Yep.
I’m not a cult leader, I’m not married to one.
I’ve seen a few documentaries about some crazies and yep I think they
are crazy.
Don’t you worry your sweet little bippy over the title of this blog
post. I haven’t gone off the deep end I
promise.
Having kids changes things wouldn’t you agree? As you get older your life comes into clearer
focus. The funny thing for me is: I
never KNEW it was ever OUT of focus. But,
perhaps that’s normal.
A big part of me wants to keep my kids away from all the yucky of
this world. How do you protect them from
it BUT teach them to be wise to it as well?
At what age is it ok for them to see some of it? Does it depend on the child? Probably.
I think the importance lies in teaching them to be IN THIS WORLD but
not OF this world.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
And THIS is where the REAL importance lies.
Not just TEACHING BUT BEING AN EXAMPLE to
your children how to be IN this world but NOT OF this world. THAT IS WHAT SCARES ME TO DEATH. THAT is where I feel like I fail and yet THAT
is the MOST important thing.
THAT is why I want to be part of a commune!
When you can shelter yourself from the outside enough to build and
confirm your beliefs and convictions within yourself enough to ENSURE you do
not even APPEAR to EVER waiver in the LEAST when it counts is
the key.
Let’s face it…this world is
hard. We are bombarded with images of
violence and sexuality and also plain old negativity and selfishness.
I wonder HOW IN THE WORLD it is possible to raise my kids up IN THIS
WORLD without inevitably making them OF THIS WORLD.
That’s where the commune comes in.
I’d love to live in a pretty, preferably WARM
part of our great country in a little town of likeminded people and raise our
kids without all the “keeping up with the Jones’”, garbage. I’d like to sing Kumbaya or better yet a
version of this beautiful song around a campfire.
Everyone works hard so we teach our children to do the same and NOT to
have the sense of entitlement which is so prevalent today.
We teach them that bad things will happen but
there will be a rainbow after the rain.
God will ever REMIND us that we are His and He will take care of us in
ALL circumstances.
“And I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never
again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a
flood to destroy the earth. And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant
which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with
you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be
for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. And it shall come about,
when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud,
and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living
creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to
destroy all flesh. (NASB) Genesis 9:11-15
I know a few people I’d love to join.
I can see this little world clear as day. BUT…the reality of this life is that God has
called us to "go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19.
The truth is it would be EASIER in the commune.
It would be easier to stick together and have
the "kumbaya" feeling at least for a little while (we ARE human after all…that’s
why commune’s tend to die off after a little while and perhaps in some dramatic
fashion).
The truth is ALSO that we are called to raise up our children to go
out in the world and be that seasoning of Jesus even in just 1 more persons
life. After all, “In the same way, there
is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than
over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!”
Luke 15:7.
I take this to mean if we stay in our communes then we do little/or really NO good for even just that one
sinner we might touch in our lifetime who could be rejoicing in heaven with
us.
What do you think?
Ohh I am always thinking about how I wish I could enclose my kids in a little bubble and keep them safe at home with me forever. It IS a scary, scary world out there.
ReplyDeleteI am actually terrified of having children and raising them in today's world - it's not an easy feat. I think about how much worse things have gotten since I was younger, and that's not that long ago - I can't imagine how awful they will be in 10, 20 years. But... I think you're right - I think that part of the challenge IS to live in the real world, and God will help us as we strive to do what's right and teach our children how to be in the world but not of the world
ReplyDeleteWe kind of live that type of life here. 3 adults will take care of 3 children. For the most part it works, there are some bumps but that's life! Since Josh is gone most nights my mom helps me and is effectively a third parent (although the most permissive!). We really try to shield the boys from materialism and a sense of entitlement. Unfortunately we have seen how these two things can ruin people and tear families apart.
ReplyDeleteI like how you wrote this, Kelly =)
ReplyDeleteit's funny, though, because my reason for wanting to actually live a communal life has nothing to with sheltering, but about community. I believe that we've become waaay too independent and "self-sufficient", but really it has made us just more busy and stressed in crazy ways. the times I have experienced communal living have been the best, most relaxed times of my life. I find that it actually frees us up to reach out to others more =)
So tempting to just cloister yourself away, hide and grow easily, as you said. But you're right, we're supposed to be IN the world, too. Great post.
ReplyDeleteSuch a true post! I don't have kids and sometimes wonder if I even want to because I think: How do I raise kids that love our lord in this world?
ReplyDeleteI belong to a church that is very widespread (east coast to west coast) and there is a definite sense of community there. But then comes this; some of the things that others let their kids do I wouldn't want, so then what? I think perhaps trusting God to guide us is the only way to go. Blessings to you dear :)