Gender Stereotypes Bordering on Scary and Dangerous
I have now seen two YouTube videos with fathers promoting their ideas about gender.
In one, we see a father in the car with his two sons. He explains that his older son had received two birthday gifts that were identical, so they decided to exchange one at the local toy store. He then reveals the toy his son chose: an Ariel (Little Mermaid) doll. He states that he believes this is an important lesson for his son - that his dad will not reject him, no matter what choices he makes in life. No matter what, this little boy will never have to worry about his father not accepting him. (Sounds a lot like the Parable of the Prodigal Son, doesn't it?).
The second video (I hope) is not as popular. It shows a father with his son and two daughters degrading the father in the first video. His first inaccuracy is he states the original father is is not "training up a child in the way he should go," because he is allowing his sons to make decisions about their lives. He states, "When do children make good decisions?" He states that children will choose candy over vegetables and other arguments. Then comes the scary part. He hands his son a handgun and tells him to shoot at the target. This combination of religion and politics is his version of "training up a child in the way he should go."
There are several mistakes this second father makes in his video, in my personal opinion.
First of all, he assumes that if children are allowed to make their own decisions, they are going to be bad ones. Using his example of eating candy rather than vegetables, I can say that if a child eats too much candy and ends up with a stomach ache (which will happen eventually), that child is going to learn not to do that. Not by force, but by a natural learning process. I can point to my own sons. I have never told my sons what they have to eat. They have learned naturally. I have provided good options. They have learned what they can eat and what they can't eat. This type of natural parenting is also "training."
Secondly, he is assuming that the Bible has the same gender stereotypes as his brand of Christianity. That is far from the truth. I always point to the the examples of Jacob and Esau. Anyone who has read my writing for any period of time has probably seen this example. Jacob would be considered feminine by today's Americanized standards. Esau, on the other hand, was the man's man. Jacob, however, was the brother chosen by God.
Lastly, this father is dangerously, in my opinion, combining religion and politics. We can argue the idea of gender stereotypes all day, but no where - no where - does the Bible justify handing a child a gun and telling him or her to shoot the target. In fact, if we study the Bible we see that because David was a man of war, he could not build the Temple. (Think of it this way, God chose Solomon, who would become an idolater, to build His house rather than allowing a bloody king after His own heart to do so). Jesus taught we are to love our enemies and pursue peace. Peacemakers are blessed - remember that teaching? How about the one that he who lives by the sword will die by the sword?
It is my opinion that this second father is greatly exaggerating his point of view - and he is placing his own children in danger to do so. And we wonder why so many people are turned away from the Bible, are turned away from God. This example of inaccurate theology is the perfect example.
In one, we see a father in the car with his two sons. He explains that his older son had received two birthday gifts that were identical, so they decided to exchange one at the local toy store. He then reveals the toy his son chose: an Ariel (Little Mermaid) doll. He states that he believes this is an important lesson for his son - that his dad will not reject him, no matter what choices he makes in life. No matter what, this little boy will never have to worry about his father not accepting him. (Sounds a lot like the Parable of the Prodigal Son, doesn't it?).
The second video (I hope) is not as popular. It shows a father with his son and two daughters degrading the father in the first video. His first inaccuracy is he states the original father is is not "training up a child in the way he should go," because he is allowing his sons to make decisions about their lives. He states, "When do children make good decisions?" He states that children will choose candy over vegetables and other arguments. Then comes the scary part. He hands his son a handgun and tells him to shoot at the target. This combination of religion and politics is his version of "training up a child in the way he should go."
There are several mistakes this second father makes in his video, in my personal opinion.
First of all, he assumes that if children are allowed to make their own decisions, they are going to be bad ones. Using his example of eating candy rather than vegetables, I can say that if a child eats too much candy and ends up with a stomach ache (which will happen eventually), that child is going to learn not to do that. Not by force, but by a natural learning process. I can point to my own sons. I have never told my sons what they have to eat. They have learned naturally. I have provided good options. They have learned what they can eat and what they can't eat. This type of natural parenting is also "training."
Secondly, he is assuming that the Bible has the same gender stereotypes as his brand of Christianity. That is far from the truth. I always point to the the examples of Jacob and Esau. Anyone who has read my writing for any period of time has probably seen this example. Jacob would be considered feminine by today's Americanized standards. Esau, on the other hand, was the man's man. Jacob, however, was the brother chosen by God.
Lastly, this father is dangerously, in my opinion, combining religion and politics. We can argue the idea of gender stereotypes all day, but no where - no where - does the Bible justify handing a child a gun and telling him or her to shoot the target. In fact, if we study the Bible we see that because David was a man of war, he could not build the Temple. (Think of it this way, God chose Solomon, who would become an idolater, to build His house rather than allowing a bloody king after His own heart to do so). Jesus taught we are to love our enemies and pursue peace. Peacemakers are blessed - remember that teaching? How about the one that he who lives by the sword will die by the sword?
It is my opinion that this second father is greatly exaggerating his point of view - and he is placing his own children in danger to do so. And we wonder why so many people are turned away from the Bible, are turned away from God. This example of inaccurate theology is the perfect example.
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