Post by Messenger on Mar 20, 2007 10:14:39 GMT -5
1 Samuel 16:7 (New International Version)
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
This has been a subject that has always been in the back of my mind, but just recently, was finally brought to a head!
At the mall that I am a janitor at, this past Sunday, (3/18/07), there was a Beautiful Baby Contest held.
Now most people wouldn't have a problem with things like this. But are we REALLY aware of what contests like this are?
The Bottom Line in this area, is that we are using our children for nothing more that our own financial gain! We "primp", & "prime" them, like they are nothing more than a car for an auto show! THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS! HUMAN BEINGS THAT OUR LORD LOVES & DIED FOR! And we are treating them like nothing more than they are a painting, or a piece of pottery!
When you think about it, isn't this the EXACT SAME WAY that slaves were treated during the Civil War era? As nothing more than property?
This is a travesty! To use our children in this manner!
And do our children have a say in how they are used? NO! Did slaves have a say in how THEY were used? NO!
What really gets me mad about this, is that our Lord has a special love for children. Look at such verses as:
Matthew 11:25 (New International Version)
that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Matthew 18:3 (New International Version)
he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 21:16 (New International Version)
"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,
" 'From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise'?"
Mark 10:14 (New International Version)
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Luke 10:21 (New International Version)
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
Luke 18:16 (New International Version)
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
and on & on!
As Believers, we are called to BE as little children.
Yet, we use our children as nothing more than objects, for nothing more than to satisfy our own greed!
And here is something else to think about:
I remember the Jon Bonett Ramsey case. Do you remember that? Here was a beautiful little girl, who never had a chance to live any kind of a "normal" life, but was constantly being "primed", for one beauty contest after another! Where her parents showing real love to her, or were they just using her, to satisy their own greed? It is not my place to judge them, but did they REALLY look at what they were doing to her?
Here's another thought:
When a child who has been raised by their parents, has been entered in one contest after another. gets older, what kind of expectations will they have about the real world? Isn't there at least the possibility that they will grow up thinking that life is nothing more than to win contests, to look beautiful, to believe that nothing else matters in the world except to win? Is this a "normal" way to raise kids?
NO! These kind of events amount to nothing more than salvery! They amount to nothing more than using our children for our OWN financial greed, instead of raisng the child, & letting them live a "normal" childhood-& let them just be a child.
To let them run & play, & not have a care in the world! That is what being a child is all about-NOT about about being raised with the unrealistic expectations of-the only thing that matters is to win & look beautiful!
That's my opinion!
Bill
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
This has been a subject that has always been in the back of my mind, but just recently, was finally brought to a head!
At the mall that I am a janitor at, this past Sunday, (3/18/07), there was a Beautiful Baby Contest held.
Now most people wouldn't have a problem with things like this. But are we REALLY aware of what contests like this are?
The Bottom Line in this area, is that we are using our children for nothing more that our own financial gain! We "primp", & "prime" them, like they are nothing more than a car for an auto show! THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS! HUMAN BEINGS THAT OUR LORD LOVES & DIED FOR! And we are treating them like nothing more than they are a painting, or a piece of pottery!
When you think about it, isn't this the EXACT SAME WAY that slaves were treated during the Civil War era? As nothing more than property?
This is a travesty! To use our children in this manner!
And do our children have a say in how they are used? NO! Did slaves have a say in how THEY were used? NO!
What really gets me mad about this, is that our Lord has a special love for children. Look at such verses as:
Matthew 11:25 (New International Version)
that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Matthew 18:3 (New International Version)
he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 21:16 (New International Version)
"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,
" 'From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise'?"
Mark 10:14 (New International Version)
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Luke 10:21 (New International Version)
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
Luke 18:16 (New International Version)
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
and on & on!
As Believers, we are called to BE as little children.
Yet, we use our children as nothing more than objects, for nothing more than to satisfy our own greed!
And here is something else to think about:
I remember the Jon Bonett Ramsey case. Do you remember that? Here was a beautiful little girl, who never had a chance to live any kind of a "normal" life, but was constantly being "primed", for one beauty contest after another! Where her parents showing real love to her, or were they just using her, to satisy their own greed? It is not my place to judge them, but did they REALLY look at what they were doing to her?
Here's another thought:
When a child who has been raised by their parents, has been entered in one contest after another. gets older, what kind of expectations will they have about the real world? Isn't there at least the possibility that they will grow up thinking that life is nothing more than to win contests, to look beautiful, to believe that nothing else matters in the world except to win? Is this a "normal" way to raise kids?
NO! These kind of events amount to nothing more than salvery! They amount to nothing more than using our children for our OWN financial greed, instead of raisng the child, & letting them live a "normal" childhood-& let them just be a child.
To let them run & play, & not have a care in the world! That is what being a child is all about-NOT about about being raised with the unrealistic expectations of-the only thing that matters is to win & look beautiful!
That's my opinion!
Bill
I do agree though and I see what you mean.