I recently was discussing with a friend that I had shot a few opossums by the henhouse a little while back. My friend politely told me that he was not the right person to be sharing said conversation because he was opposed to killing wild animals. I then responded that I had felt the same way, until I had to pick up the remains of a couple of my dead chickens from the floor of the chicken coop. Ever since that fateful morning the raccoons and opossums have become fair game if they are any where near my birds. I am obligated to protect my livestock.
I’ve seen similar sentiments expressed when people ask us (often with a sickened look on their faces) whether or not we kill the animals that we raise for food, and I say that we do. It seems that most people have no problem eating a slice of their favorite meat as long as they don’t have to do the work of slaughtering and preparing it. However, someone has to do the dirty work. It’s just easier not to think about it, and to look the other way.
These examples elicit an image in my mind of the “dirty work” involved in parenting, and how some parents just ignore some things, rather than get their hands dirty. Some of the “varmints” out there include bad influence and sins of all kinds; if we don’t take measures against them, they will attack our homes and influence our children. Too often, we turn a blind eye to the dangers of worldliness and the lusts that permeate our culture. Instead of protecting our children, we have, instead, invited the fox into the henhouse—whether through the filth of television or the humanist philosophies presented in public education. Greed, sex, idolatry, and just plain complacency are the norm—even within the church. We have lost our way.
And unfortunately, those who do take defensive positions (like a good farmer watching out for his birds) all too often get labeled as self-righteous, or “holier than thou.” They are criticized for sheltering their children or being anti-social. I’m sorry, but in the Bible sheltering is portrayed as a positive thing; it’s only our culture that puts a negative spin on it. Why? Because it’s easier to let someone else get their hands dirty, or to ignore the problems all together.
The Bible states: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” Yet we can live (and teach our children to live) with one foot (or sometimes two feet) firmly planted in worldliness. Too many of us believe that it is society’s—or church’s—responsibility to raise our children. This is even true when it comes to spiritual instruction. However, God has commanded us, as parents, to do the job (Duet 6:6-7). Many churches simply perpetuate the practice of “handing off” the responsibility for one’s flock, rendering parents impotent when it comes to having a spiritual influence on their children.
Are we willing, as parents, to get our hands dirty by calling evil, evil and good, good? Are we willing to cut sin and complacency out of our homes? Are we willing to keep the fox out of the henhouse, discipling our families and leading them according to God’s Word? If not, another generation will be lost to the world. I urge you to protect your flock and be willing to get your hands dirty.