On a warm, sunny afternoon early last fall, while completing an outdoor painting project on our home, I was shot several times by a little 4-year-old neighbor boy.
Of course, I wasn’t really shot at least with a real gun. But I fear that the toy my young neighbor used was, in his imagination, shooting very real bullets at me and, in his fantasy, causing my very real death. He went about his “game” in a deliberate, measured way, handling, aiming and shooting his toy very methodically. Though certainly he had never received “professional training,” the sad reality is that, in a very tangible way, he had from TV, story and comic books, electronic games, role-playing games, videos, and perhaps, saddest of all, from tragic, real-life news stories.
Were his actions nothing more than a harmless display of a child’s imagination? The rash of recent dreadful outbreaks of violence in public schools the result of a growing infatuation with all manner of violence and corruption strongly suggests that such influences lead children’s imaginations to play which is far from harmless.
Children’s Toys: the Christian Home
Christian parents cannot afford to be naive concerning the dangers linked with some popular “games and toys,” promoting violence and corruption. These toys—and their electronic, computer game equivalents—quickly mold the impressionable and creative imaginations of our children in negative ways, if allowed in our homes.
We are reminded of the question asked of King Hezekiah by the prophet, “What have they seen in thine house?” (2 Kings 20:1515And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them. (2 Kings 20:15)). In moral application to the present day, this question ought to cause every Christian parent earnest, heart-searching exercise before the Lord. Toys, games and other kinds of entertainment which children are exposed to in their homes are all part of that mix of experiences that forms their ideas and actions.
Children’s Toys: the Source
It is from men’s hearts and thoughts no different today than in Noah’s day when “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” –that such entertainment for our children is conceived. May God preserve us!
The “perilous times” in which we live a day when the “love of many shall wax cold” call for earnest prayer and great carefulness on the part of parents, as they consider what kind of toys, games, activities and entertainment will be allowed in their home. How gracious of our God that He has promised wisdom for those who feel the lack of it (James 1:55If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5)). We do well to earnestly seek it from Him!
Children’s Toys: Perception and Reality
Many seemingly harmless children’s toys are, in reality, based on mythical, science fictional or supernatural fantasies. The heroes or heroines in these games and toys are often portrayed as part beast and part human, possessing immense strength and, worse yet, occult powers. Violence, corruption and even the occult are underlying themes of many children’s toys and games. But they are presented in bright, colorful, inviting ways. Such toys are a solemn example of those Satanic influences presenting themselves as “angels of light” whose real purpose is the destruction of our children.
Sadly, even “family oriented” companies, spending untold millions of dollars to create imaginary, fantasy worlds of entertainment, base many of these bright and exciting “kingdoms” on subtle themes of atheism, idolatry and corruption.
Children’s Toys: Scriptural Principles
In 2 Kings 4:40-4140So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. 41But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot. (2 Kings 4:40‑41) and Isaiah 7:1515Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. (Isaiah 7:15) we have two incidents which contain wonderful principles for guiding Christian parents who must face such battles against these influences every day.
The sons of the prophets had gathered various vegetables for the pot of stew that was to feed them. One had unwittingly gathered a poisonous gourd and shredded it into the pot where it was unnoticed until they began to eat. Immediately the cry went to Elisha, “O thou man of God, there is death in the pot.”
How often Christian parents cry out to the Lord in the same way that the “pot of experiences” their children have gathered during each day contains “death.” God’s provision is as wonderful as the deadly condition is frightening.
Elisha takes meal (a beautiful type of Christ in His manhood perfection) and puts it into the poisoned stew. The result is that the poison is neutralized and the sons of the prophets can now eat and gain strength from the meal.
How important that in every circumstance of our children’s lives, including the natural realm, Christ as a Man on earth is applied to each experience. In doing this, the hidden and subtle poison is neutralized, and our children suffer no harm.
Children’s Toys: Their Proper Place
There is nothing inherently wrong with toys and games. We feel they are a needful part of the realm of nature. But we encourage parents to consider getting toys for their children which simulate or relate to normal, healthy environments (toy offices, kitchens, workshops, tools and many others).
Also, many happy times can be enjoyed by parents and children in pursuing a large variety of family games and hobbies. There are many hobbies (collecting something, for instance) which are not expensive and afford hours of enjoyment.
For example, one dear brother, whose children were interested in stamp collecting, encouraged them to collect stamps from the nation of Israel. This provided a wonderful way to share and explain the Word of God with his children while they enjoyed their hobby together.
In Isaiah 7:1515Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. (Isaiah 7:15), there is a principle which encourages parents to give something better to their children, before their appetites are filled with that which the world offers. They should fill them with both butter (spiritual richness) and honey (sweetness in nature). It is absolutely vital that parents trouble themselves to give to and to fill their children, especially when—for the sake of conscience—they must take away or refuse certain other kinds of toys and entertainment.
When one becomes a man (both in the spiritual and the natural sense), the things of a child are put away. But until then, may God grant understanding of the times to dear Christian parents who seek to preserve their children from corruption in the midst of a crooked and perverse world.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true... honest... just... pure... lovely... of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:88Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)).
Beloved brethren! Can we desire anything less than these same things for our precious children?
Ed.