What's Not in the Box?

   We have been looking into the box I use to teach my classes..now let's look at somethings not found in my box: modern media. I am well aware of nursery and children's programs using power point, television, and other contemporary media to get the message across. Many curriculum packets have cutesy music or cartoon-like pictures to assist their planned lesson. When faced with these items I smile and walk away. Modern media propaganda are never found in my box, and as it is my conviction, it never will be. But why?
     Media vies for our attention in so many ways- phones, Ipods, Ipads, computers, TV. These things are in our hands and in our faces all day every day often from rising to resting. Kids, and adults alike, get enough of this in their daily life- they just don't need it at church as well. A long standing conviction held by my family is that what stands as our entertainment should not be part of our worship and discipleship. Oh yes, gasping and balking are normal reactions. It's okay.
      When teaching the Bible and the truth of God's love/sacrifice for man we are trying to teach truth. In a media driven world the lines between truth and reality are very blurred. If Jesus looks just like the character from a child's cartoon channel, how do they grasp the concept Jesus is real, but the cartoons are fantasy?
       Spend a little time with children and we start to see that entertainment/media is abundant but opportunity to explore/imagine is short. Some children are afraid to make a mess or are unsure how to play without lights and whistles. I understand families are busy and play/explore is a messy thing..yet.
      In my classroom my conviction leads me to set up opportunity for learning fact from fiction..to explore from raw material..to create and participate. I am prepared for mess making, and cleaning up. Letting the children take a break from the noise and the entertainment won't hurt them...it gives them opportunity to do things they naturally long to do.