To fellow parents, could we have a conversation about our rhetoric? It’s important because our rhetoric trickles down to our impressionable children. They hear us. They listen to us. Many of us should be frightened by this.
To fellow parents, our children see how we talk about leaders. They see how we talk about the issues of our day. They see how we group people together, label them, and throw insults towards them. They see the symbols we love and the symbols we despise.
To Fellow Parents, Our Rhetoric Trickles
To fellow parents, our talking points are not helpful. When we tear down those who disagree with us, our children are learning how to do the very same thing. Without a filter.
Something to think about: our Facebook feeds are on the internet which means as long as Facebook is around, our kids can go back and see how we talked about issues. If they have an account of their own, they can see, in real time, what we share, and how we share it.
But let’s be honest. Our kids don’t need to see what we post on Facebook or Twitter to receive the trickle effect of our rhetoric. They hear us.
Middle Schoolers and Politics?
Have you heard? Middle schoolers are now fighting over politics. To fellow parents, they got this from us. They heard our onslaught of insults toward President Trump so clearly that when they saw a kid wearing that red hat, a fight ensued.
Again, our talking points are not helpful. Why? They give us the illusion that we understand an issue to the point of helping us justify punching someone who doesn’t agree. And to be clear, this is for both sides of any and all issues.
A Different Path
To fellow parents, let’s imagine for a moment, what life will be like when our children are leading in the government, in business, in education, in the Church. Will they be shaped by the divisive rhetoric we continue to perpetuate and then resort to talking points to justify their outrage or will they go down a different path? Will they go down a path of meaningful and reasonable debate where all sides of any issue can come together in respect and discuss the facts of the matter?
My hope is that we would desire the latter option. The different path.
But not just desire it. Strive for it.
To fellow parents, the different path begins when we begin to clear the path for our children.
Now is the time to be real and talk about whatever issues we believe are important. But we shouldn’t settle for straw man or ad hominem arguments. Instead, we should lovingly and respectfully discuss the issues with those who we disagree with. And if we believe it’s an issue our children are ready to learn, we should explain our reasoning for believing the way we do.
To fellow parents, our children need to learn how to think and how to discuss issues with others in a loving and respectful way.
To fellow parents, our rhetoric trickles. Let’s make sure what is trickling is honorable to the Lord.
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. – 2 Timothy 2:14-26
[shareable]To fellow parents, our rhetoric trickles. Let’s make sure what is trickling is honorable to the Lord.[/shareable]
