In Wednesday night youth choir we sing a song called “Oh be careful little eyes”.  It goes like this.  “Oh be careful little eyes what you see….For the Father up above is looking down in love so be careful little eyes what you see.”  The song goes on to say be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little hands what you do, be careful little feet where you go and be careful little tongue what you say.  It’s a good song and one that needs to be taught to our precious children.

I have often told my children and girls that I have mentored in the past that as Christians we must be so careful as to what we not only watch and listen to but also what we read.  You see, the truth is that I’m not spiritual enough to just read anything I want to.  If I read every secular book and magazine that was available it would be impossible to live up to the high calling.  If I filled my mind with the things of the world I would constantly be battling the flesh.  I would struggle with sin and my mind would be filled with earthly pleasures.  I’m weak; therefore I must be constantly filling my mind with the things of God.  I can’t say with my mouth that I want to live for God and please Him but then with my eyes welcome the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life into my heart.

Does this mean I only read the Bible?  No, although there certainly wouldn’t be anything wrong with that.  I love to read Christian fiction.  I love to read History.  I love to read biographies of famous Christian men and women.  I also love to read commentaries and various Bible studies.   The point is that when I do read something other than the Holy Bible I try to be so careful that what I’m reading would be pleasing to God.  I want what I put into my mind to help me in my Christian walk and not hinder it.

Let me say here that just because the book seems to be “Christian” doesn’t mean that it is. Just because the author claims to be Christian doesn’t mean it’s truth. The average Christian Book Store has many books that I wouldn’t waste my time reading.  There are false teachings and heretical views hidden throughout many books.  If we are to grow in our faith then we must be more familiar with the Scriptures than anything else.  That way when we are presented with false teachings we will recognize them. 

Two particular books, “Conversations with God” and “Conversations with God for Teens” are a perfect example of just this.  The books are written by Neale D. Walsch and have been on the New York Times best sellers list for a number of weeks.  The author claims to answer questions asked by kids using the “voice of God”.  However, the answers that he gives are not Bible-based and go against the very infallible Word of God.  Questions like, ‘Why am I a lesbian?’ are answered with (and I paraphrase) because of genetics.  Then he tells her to go out and ‘celebrate’ her differences.  Another girl poses the question ‘I am living with my boyfriend.  My parents say I should marry him because I am living in sin, should I?  His reply is, ‘Who are you sinning against?  Not me, because you have done nothing wrong.’
Another question asks about God’s forgiveness of sin. His reply ‘I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive. There is no such thing  as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people. People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is ”judge not lest ye be judged.’  Not only are these books the false doctrine of the devil, but in some instances quote (in error) the Word of God.

As Christian ladies we need to be careful what we read.  As Christian parents we need to be aware of what our children are reading.  These books and others like it are being sold to schoolchildren through the Scholastic Book Club.  Our children are under attack. So I pray that you be sober and vigilant about teaching your children the Word of God, and guarding their exposure to worldly evils, because our adversary, the devil, roams about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). We know that lions usually hunt for the slowest, weakest and youngest of its prey.  May we ever be on guard, may we stand strong and be mature in our faith!  Oh be careful little eyes what you read!