A popular children’s song emphasizes the importance of being careful as to what our children see, hear and say. The point driven home in the song for such focus is that there is the Father up above looking down from heaven above. He is aware of all that we do, and we should desire to please him in every facet of our lives.
A recent Rand survey gives us another reason for paying attention to the words of this song. A total of 1, 762 adolescents between the years of 12-17 old were asked about their sexual experiences and their television viewing habits. One year later they were interviewed again. The results showed that those who saw the most sex on television were twice as likely to initiate sexual intercourse within the next year compared to those who saw the least sex on television.
The survey confirms what the Bible and our common sense tells us. We all, especially our children, are influenced by what we see. Emphasizing the horrors of hell, Jesus warns us that our eyes can cause us to stumble (Mark 9:47). Knowing that our eyes are the windows to our minds and the initial step to affecting our actions, Jesus says, “…every one that looketh upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). The committed will to engage in sex, even before the physical contact is possible, is firmly in place due to the lustful thoughts brought about initially by what we see. Job was careful as to what he allowed his eyes to look upon. He attests, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then should I look upon a virgin?” (Job 31:1).
The results also showed that “talk” about sex on television had “virtually the same effect on teen behavior as depictions of sexual activity.” Exposure to verbal expressions of sexual desires, planning for sex, or descriptions of past sexual encounters are just
as powerful in their effect upon sexual activity. In the context of saying that fornication, uncleanness and covetousness should not be part of our lives, Paul adds, “. . .nor foolish talking, or jesting which are not befitting. . .” (Ephesians 5:4). Do I sense the need to remind ourselves and our children to also “be careful little ears what you hear”?
One of the factors revealed in decreasing pre-marital sexual encounters of teens involved the role of parents. There was a decrease when two parents were in the home, who also disapproved of pre-marital sex; who were religious and monitored children’s viewing habits. The survey concluded: “Most of these characteristics were also related to how much sex teens saw on television; however, viewing sexual content on TV was related in advances in sexual behavior even after these other factors were taken into account” Parents, just because you are religious and your child knows you disapprove of teenage pre-marital sex, if you do not actually engage in governing what your children see and hear on television, these factors of who you are probably will not overcome the effects of what your children see and hear.
The devil approaches us through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life (I John 2:16). He approaches our teenage children regarding sexual relations through all three avenues. Be vigilant and proactive.
Jerry Fite