Boys, Porn, and Video Games
We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. Psalm 78:4
I horrified two young, single, female friends with news I heard of a study out of Stanford University that is titled, “The Demise of Guys.”
The basic research says that the brains of young men are being rewired by excessive video games and pornography. It also points to the inability of the traditional classroom to engage or motivate boys (especially) for adult living and relationships.
Sadly, they were horrified that I thought the news should encourage them (that there is a cause behind these men who are not looking for wives, that it is not about them, personally). They were not at all surprised by the information it provided.
Does this study apply to young men in the Church? Unfortunately, there are no distinctions made in the research, but also nothing to indicate that it would not be so.
It would be great if we could all just share our great marriage stories (and they really are the majority of marriages) and have young, single, men smack their heads, see what they are missing, and find a young single woman to marry.
Not. Happening. These things are addictions.
Allowing our children too much screen time and too many video games could set them up for the same addictions. Is this something parents are thinking about?
One of the best lessons any child can learn is that God expects the family government system to teach a child the concept of “self-government,” or self-control. If video games and the internet become convenient babysitters for the children, they will be an addict by adolescence or adulthood.
It takes consistent “family government” (Deuteronomy 6:6-8) to produce consistent “self-government” in our children. Knowing what is happening with the increase of these pornography and video games in our culture, how do we train the next generation (I know that sounds like I have given up on this one!)? Parents will need to educate themselves, and be willing to teach the next generation the truths of the use of porn and the excess use of video games.
Dads, what example are you setting for your children?
What example is set by Mom’s use of electronics? Are you consistently prioritizing the Lord’s principles over the world’s? (Proverbs 29:17)
There is nothing new here in the kind of discipline that needs to be exercised for our children’s future investments into the Kingdom of God. The diligence may need be ratcheted up so that parents do not become so caught up in the priorities of the culture that we fail to prioritize what will lead them to more righteous living before God.
If Christian parents will raise their children in the true nurture and admonition of the Lord, hopefully the next generation of girls will respect, love, and find the next generation of boys downright marry-able.
Any suggestions or comments on how parents might protect their children from these addictions?
If you want a summary of “The Demise of Guys,” this is a link to the 5 minute TED Talk version. https://www.ted.com/talks/zimchallenge