat—of the entertainment and spit out the bones of misconception, is a reasonable response to our culture.

Our purpose here isn’t to review the movie—most of you have seen it and have read the reviews—but to provide some talking points that you can use to generate conversation with your teenagers who have seen it. Print this out and drop it on the dinner table at meal time and let the discussion fly.

Lewd Language

The movie contains a fair amount of off-color language and a few occasions where God’s and Jesus’ names are used in swearing. This kind of language is rife in our culture and it would be difficult to imagine how we could prevent ourselves or our kids from hearing it at all. Fortunately, hearing offensive language isn’t forbidden in the Bible; it’s using it that we’re told not to do.

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. (Exodus 20:7)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:4)

Unfortunately, unless we’re careful about our constant exposure to, and our attitudes towards swearing, we can find ourselves slipping into the habit of using language that’s unacceptable for Christians to use. Discuss with your kids why swearing is inappropriate for Christians—because “we’re not supposed to” only goes so far. Here are some questions to get the conversation started:

• Would you like your friends and family to use your name as a swear word and have your name—and person—become synonymous with frustration, stupidity and bad things happening? How do you think the Lord feels when we use his name merely as a throw away expression (OMG) or a swear word?
• Can we use God’s name carelessly in front of non-Christians and then expect them to believe us when we tell them about how good he is and how much he loves us? Do we diss the people we respect, or is that inconsistent?
• Read Ephesians 4:29 above: We are called to love others. When we swear at someone or about something they did, are we demonstrating that love? Love is patient, love is kind…
• Read Ephesians 5:4 above: The Bible says that we are to count it all joy when stuff goes wrong (James 1:2) because we know that God will work things out for us and that we’ll get stronger trusting him through it. When we swear when something bad happens, are we demonstrating our joy and our trust? Shouldn’t our immediate response show our thankfulness to God who’s willing to help us through trouble?
• God has called us to be holy; are we demonstrating our desire to be holy when we use language that’s crude and represents or depicts sinful acts?
• It’s not the words themselves that are wrong, it’s what they say about our attitudes, our Faith and our purity. If that’s true, is using substitute words (darn, frig, flipping, ship, omg etc.) any different?

Military Bashing

We read many viewer comments complaining that the movie had an anti-military message. The viewers taking the other side are quick to point out that the movie specifically states that the soldiers are EX marines who are now working for the corporation that is funding this expedition. The original group fires back that the uniforms, symbols and language all seem to identify these men as US soldiers, not mercenaries.

The Bible says that God is the one who set up the system of governments and the authorities to keep the peace and punish those who do wrong. (Read Romans 13:1 – 5) After reading this portion of scripture, start the conversation with these questions:

• Just as police help keep law and order within a country for a government, their army protects them from threats outside their borders. So don’t these verses show us that God uses armies as well as the police to keep those who do wrong in check?
• Even though God has ordained governments and their police departments and armies, isn’t it possible for politicians, police officers, judges and soldiers to also do wrong? Isn’t that why we have government authorities that check on government authorities? Also, in a democracy, aren’t the citizens similarly empowered to speak their mind or use their vote when they believe the government is abusing their power?
• Do you think this movie is anti-military or anti the misuse of military? Anti-American or anti-greed?

Racial Wranglings

Some have called the movie racist. The Bible is clear that we are to treat every human being, regardless of race, sex, status, financial position, etc. as equal and with respect whether they are believers or not.

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. (James 2:1)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

So we know what we believe, here are some questions about the movie:

• Do you think the movie’s message is racist or anti racist?
• Do you think the movie’s depiction of the Na’vi people is somehow a racist and negative depiction of Native Americans, African Americans or any other people group? Or do you think the movie is merely saying that, “Just because people are different from you, doesn’t mean they have less rights and just because you have more power than they do, that doesn’t mean you can take advantage of them”?

Religious Misconceptions

Many have complained about the worship and religion of the Na’vi, complaining that the movie is promoting earth worship or New Age Spiritualism. There are even scenes of worship rituals for, and prayer to, Na’vi’s unseen female deity.

In fantasy fiction, other worlds inhabited by otherworldly creatures with different customs, powers, and beliefs are created. Lord of The Rings, Narnia and even simple stories like Jack and The Beanstalk are fantasy fiction. The Lord of The Rings and the Narnia books were written by Christians, but we read very little in these books about prayer and Faith in God as the Bible presents it. There are even things done by the good people of these books that Christians should not do. Why?

It would be very awkward to impose Biblical accuracy on an imaginary world that God did not create as well as on imaginary people that he did not send his Son Jesus to die for.

The purpose for fantasy fiction is for entertainment and also—when it’s written with a message—to take us to another place that will help us reflect and observe something that may be good and/or wrong in ourselves. The message in The Lord of The Rings has to do with standing up for more than only your rights. It’s about courage in the face of adversity, friendship, acceptance of others despite their differences, servant leadership, and the true responsibility of, and not misuse of, power. All of these messages are Biblical, yet the Bible is not once mentioned in the story.

Here are some discussion starters:

• Do you feel that Avatar is merely a regular fantasy fiction—beliefs and all—trying to make a point, or do you believe its makers actually have a religious agenda that they are pushing?
• Do you think that the similarities that exist when you compare the Na’vi’s religion to some of the naturalistic and/or spiritualistic religions that are around today, were meant to promote those religions?
• Do you think that the creators of the movie created this religion for religious purposes or as a message on the environment or neither?
• Do you think the Na’vi religion will cause any of the movie’s viewers to be more open to naturalistic and spiritualistic religions?
• Not much is said about the Faith—or lack thereof—of the humans who have travelled to Pandora from Earth. What could be said about that part of the movie?

Political Maneuvering

Many have pointed to certain lines in the movie that seem to reveal a political agenda; “preemptive strikes,” “shock and awe” and fighting “terror with terror.”

A few simple questions:

• Do you see the movie as having a political agenda or as one speaking out against injustice, greed and the misuse of power, or both?
• Do you think it unfortunate that the writers added this language?
• Have you seen movies from Hollywood with political agendas? Do you expect it, or does it bother you and why?
• If a movie is supportive of a certain political view, does that make it anti-Christian?

Blue Modesty & Marriage

Some have complained about the fact that the Na’vi wear only a  lion cloth and very well placed bead and feather necklaces. There’s also one scene where two of the Na’vi ‘mate for life’.

Here’s a couple of discussion starters:

• Do you think that partial nudity is being promoted in the movie or that its creators wanted to properly reflect the way these people were most likely to dress? Or do you think they had another agenda, such as ticket sales?
• There are cultures in our world where partial nudity is acceptable and common-place. Do you believe there is a difference between depicting cultural partial nudity as a way of life and the sensual depiction of it?
• Jesus told us that looking on a member of the opposite sex with lust in your heart is the same as committing adultery (Matthew 5:28). How do you think that applies to this movie?
• The Bible book of Genesis tells the story of Isaac and Rebekah. Abraham’s servant was sent to get a wife for Isaac. With the Lord’s help he found a woman who agreed to go with him and to marry Isaac. When Isaac and Rebekah first met they went into a tent and became husband and wife forever (Genesis 24). The story seems to show that back then, agreeing to be husband and wife and then making love made you married for life. Different cultures have different marriage ceremonies. Did you find the Na’vi ‘wedding’ ceremony offensive? Or did you find it refreshing because the movie creators showed that sex is for marriage and marriage is forever? How is this different from the modern day—and unbiblical—concepts of casual sex, dating sex, and living together to see if it’s going to work?

The Road to Zion

The Bible teaches that God has written eternity on our hearts.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

…since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts… (Romans 2:15a)

You’ve heard it said that before we come to Jesus, we all have a God shaped hole in our hearts. The fact is God created us in such a way that His truth and the salvation story somehow ring true when we hear them—and if we’re open to hear the ringing. What I find fascinating is that writers who apparently don’t even understand God’s redemptive plan, will let the message that was written inside them by the hand of God, flow out of their hearts into their pens, creating uncanny parallels that end up finding a resonating ring in the hearts and minds of their audience.

Here are a few possible parallels to discuss;

• Fantasy Fiction usually takes place in a fantastic world and contains amazing creatures and/or beings with wonderful powers. Could it be that one of the reasons we all love this kind of movie is that it resonates with our interest in Heaven; an awesome place beyond imagining, with wonderful beings such as angels, cherubim and seraphim and amazing power and promise?
• Jesus always was and is part of the trinity. He became a human for the sake of our salvation. He died to help us, and then rose from the dead with a human body that he’ll have forever. Do you see a rough parallel in Avatar’s story?

If you’ve thought of other great discussion points or you’d like to share some great conversations that you had with your teens about this movie, feel free to add your comments.

The home that I raised my kids in had many rooms, and sometimes I literally had to become a mini search party of one in order to find out where everyone was. I would be between tasks and hear the glorious but telltale sound of complete household silence; always glorious because there’s no noise, but telltale because the level of silence is a meter that gauges individual seclusion. Complete household silence usually indicates complete individual seclusion.

That’s when I would go on my one-man search party. As I found each child, I’d sit for a short time and engage him or her in a little “wazzup” talk. It takes only a few minutes, but it reconnects everyone to the family collective. The best part is that it doesn’t take long. You just need to take advantage of the minutes you have between tasks to personally connect with each of your children.

Another thing I did and still do to counteract individual seclusion and get in some quality family moments is to get some or all of us to seclude ourselves in the same room. If my wife and I are reading in the evening, sometimes we’ll grab our books and sit in the living room. Then we let the other family members know what we’re doing and they’ll sometimes grab their books and join us. I really love doing this because we end up laughing and talking and taking breaks together.

It takes only minutes to battle seclusion, but it’s worth it.

I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that there are times when your marriage isn’t always as great as you’d like it to be.

In my family, we have 3 very active children, a fourth one on the way, a family-run business, and we homeschool. Finding time to spend alone with my wife is a bit challenging.

Yet I know for an absolute fact that the times when I take her out on dates and give her my complete, undivided attention and focus means more to her… and to our marriage… than almost anything else I could do.

I know this because she has told me so… more than once.

All the flowers, chocolate, jewelry, movies, or anything else I “buy” for her don’t even come close to the love she feels from me when I simply give her my time and focused attention. It makes her feel valued and cherished by me.

One of the best dates we’ve ever had was exactly like this. Since Valentine’s Day is coming up,  I asked her to briefly share about it. (The book she mentions is called My Wife Journal, and I highly recommend it no matter what stage of marriage you are at.)

“This is what I can tell you from my heart. I will always remember our date on a cold winter night.

Thank you for dazzling me with something more beautiful than diamonds and much more significant than flowers!”

Fellow Dad, I can’t tell you enough how much my wife appreciated this date. I hope this encourages you in your marriage. 

You can learn more about the “My Wife Journal” here.

Blessings on your marriage,
Joey Watkins Founder, FamilyDads

PS – Don’t forget, Valentine’s Day is February 14th! 

FamilyDads is a dad-founded and dad-focused organization committed to helping dads prioritize and lead their families. Learn more at http://www.FamilyDads.com ]]> http://christianparentingdaily.com/2009/02/03/best-date-ever-by-joey-watkins/feed/ 0 http://christianparentingdaily.com/2009/02/03/jesus-laughing/ http://christianparentingdaily.com/2009/02/03/jesus-laughing/#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:27:47 +0000 Christian Parenting Daily http://christianparentingdaily.com/?p=1098 The Greatest Mission Trip You’ll Ever Take

Jesus Laughing
Posted: 31 Jan 2009 04:38 AM CST

My Aunt Linda emailed these images to me. In the email it said that some people went to visit a seminary in Florida and found a man sketching large images of Jesus in about 30-45 minutes. The artist preferred anonymity, stating that he wanted the images to speak for themselves. If you’re able to zoom in, you’ll see that the drawings are signed, “Jesus Painter”.

I find them beautiful beyond words. This is what the ministry at TGMT is all about – bringing our children into the love and light of Jesus Christ so they can come into relationship with Him. go to article…

Regardless of your thoughts about the recent election, this point in time is unique in our history. It marks the inauguration of the 44th US President.

The President of the United States is a position of immense power, unique prestige, instant fame, and world notoriety.

But you know what? Our role as dads is more important. It really is… Yes, it **REALLY** is.

Presidents come and go. Just think about all the presidents that have served so far in your lifetime. Sure, they make decisions that affect the direction of the country. And this next president will do likewise.

But as dads, we have something that no one… and I mean NO ONE… else has.

We have “father power.” It is the tremendous influence that we have in the lives of each of our children.

It is the power of our relationship with them, simply because we are their earthly father.

It is the ability and opportunity that we have as their dad to impact them, for all their lifetime, as well as their children and future generations of our family.

It is the privilege and responsibility we Dads have to instruct them, model to them, and disciple them in spiritual matters.

It is from us, Dad, whom our son will learn about masculinity, what it means to be a man, what it means to be a father, what it means to relate to a man, and if he has what it takes to be a man.

It is from us, Dad, whom our daughter can learn what it means to be truly cherished, how to relate to a man, what qualities to look for in her future husband, and if she is lovely as a woman.

With all due respect to Mr. Obama… even now… his greatest importance and lasting influence will be in the lives of his two daughters.

He, like each of us dads, has a power even greater than the position of President of the United States:

“Father Power!”

Let us remember this amidst the media adulation and attention being given at the inauguration and in the months ahead to the new US President.

Blessings to you and your family,

Joey Watkins

Founder, FamilyDads

FamilyDads is a dad-founded and dad-focused organization committed to helping dads prioritize and lead their family. Learn more at http://www.FamilyDads.com

www.disciplelikejesus.com

Check it out here.

Almost two weeks ago while driving through our neighborhood in the evening, I saw something in a front window of a house we were passing that caused a second look. A Christmas tree already set up – and it was just past the middle of November! The next evening my eyes were immediately drawn to 2 other houses that had their Christmas lights up. Again the following evening, a few more houses were lit up and so on and so on. The Christmas season had begun (well at least in our neck of the woods).

These early birds obviously love this time of year and enjoy extending it out as long as possible. On the other hand, there are also those who find the season stressful and only start to think about Christmas a week before the 25th and then everything is over the day after boxing day.

Christmas can mean different things to different people. For some it’s about snow, pretty lights, decorated christmas trees, gifts, or fun with family and friends. As Christians however, we should never lose sight of the importance and impact of God sending his own son down to earth for us, and then to also die for us so that we would have the privilege to know him, be taught by him, be changed by him, and be loved by him. We should be celebrating Jesus and keeping our thoughts turned towards him and acting out of a heart full of love and thankfulness towards others.

There are many reminders during the Christmas season that help direct our thoughts in the right direction. Our family has a nativity scene in our home that we keep up year round but at Christmas, it gets center stage. There are also many other traditional symbols that most people think are secular but actually have roots in the Christian faith. The Christmas Tree, Stockings and Candy Canes are examples and the traditional legends surrounding them all point to Jesus. They are wonderful stories to tell your children at Christmas time and every time you look at one of them, you can also be reminded of God’s love for you. Do you know the stories? Not to worry, we have them handy here for you and encourage you to print them off or forward them to your friends. How much brighter and happier our Christmas will be this year as our thoughts are focused on Jesus.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

CHRISTIAN PARENTING DAILY

(Recommended book – ages 4 to 8)

THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE started over a thousand years ago when a Monk named Boniface used a small evergreen tree to teach people about God. First God is the creator, he created the tree. Next God is eternal like an evergreen tree is ever green. Also God is three in one, like the one tree forms a triangle and has three points. Soon after that, churches were bringing trees inside to help them teach like Boniface did.

Next during the middle ages, the church celebrated Adam and Eve day on December 24th. They would bring in and decorate evergreen trees with apples and twists of bread and use them to teach about the trees in the Garden of Eden and original sin.

Many centuries later, while walking home one winter night, Martin Luther saw icicles hanging off an evergreen tree and reflecting light. It reminded him that Jesus was the light of the world. So at Christmas time, he put up a tree in his home and put candles on it to represent Jesus.

Soon after that, people in Europe began putting up and decorating beautiful Christmas trees much like we do today to celebrate the wonder of Jesus coming to the earth to rescue us from our sins.

Boniface used the trees to teach about who God is and that he is our creator. The Adam and Eve tree taught about man’s fall in the Garden. Martin Luther went on to use lights to help the tree represent Jesus, the light of the world and complete the story. Then others added more decorations in celebration of all Jesus is and did. The tree is a reminder of God, creation, the fall, Jesus and the celebration of our salvation!

(Recommended book – ages 4 to 8)

THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING began in present-day Turkey about 300 hundred years after Jesus was born. The exact details of the story have been lost, but legend tells us that Nicholas anonymously gave three bags of gold to a man whose daughters could not get married because he had no dowry. The last bag of gold reportedly landed in the youngest daughter’s stocking. Thus the tradition of putting gifts in stockings began.

Nicholas served God his entire life. His many generous deeds demonstrated God’s love and inspired people everywhere to give unselfishly.

Slowly over a period of time his name and appearance changed. In England, Saint Nicholas became Father Christmas. Today we call him Santa Claus, which came from the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas. In the early 1800s, the placing of gifts in stockings was moved from Saint Nicholas Eve, December 6, and became part of our Christmas celebration.

Behind the legends that the real Saint Nicholas inspired was the true meaning of Christmas: God gave us his only Son because he loves us. God wants us to show his love by giving to others and caring for them.

(Recommended book – ages 4 to 8)
THE LEGEND OF THE CANDY CANE was born over 350 years ago when mothers used white sugar sticks as pacifiers for their babies. Around 1670, the choirmaster of Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, bent the sticks into canes to represent a shepherd’s staff. He then used these white candy canes to keep the attention of small children during the long Nativity service.

The use of candy canes during the Christmas service spread throughout Europe. In northern Europe, sugar canes decorated with sugar roses were used to brighten the home at Christmas time.

In the mid 1800s, the candy cane arrived in the United States when a German-Swedish immigrant in Wooster, Ohio, decorated his spruce tree with paper ornaments and white sugar canes.

The red stripe was added to the candy cane at the turn of the century, when peppermint and wintergreen were added and became the traditional flavors for the candy cane. Some sources say that a candy maker in Indiana developed the candy cane as a witness of Christ’s love. While we may never know the full history of the candy cane, we can share in the truth behind its symbol, the truth of Christ’s birth and redemption, and the gift of his love.

GENRES: Kids/Family and Animation

TIME: 1 hr. 37 minutes

RATED: G

OUR THOUGHTS ON THIS MOVIE

(Recommended Age Group: all ages)

We really enjoyed this movie, however after seeing the obese humans on their hover couches, a few of us were thinking that perhaps a little exercise would do us some good. Although you can glean that message from the movie, (too much couch potatoing and computer chair potatoing can lead to obesity), that’s not the message of the movie.

The movie contrasts the love relationship between two hard working robots with the humans of the future who have become so linked into entertainment, social media and gaming that they’ve all but forgotten what it’s like to have face to face interpersonal relationships. Wall-E causes a woman’s holographic computer screen to disengage and she seems to see the world around her for the first time. The same happens with a guy named John and when the two of them meet and accidentally hold hands (something the screen writers use as a wonderful symbol of personal interaction and relationship), they look like they’re discovering something foreign but wonderful.

There are some great talking point opportunities in this movie. Here are a few:

Discuss how the movie is not saying that TV, gaming and the internet are bad, it’s saying that interpersonal relationships are better. Discuss why they’re better and what kind of balance we should look for.

Wall-E, after being alone for hundreds of years, recognizes the value of another person’s company, attention and love and he’s willing to put in the effort and work it takes to get it. Discuss how valuable the relationships in our lives can be and how we need to put time, love and effort in if we really want them to be rewarding.

Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love others. Discuss how since God is love and therefore completely unselfish, what he tells us is always for our own good not his. Therefore, the two things that he says are most important, must hold the two greatest blessings as well. Loving growing relationships with God and others (interpersonal relationships) are truly the greatest gifts and rewards this life has to offer.

The movie is a good reminder to us parents as well. Limiting and or nagging our kids about time in front of objects with screens is perhaps not as effectual as teaching them about the wonders of relationships and encouraging them to spend more face-to-face time. If your older kids tell you that they’re doing that through the internet, let them know that that’s great, but not the same. Like Wall-E showed us, if you can’t hold the other person’s hand (connect with them person to person) it’s just not the same level of relationship.

If your kids are very young and they don’t like being moved out from in front of their screened instruments, try drawing them away with some planned relational time with you. Young children learn the value of interpersonal relationships by experiencing the joy of hanging out with their parents and receiving their attention.

This movie is a keeper and would make a great Christmas present.

The soundtrack is also amazing and a recommended purchase for great family music. Here’s what Wikipedia says about the soundtrack.

“WALL-E is the soundtrack to the film of the same name, mainly composed by Thomas Newman and released on June 24, 2008. Orchestration is credited to Carl Johnson, JAC Redford, Thomas Pasatieri, and Gary K. Thomas. Newman previously scored Finding Nemo; almost all other Pixar films have been scored by Newman’s cousin Randy. The soundtrack features excerpts from “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” and “It Only Takes a Moment” (both sung by Michael Crawford) from the Hello, Dolly! soundtrack, and “La Vie en Rose” by Louis Armstrong, as well as an original composition, “Down to Earth” by Peter Gabriel. Also featured are the classical pieces “Also Sprach Zarathustra” and “The Blue Danube”, famous by their appearance on the soundtrack of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Neither Etta James’s cover of the song, At Last, nor Aquarela do Brasil which were used in the theatrical trailers appeared on the final cut of the film or the soundtrack.”

We’ve been hearing a lot in the news about churches posting negative signs about President Elect Obama. One reads “Obama, Osama, hmm, are they brothers?” It hit the news and the pastor said that he was just trying to get people thinking. A conversation starter of sorts.

We heard about the latest one from Rick Sanchez on CNN. A church put these words on a large marque sign outside the front of their church, “America we have a Muslim President, this is a sin against the Lord, Ex. 20:3.”

Needless to say, it’s causing a stir. Although we do not and cannot agree with or condone the sign, we at Christian Parenting Daily think that this news story can be a conversation starter for Christian parents and their older kids.

Here are some talking points:

The sign uses the Biblical reference Exodus 20:3 which is the second commandment “Do not worship any other God’s besides me.” Do you think that America has violated this command by electing Obama?

Jesus derided the religious/political leaders of his day because they claimed to be following God but were not. However, he used their own written teachings and a special revelation from God about what their heart’s looked like to confront them, not suspicion and hearsay. Do you see a difference here?

Next, Obama himself has repeatedly said that he is a Christian and not a Muslim. Many Christians feel that the church Obama attended for many years has some funny ideas but it’s still a Christian church. Some people believe that Obama cannot be a Christian because of his stand on issues such as abortion. What do you think?

Did you know that President Lincoln was a Christian when he was elected but it wasn’t until years later during the civil war that he really became passionate about prayer and his Faith in God? Do you think a person can be a Christian but still have wrong ideas or make mistakes?

How do you think this verse should apply to this situation? “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15)

The Apostle Paul wrote these words when the wicked emperor Nero was ruling the Roman Empire , “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1 – 4)

No matter who you voted for, Obama is now the President Elect. What do these inspired Bible verses penned by Paul show us that we should do now? Why?

Have a great discussion and remember it’s better and more effective to help your kids think through the issues critically and Biblically then it is tell them how to think.

Here’s the link to the news article and video on CNN.