Discerning Media - In the World, but not Of the World

John 17:15-18, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” 
 
“In it. Of it.  What’s the Difference?” 
On His way to the cross, Jesus has successfully completed His assignment to live “in the world” while remaining free from the pitfalls “of the world.”  The Father sent Him into the world to show people what it means to live by a different standard, and how to enter a right relationship with God through faith. At the very end of His journey on earth, Jesus prays for His followers also to be sent “into the world” to do the same. 
 
Since that time, Christians have struggled to discern between being “in the world” and “of the world.”  Our children are growing up in the tension between separation from worldly influences and surrender to the cultural mainstream. As parents, we know that complete isolation from worldly influences is not an option for our kids, yet we recoil at the thought of our kids embracing the values and standards put forward through mainstream media. 
 
Jesus showed us the way forward. He lived among the worldliest of people without embracing their values or endorsing their behaviors.  With His Word as our guide, we have the opportunity to equip our kids to follow His example.
 
“Is there an Interpreter in the house?”
As parents, we can become interpreters of culture for our kids, teaching them how to use utilize Biblical discernment in daily life. Careful not to endorse worldly values, we must be prepared to interpret those values through the lens of God’s Word. For one example, consider the Harry Potter series. For years Laura and I resisted reading the series due to our convictions about sorcery and witchcraft. However, when our oldest daughter entered a classroom which was divided into Potter-esque “houses,” we saw her struggle to understand her context. As a family, we read the first two Potter books and watched the movies. This opened two doors in the spiritual life of our family: Our ability to help Molly understand the scriptural distinction between spiritual forces of Light and Darkness, and Molly’s ability to speak to her peers about the same. This exercise equipped her with some basic tools of discernment; now she is prepared to offer scriptural interpretation to her classroom friends.  She is also ready to use the same approach when confronted with similar situations in the future.
 
Likewise, when it comes to music selections, we are trying to help our kids use discernment in both the message and the “messenger.”  While some lyrics might be innocent enough, some musicians demonstrate values that stand in direct opposition to our Christian faith. We encourage our kids to take a few minutes to read the lyrics of a song separate from the catchy beat, and to ask themselves, “Is this what I  believe about life, friendships, or love?”
 
Whether it is through books, movies, music or some other media outlet, I’m convinced that our children will become the interpreters of culture in the next 20 years. As parents, we have the joy of preparing them to speak eternal Truth into that culture, pointing yet another generation in the direction of Jesus Christ. Let’s pray for them just as Jesus prayed for His disciples: “Lord, protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”