Is There a Terrorist in Your Home?

By Ron Luce|Christian Post Guest Columnist

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It’s easy to camp out on the idea that we’re talking about what other people are doing. You may believe you’re not really a part of that; you’re not really shaped by the culture of the world. Oh, yeah? All of us have the potential to be deceived and shaped by what we see and hear. Perhaps you’ve realized that there has been more invasion of popular culture in your home than you were aware of. The good news is that it doesn’t have to stay like this.

You can turn your family around and proactively shape the hearts and minds of your children. Take the practical steps to remove these terrorists from your home. Limit T.V. viewing. Screen the media your kids want to engage in before you let them do so. This includes T.V., movies, and music. Be careful not to let them have T.V.’s in their bedrooms. Instead of family movie night, have family game night. Not only can you do that, but you must. It is the only hope your children have in the midst of a culture that is bombarding them with missiles of deadly assault at a velocity once unthinkable but now a bitter reality.

This article was adapted from Ron’s newest book, Re-Create: Building a Culture in Our Homes That Is Stronger Than the Culture Deceiving Our Kids. Recently released nationwide, you can look for it at your nearest bookstore, or visit www.battlecry.com for more information.

________________________________________

Ron Luce is the president and founder of Teen Mania Ministries, a Christian organization reaching millions of young people worldwide. He passionately declares the Gospel through Acquire the Fire TV broadcasts, youth events, camps and media resources, challenging teens to take a stand for Christ. www.teenmania.org

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LethalPhoenix »

Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:11 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 0

OMFG wow. Your an absolute weirdo. Its not a sin to watch stuff thats violent, or sexually perverse, god knows that the Bible is probably one of the most violent and sexually pieces of literature I have ever read, and yes, Ive read it all. This is why humanity's advance has been so slow. Because people like you have been holding it back. I hold good Christian values, but the zealots like you make me sick.
believer »

Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:13 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 2

prophet, humor can be a powerful tool in desensitizing people on certain issues and the media has done a great job in using sitcoms to do just that. And that's why parents need to be very cautious in what they allow their children to watch and at the same time adults need to be just as cautious with the programs we watch and this is also true of what we and our kids read as well.
Prophet »

Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:25 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

There is so much garbage on TV cleverly disguised as sitcoms. I had to get on my wife about watching Will and Grace. "It's just a comedy" she would say. It's amazing how satan disguises sin as comedy or music or entertainment. Not all entertainment is sin. I happened to like the Cosby show when that was on. 7th Heaven is another good one. But I don't watch much TV except the Discover Channel, TLC, HGTV, and Broncos! LOL. Although I wouldn't consider the Broncos as wholesome entertainment with as bad as they play.
But anyway, TV isn't a sin. Neither is the internet. But what you do with it could be.
believer »

Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:23 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

veil, apparently you did not read the article because that is exactly what Ron Luce suggests is that parents take an active role in what their children are watching and the video games they are playing and yes parents do need to be training their children in these areas, but at the same time the media needs to be more family friendly in what they present on television. But at the same time your premise that if parents raise their children right then they'll only watch and do wholesome things and if they don't then it's the parent's fault is just a tad naive. They are a number of parents who did a great job in raising their kids and yet many of their kids got into some type of trouble, it's called being a teen-ager.
Prophet »

Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:19 pm Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

This article is right on the money!
brotheraaron »

Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:35 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

Dear wbmoore, God bless you! Thanks for your prayers. Wherever you are, peace be with you and your home.
A
brotheraaron »

Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:33 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 1

Dear BarnseyJr.,

There is so much to say about what you have written. To keep it short though, I just want to say that no one is saying you support terrorism! That is pretext. The issue our of context. In context, I believe the author of the article was using "terrorist" as a metaphor to better illustrate the effect of having the media's influence in one's house; especially a house with young children. There are certain things that God has commanded of us. They all must be fulfilled to the Glory of God. God is an end, not a means, and cannot be 'used' for the improvement of one's life. One's life is improved necessarily by a relationship with our Lord and King; this is a result of the regeneration. In order to fulfill these commands, we are told "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. " This call to holiness is not done on our own power, but done by and through the grace of God. We meet the call with a willing heart, which, before becoming Christiains, was a heart of stone. Now a heart of flesh, a willing, supple and obedient heart, we come to the Father and receive the blessing of conviction to a holy life. This means resisting evil, being separate from the world while living in the world, avoiding worldly cares and desires, etc...

You said: "That is what I hate about Christianity... the overwhelming sense of 'righteousness' in having to force everyone else to see our point of view and that everything else is wrong." You are sadly correct in that some try to force others to see a particular point of view. However this is not Christianity, this is man. I, or we, can do nothing without Christ. Absolutely nothing. If I try to force your viewpoint elsewhere, and I do so of my own power, or of the flesh, it is fruitless.
However, if I rebuke you using the plain Word of God, and I do so out of love and with prayer, this shall bare fruit.
God bless you, and thank you so much for sharing your thoughts here.

Brother Aaron
wbmoore »

Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:47 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

brotheraaron,

Consider it done.

I know I'm opening myself up for condemnation on this board, but I wanted others to know (as if they can not tell) I struggle between wanting to please/apease people and being stern and being truly loving. My wife reminds me it is not being stern, but neither is it being weak. It is being truthful as kindly and gently and patiently as one can. Sometimes I fail miserably, though I think I try to be loving. I'm still learning tact and patience and gentleness. I'm still learning to not react, but to pray. My kids and wife and dogs and friends help me learn these things.
wbmoore »

Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:28 am Agree: 0 Disagree: 1

BarnesyJr48,

I am glad you claim Christ as your savior and Lord.

However, the Bible was breathed by God Himself. How big is your idea of God? God is all powerful, loving, righteous, just. He wants us to be in a relationship with Him. As such, He provided the Bible for us to get to know who He is, what He has done, and what He wants for us and from us. It behooves us to read it and use it to guide our lives.

If we think God is not all powerful and not able to provide a manual for life that answers many, if not all, the questions of life, then I submit we have God in too small a box. I happen to think God is bigger than I can imagine and more powerful than I can imagine. We need to stop trying to make God conform to us, and allow ourselves to conform to what He has said He wants for us.

I never said all television, movies, books, video games, etc. are evil. I said, "People need to wake up to the corrupting influence movies, television, radio, magazines, newspapers and books can have. Some of these things can provide positive and helpful ideas. Most are so corrupted by the world as to provide no truth what so ever."

These things can be corrupting. I spend much time helping young men and women come to understand what it means to be God's people. Often we are so calloused by what we watch or do that we are unable to discern God's will for us or the effect that the world has on us. What we watch and listen to and who we hang around with affects us, for good or bad. I use the bible to help guide my life, as God has provided us much wisdom in it that is far superior to the wisdom of what man provides.

It is not being arrogant or self-righteous to recognize I am not as smart as God. It is not egotistical to think I know less than God. I consider myself lucky to have been called by God to be His child and to be used by God for His purpose. I only pray I can become stronger in my faith and weaker in my flesh and walk closer with God and become more able to hear and obey Him.
BarnesyJr48 »

Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:53 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 2

I am truly sorry, but as a young British christian i have to say how much this article upsets me and makes me ashamed to call myself a Christian.
Why is it that everything is just another way to corrupt children? I have just turned 20, and I am a big fan of videogames and commercial music, so much so I am training at university to become a music professional of some kind. I have a good relationship with my parents, I believe there is a god etc al. Overall I would say Im a fairly well adjusted upstanding member of my community.
So does the fact I enjoy playing GTA or Halo mean Im suddenly supporting terrorism?
I do agree with this article on the issue of responsible parenting, that parents should always be involved with their childs intake of media, but such views that children should be cut off from all forms of popular entertainment is a very extremist view.
To sum up, the christian values that have been taught to me by my parents and my local church have always been about tolerance and love for others. As christians we should tolerate the media, because it has many benefits that are unexplored by this article. And we should love and trust our neighbours that they are good and sensible people, so that they give their children a balanced upbringing, instead of having our own views rammed down their throats.
That is what I hate about Christianity... the overwhelming sense of 'righteousness' in having to force everyone else to see our point of view and that everything else is wrong.
brotheraaron »

Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:45 am Agree: 2 Disagree: 0

Dear wbmoore:

If there is one things many of us Christians can communally laugh about, it is the number of times we've pulled our hair out, winced, squinted, ground our teeth, laughed aloud, pounded the table and vowed never to look at the Christian Post again... I can just imagine what standing at the pulpit will be like... Please pray for me, there are so many times I think I know not love.
wbmoore »

Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:22 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 0

brotheraaron

Amen!
brotheraaron »

Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:56 pm Agree: 4 Disagree: 1

Dear Veil:

Do you really need more proof that we "are truly concerned about the things on tv or in video games"?
Have we not just strung sentences together to propagate this concern? All you are saying, which is completely in unison with the humanist thinking of the world, is no different than what anyone else has said so far. Which is why the world is in such sad shape. You compromise. You compare your standards to worldly standards instead of to the standards set by God in His Word. Veil, I stand by God's Word over man's ANY day. Why is mankind sinking into a hole from which it will never crawl out? Because they reject God's Word for humanistic psychology and self-gratifying egoism. He IS SUFFICIENT!
wbmoore »

Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:31 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 2

Unfortunately, people and satan twist what God created good.

And as for letting children see whatever and discussing it with them, so you are saying I should let a three year old watch Texas Chainsaw massacre and discuss it with them?
Veil »

Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:05 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 3

Congratulations Ron Luce! You are a terrorist!

Because contrary to what the average american may realise, but a terrorist is not some muslim from the middle east out to bomb you. A terrorist is anyone, ANYONE, who would use FEAR and TERROR to try and force someone to change their way of life. And that is EXACTLY what Ron Luce here is doing, trying to scare everyone out there into believing video games and the media is evil. I mean, seriously, you're really going to try comparing video games to pedophiles? That doesn't even make any sense! Don't give in to terrorism people, ignore this man.

Also, wbmoore, those passages you quoted seem rather hypocritical. Was not the world and everything in it created by God? Is to not love it to simply let his work go unappreciated?

If you people are truly concerned about the things on tv or in video games, the best option is not to control what your children are allowed to view. It is better instead to speak with them, teach them to judge for themselves what is appropriate and what is not, teach them how to be media literate and how to see through the deceit that television will often promote as fact. If you cannot trust your children on their own to do what's right and proper, then you have not been a good teacher, and if you have not been a good teacher, you are a bad parent.
wbmoore »

Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:10 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 1

The Bible is quite clear; God loves you, God is holy, God is righteous, God will judge, God sent Jesus to suffer and die for your sins and if you believe God you will have eternal life.

John 3:16-18
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

The Bible is also clear we must not corrupt ourselves with the things of the world.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1 Corinthians 1:20
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

James 4:4
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

2 Peter 1:4
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

1 John 2:15
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
wbmoore »

Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:55 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 2

What stuns me is that people actually think the media present things of value without manipulating truth. Unfortunately, very few parents exercise any control over what their children watch - even so called Christian parents. This type of rant is exactly what needs to be preached from the pulpit. People need to wake up to the corrupting influence movies, television, radio, magazines, newspapers and books can have. Some of these things can provide positive and helpful ideas. Most are so corrupted by the world as to provide no truth what so ever.
pmykleby »

Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:59 pm Agree: 1 Disagree: 3

For one thing, I don't think any message can be explicitly taken from the bible, most of the lessons are open to extreme interpretation
brotheraaron »

Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:42 am Agree: 4 Disagree: 2

I think I understand where you are coming from, however, I don't think it is logical or even well thought out.

I'm not sure what you mean by medium? Are you referring to the type of interface, such as the Internet, the tv cable, theater, or the dvd player? Or are you referring to the type of tv programing, such as animation, news, drama, pornography?
In either case, lets follow your logic to its conclusion:
You seem to be saying that exposure of young people to the "truths" of this harsh and cruel world will equip them morally and mentally for actually facing these realities when the time comes (i.e. they grow up.)Since, you say, truth cannot be evil in itself, it can only be good, this precludes that it cannot be dangerous. Therefore pornography, or the exploitation of young women and the unreal expectation put upon both men an women, being a truth of the world because it actually happens, cannot be evil, will help prepare a little girl for the harsh truths of the world, as long as her parent is watching it with her to tell her... what? that it's actually not good?
Also, doesn't the decline in morality, modesty, virtue, inner and outer peace, selflessness and truth in the world today seem to mirror what the media, in your words, portrays as truth? Does the media effect this change upon the world, or does the world, declining in these areas for some other reason, create this change in the media, because possibly, the media is shaped by a corrupt generation? I think its the latter.

Do you think that the constant bombardment of narcissism, "I want it now" instant gratification, materialism, pornification, ultra-violence, Godlessness, acceptance of evil, etc... has not effect on young, impressionable minds? Is it not a concern that each generation, when it becomes senior in age, complains that "things are getting worse", successively through history? Is that not testimony in itself?

So when God tells us to resist evil, this allows us to vicariously partake in every sin imaginable on the tv, because it, at least, is truth?

By watching someone repeatedly enjoy premarital sex, copious violence, and an absolute hate for anything Godly, a little child, under the 'supervision' of a parent who can lead them in discernment, will benefit in her dealing with these 'real issues' of the harsh and cruel world?
Nonsense. You don't need to vicariously partake in something to know that it is wrong. Evil is plainly described in the Bible. No more needs to be given to it, because that becomes an indulgence in evil, which is completely contrary to what the Bible teaches.

This kind of "logic" is a part of the reason that the world, and even the church, is in the state it is today.
star2 »

Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:09 am Agree: 4 Disagree: 1

pmykleby - You don't learn to deal with these evils by intertaining yourself with them. The programs that are centered in evil rarely if ever give a Christian response to how to deal with it. Children have enough real life experiences with evil that their parents can help them know how to deal with it from a Christian perspective. Children don't need to be exposed to it on a continual basis by watching it and intertaining themselves with it at home through various media outlets (TV, videos, movies, etc.) Also, being intertained by these evil centered programs only go to make a child, a young person, or an adult numb to its evil. They become desentized to it. No longer is crime, brutality, murder, disrespect for authority, cursing, and etc a repulsive thing. And when they see it in real life they no longer will view it as evil; they'll just walk away from it as if nothing happened. Perhaps this is why so many in the Church no longer see anything wrong with being intertained by secular programming innudated with sin.
pmykleby »

Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:24 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 3

No matter what the medium or the theme of the message coming into your home, it cannot be evil if it is the truth. The world has always had evil in it, but, while the recent decrease in censorship in the media has been refreshing, it has also allowed a younger generation to witness the harsh truths of the outside world. But, you cannot hide these facts away from your children. Because if they do not learn to deal with them while they are under a parents watch, theres no telling how it will effect them when they are out in the real world.
brotheraaron »

Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:19 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 2

Do you care to elaborate on, or substantiate, my "thumbs down"? This issue is so near and dear to me. I'd like to know where I might be wrong in it...
brotheraaron »

Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:38 pm Agree: 7 Disagree: 4

Also,

I find it sad that even on a supposed 'Christian' news site, there would be such immediate revulsion to this man's conviction. It is something called discernment. How could you call a potential brother's calling to holiness "so extremist"? From the perspective of the world, the truth, God's word, the Gospel, ARE EXTREME. So extreme, that the Apostle Paul said - "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness" in 1 Corinthians 1:18... FOOLISHNESS is the gospel to those who know not the Christ and His work. So where do you stand, Christian?

It is those of you who hear 'extreme', when a man talks about resisting evil, that make up the chaff.
Repent, sinners!
brotheraaron »

Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:16 pm Agree: 7 Disagree: 3

Are you people blind? Please open your Bibles:

1Th 5:21,22 - "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil."

2Cr 6:17 - "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you..."

These are just a couple of verses that I'd like to point out to you for the sake of the Gospel. I am not going to 'concordance you to death'; this is just the tip of the iceburg of scriptural support for perspective of this article. Of course, you are entirely free to watch anything you want, and to allow your children to do so as well. I would like to emphasize that there is a solid foundation on which we must build our faith. The media deprives children of this. In fact, it starves them of this foundation.
This quote: "Really, there are only two things you can do to prepare your kids for the world:"
...sent a chill down my spine. There is only one thing you can do to prepare your kids for the world: "Love them as God does." Do you wonder why the North American church today is falling apart, is full to the brim of false-converts, and is plagued with controversy and grief? Because parents have no conviction, and are too afraid to raise their children to know and love Godly discernment. They put men before God (idolatry and pride), live a 'social gospel' (false teaching and heresey), and get further and further from the light, until the truth becomes offensive.

I grew up in a non-Christian home, I had a fairly 'average' upbringing. Now, as a Christian man, 32, married, no children yet, Oh how I wish my parents had had God... had they known discernment. The media is forever declining in its morality and growing in its tollerance of evil. Even at my young age I can see the diffence between what I used to watch, and what passes for entertainment today. My wife and I threw our tv out almost a year ago because we wanted nothing in our home that perpetuates the filth, immorality, heartache and unforgiveness that tv so often does.
In hindsight, your posts were heartbreaking. No wonder the church is dying out here. It is flabby, moribund, apathetic and hurting. People, wake up and pray for forgiveness, pray for holiness in your lives. I feel that maybe this post will fall upon hard hearts.
Prayerfully,

Brother Aaron
dongard »

Fri Aug 08, 2008 3:57 pm Agree: 3 Disagree: 4

lets cut to the chase. this guy is a cult leader seeking to indoctrinate youth. if it is true that he is reaching millions of children, then i hope that the FBI is listening.
B_Lange »

Fri Aug 08, 2008 10:40 am Agree: 5 Disagree: 3

Wow.
I am all for protecting my children from unnecessary influences, and I take steps to protect them every day.. but this is an incredibly ignorant and panic-inspiring rant that is going to have the unfortunate effect of sending parents into fits of obsessive overreactions.

Please.. must you be so extremist?
thewarchanter »

Fri Aug 08, 2008 9:07 am Agree: 6 Disagree: 2

As a Parent, I can understand the desire to protect your children.

However, this over-the-top rant isn't the way to do it.

Hiding your children from the world is no solution. It's still out there, and they will have to deal with it sooner or later. The trick is to feed it to them in small doses, with (short) moral and ethical discussions after. A short "what do you think they did wrong" type of Q&A will focus them on the idea that just because they saw it on TV or heard itin a song doesn't make it right.

Really, there are only two things you can do to prepare your kids for the world:

1. Teach them your morals and values, and how to apply them to daily life.
2. Teach them to think for themselves and to look at the world with a skeptical eye.

Giving them the tools needed to deal with the world is so much more preferable than having them hide in their room with their fingers in their ears, don't you think?
pvlman »

Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:14 am Agree: 1 Disagree: 3

Quick someone start marketing TVs fixed on the ETWN. Isn't this the same old story, hyped up with the current be very afraid climate?
bass_girl09 »

Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:08 pm Agree: 11 Disagree: 6

I know that small children are impressionable, and the media that they do view should be screened because they do not have the reasoning capabilities necessary to discern reality from fantasy. However, once a child is about 12 they have those abilities. It is said in this article that media in general is a terrorist. That is a gross exaggeration especially in the gaming realm. People game to de-stress after a long day, but would never dream of doing any of the things that they might do while playing grand theft auto x edition in reality. Those people that say they practiced in video games had a problem before the games even hit the shelves or arrived in their home due to problems at work, home, school, etc. the list goes on and on. To blame the media for any bad behavior or attitudes just gives people a scapegoat that will not fight back. As a gamer myself this article was obviously written by a person that has rarely enjoyed a video game...this deeply hurts and saddens me that someone would blame something else for the problems of the world.
Ranmaru »

Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:32 pm Agree: 16 Disagree: 4

Corrupt messages can (and are) spread by every medium in the world including ones that you don't mention like books, songs, theatre, newspaper, magazines and the very medium which you posted this article on, the Internet. That doesn't mean the medium as a whole is corrupt.
plorkin »

Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:14 am Agree: 39 Disagree: 6

I am stunned that you can compare terrorism and child sex abuse with media and entertainment. I think maybe you have had one to may shots in your morning coffee.

Many forms and elements of the media are inappropriate for minors and young people. This is why parents and guardians need to exercise caution and ensure they understand what their charges are interacting with.

This type of rant really in not very helpful to anyone, not least those that have really suffered as a result of terrorists or sexual predators. I think it would be best if you retracted it all.

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