God may be bigger than the Boogey Man, but . . .

I think these two points supply the answer to this OP very nicely.

 

This is the real question, not whether or not Veggie Tales is appropriate.

I would explain that bad things DO happen, but God has a reason for it and He is the one in control of our lives, not other people. I would use the story of Joseph as an example and stress that God will use our trials for good, even if we don't understand when or how. I would not teach my kids that nothing bad will ever happen to them, but neither do they need to know all the gory details of what COULD happen.

 

From the OP:

God is bigger than the Boogey Man.
He's bigger than Godzilla and the monsters on TV.
God is bigger than the Boogey Man,
And [sumthin' sumthin'—rhymes with "V"]

From my then 4-year-old Nephew (he is now 12):

God is bigger than the Boogey Man.
Bigger than Godzilla and the monsters on TV.
God is bigger than the Boogey Man,
And He watches over you and me.

So Give Glory to God that he is watching over you lest when you are leading the worship experience of others you get out of the beat or away from the melody.

-YBIC Ed Edwards,
Enhancing my Church's worship experience
by being the head hUSHER

 

I have a 3 year old...yes I am 49 and also have grandkids..grrrrr

and Veggie Tales has never been a problem fo him, but we have had to take away the Ninja turtles and Peter Pan, because he wants to be a pirate or super hero. He has to wear a cape and a toy sword every waking hour.

He told me today that he needed to go outside to "save the day"

what I am saying is that some videos that we thought would be harmless, did indeed influence him in what we deem the wrong direction.

My wife just told me that some of the veggie tale videos do indeed have the wrong message....heck, i dont know....I dont watch them....I am just saying that I am amazed at the stuff that looks innocent but yet still has negative messages for children.

AJ

 

Thanks, yeah I figured that much.

That was the point that I was making when I said, "It is never to early to begin training your child..." Which rbell also musta missed:

Nothing I said could not be explained to a child on their level:

“I’ve never seen Veggie Tales but from what I’m hearing they are over simplifying things and that would be a concern of mine.” IMO-Telling a child there is no reason to fear monsters because of God’s special love is like telling them there is no reason to fear evil, and that is not only over simplifying, but it is untrue. Simply, if a child can understand that there is good he can understand that there is evil.

“The message that God loves them needs to be explained along with why He created the world in the way which He did.” To the child: God loves us and made a good world; He made it in a way so we could know how much He really loves us and because we know this we want to be good for Him because we love Him back, but not all people want to be good for Him.

“There are troubles and hardships we all need to be prepared for. That is why God gave us an Instruction Book about putting on armor and facing persecutions in order for us to gain knowledge which leads to understanding and wisdom about how to live our lives.” God is very smart and He wrote us a Book so we could read it and understand what is good and what is bad.

Now to reiterate my point that you and rbell seemed to have missed:
“It’s never too early to begin training your child to be wise about the truths that exist in the world not always being pleasant but part of God’s larger plans that have a purpose for being here.” Daddy and Mommy want you to understand that sometimes things are hard and if you do something that is wrong then it is our job to show you what is right. God has a really big job to show all His children what is right; Daddy, Mommy, Sister and You, even that turnip that just fell of the truck on the TV.

 

It is possible, you know, to allow your kids to watch a kids video with a positive message...but to not rely on it to teach them everything they need to know.

I think it's quite feasible for my kids to enjoy the Veggie Tales concept...and yet I take care of "filling in the gaps" regarding spiritual truths and practical issues. I don't exactly rely on Phil Vischer to raise my children. But...I also haven't seen anti-Christ messages snuck in (backwards-masked, of course) on the DVD's.

Methinks some of you might have missed my sarcasm. If Veggie Tales is raising your kids, you have a problem. But if Veggie Tales represents the embodiment of evil to you, you also either have a problem, or your name is Bill Gothard. And in that case, you have an entirely different problem

(sarcasm again).

I doubt we have either extreme represented here.

 

So telling a child that there is nothing to fear in this world, but to Fear the Lord, is wrong. I tell my son (7) that the devil and demons know that God is real and they tremble in fear. My son understands there are horrible people in this world our job is to tell him that and our job is to protect him. And pray endlessly for his protection.

You are making too much out of a veggie tales video, its a cartoon.

I do believe there are things on tv that kids shouldn't watch, so he doesn't. But I don't tell him that dressing up as batman and beating the snot out of me is wrong. I invite the fight.

I just don't get the logic, but that's just me.

 

So you are saying chidlren glean nothing from Veggie Tales, but silly songs?? If you say so. My experience with Veggie Tales is different far different.

I guess my son will no longer go to Sunday School, they just color and sing songs and have a Bible study to go along with it.

 

I understand what you're saying.

It's too bad that a sense of humor is understood as "mockery." I'm sure I've been corrupted by watching too much Bob and Larry.:laugh:

 

Haha Shotgun my 6 yr old is going to be Batman for Halloween and Nana just made him the costume and he loves to play too but he tells me that Batman is a good guy not a scary one. I think we give our kids less credit then they deserve.

 

I look at Veggie Tales as an alternative to other main stream cartoons on the television, rather than an alternative to reading them bible stories, and teaching them ourselves.

 

Its your job as a parent to teach them these things. You can't expect a children's cartoon to get that indepth and I don't disagree with them stating "special care".

They have a video on bullies too. This is why I have taught my son self-defense and tell him that there are times when someone is gonna try to hurt you.

The same way to you teach an adult, we live in a fallen world, evil is all around us, on the corner, outside our home, at school, even at times, church. Trust God to guide your ways, you may face hard times, you may have troubles, God never promised the road would be easy.

Are you questioning my intelligence. You are down on VT because they tell chidren God takes "special care" of them. Okay. Quit allowing your kids to watch them, do you not control what is viewed in you home? I don't think there is a lack of discernment concerning VTs, I think it is a manner of a good alternative to what is offered on TV. Your blowing it out of proportion, but that could be your standard MO.

I don't use VTs as a replacement for a real bible study, I use them at night before he goes to bed while he eats his cookies. My daughter, who is 7 months, like to watch a Christian puppet show. I can say that I did not use discernment in this case either, the puppets talk (puppets are fake and I haven't told her any different) and that will lead her down the road to ruin for sure.

 

Amen!!!

To get upset because VTs teaches children that God takes care of them is ridiculous....

But wat do i no? i'm jest a dum purson ho beleevs that win the Bible says that God cares fur us... it meens it.
I believe God takes care of his children...

It saddens me to see Christians that don't.

 

It says we are getting insulted by a man who hasn't yet learned how to press the eject button on the VCR. Please refer to the diagram...



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