What Unspoken Influences Surround You And Your Kids
- Willliam Vogel
- Aug 5, 2017
- 3 min read
What Unspoken Influences Surround You? There are influences all around us today. But what unspoken influences do you have in your home, business and ministry offices? Deuteronomy 6: 5-9 says, "And Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words which I command thee this day shall be on thy heart; And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou liest down and when thou rise the up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand and on the frontlets between thine eyes. and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on the gates." What unspoken influences do your children see in your home? The power of sight and thought combined on the brain makes for indelible tracks of belief. Just simple reminders of the family Bible verse or a family song printed on the wall where everyday the family sees it, helps to solidify a belief, a philosophy you want to see instill in the lives of those around you. A simple note attached to mirror as you brush your teeth and prepare for the day transforms thinking. There are so many unspoken influences in the classrooms of Schools. Next time you are in a public school check out the bulletin boards and posters your children are confronted with everyday. I make it a habit to check out the bulletin boards and the plaques the teacher has on her desk whenever I go to a back to school event with my grandchildren. I also look over the titles of the books the teacher has on display. Why? Because this teacher will influence the worldview of my grandchildren and their fresh, fragile and innocent minds are taking it all in. An interesting fact is that by age 13 most children have already established their world view. The Barna institute has done the research and they found that the beliefs a child holds at age 13 will not vary much when they are in their adult years. The most effective way to influence the beliefs is by teaching children while they are young and are still in a spiritually formative stage. I recently overheard a conversation with my grandchildren as they spoke about how hot it was. One child said, you know why it's so hot? Another replied, no why? The "innocent" 8 year old without giving it any thought replied "because of global warming", and the 10 year old chimed in "you mean climate change." The amount of time the school and teachers have direct influence on your child's mind and heart is quite revealing. The average American child spends 943 hrs in an elementary school per year. What are they learning? According to Nelson report, children today spend 28 hours a week watching T.V. In fact it is now estimated our children spend 6 hours a day in front of some sort of screen. What are they learning? I can remember when I was not watching T.V., I often would stare at the walls ...what was I learning? I would look at the pictures and the things on the coffee table ..taking it all in. Then it was off to play. For those who are saying to yourself, but I send my kids to private or Christian school. This is usually a better choice but, be careful; the teachers teaching in Christian schools were "forced" for accreditation reasons to higher levels of education. Which meant many have been sitting in secular Universities being indoctrinated in philosophies and thought contrary to Biblical truth. Make sure they are learning the truths of Gods grace and are not teaching your children false Biblical doctrine. What are the children learning? Your homes, your businesses and your ministries give off scent and an unspoken influence. Here are some questions and thoughts for reflection. 1. Due diligence and investigation is necessary and forthright. 2. Ask yourself "What do the pictures and sayings found in my home say about me and mine?" In your business office, what is the message that you leave in the hearts of those who visit you? 3. What messages are those who enter my home or business picking up subliminally? 4. What books line my shelves? 5. What music plays in my home or your business? 5. Do you have the T.V. on in the background all the time? 6. What do people see as a priority in my life? Or the priority in my business. 7. How much time do you actually influence the lives of your children? Where are they learning and from whom are they learning?