Title: The Death Of Innocence / Topic: Moral-free Education

Today’s Reading: Genesis 3; Genesis 4; Genesis 5; Luke 2

Scripture: Genesis 3:10-11
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

[Here's an extra ditty we received in an email about kids' ideas of what they learned in the Bible. One kid wrote, "He split the Adam and made Eve . Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet." Pretty funny.]

Observation: Getting back to the scripture, above, Adam and Eve weren't embarrassed about being naked because they weren't even aware that they were naked! Before they sinned, they were innocent. This is the similar to the condition of babies and little children (although even babies and little children do have an inborn sin nature). But little children are not self-conscious of being naked -- they are blissfully unaware of it.

Application: I just think of how much our culture "educates" everyone (including very little kids) about evil. Much of it is done with the misguided value that all education is good, but the effect on humanity is definitely not good. Little children (and even adults) don't need to know so much of what is broadcast today. The general common awareness of perversion has had the effect of normalizing it to the point that even unspeakable and hideous practices have become defined as mere "alternatives".

I love the words of the Apostle Paul who wrote: "I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." (Romans 16:19) Education, just giving information, is not good unless within the context of a moral code which categorizes the subject matter and guides the formation of character. I know that evil and perversion have always existed, but how nice it would be to live in a culture in which these things are not promoted openly. Oh, to be innocent again.

Prayer: Lord, help us. We are in a swamp of moral degredation and all of us have been polluted by it. Help us to know how to purify ourselves in mind and spirit that we may be holy and pure. And protect our children from the ravages of immorality. Make your Church a holy and powerful thing once again.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.