Captive Audience

When my children were young I remember talking to their pediatrician about how much they (and all kids) talked when they were in the car.  His explanation of this was that with kids strapped into place in car seats and seatbelts they had to move something – so they talk!  Their parents had become a captive audience.  Little did those kids realize that, in that car, they, too, could become the captive audience.   

I learned to love this as they grew older and as I would drive they would talk.  The same, “How did things go in school today?” question that I got a shrug or a “fine” answer to at home became an opportunity to move their mouths in the car.  I often turned off the radio when I was with them so they would know they had my full attention.  This was even better if their friends were with us.  It was as if I wasn’t there.  They talked about their day, their teachers, their grades, and whatever else came to mind.  I learned a whole lot in that car.  All I had to do was be quiet and drive. 

The opposite was also true.  The car was a great place for me to have my say.  If what I heard was something that needed to be dealt with, if thinking needed to be corrected, they were the captive audience.  They could go nowhere.  I think my kids learned a lot in the car.  

On the way home tonight we were passed by a van with movie screens on in the backseat.  My heart fell to my stomach.  What a tragedy for those children.  Their parents were forfeiting a wonderful opportunity to get to hear from them or to speak into their lives.  Every parent in today’s culture needs to think about maximizing every chance they are given to open up a conversation with their children.  My personal experience is that cars are the perfect spot. 

Just for the record, I am not promoting the thought that our every waking moment needs to be all about the children.  I honestly believe that the greatest gift we can offer our children is an obvious love for our husbands.  That will give them a great sense of security and a proper understanding that they are not the most important person in the world – now or ever.  However, we do have a responsibility to teach and raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  

For the Christian there is great Biblical emphasis on teaching our children the words and ways of God.  Deuteronomy 6:5-7 say this: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 

At the time these words were written the only real mode of transportation for the common man was to “walk” by the way.  Today people are usually riding in their cars.  The principle remains that the things of the Lord are to be taught whenever we are together.  Parents have a responsibility before God to teach their children.  

I guess that for all I know the kids in that car were watching “Veggie Tales” and not some harmful PG13 movie, possibly but not probably!  Even if they were it would not be the same as being handed some real parental wisdom, especially if these are children who have already seen every “Veggie Tales” DVD out there.  More than likely there was a good “wholesome” G or PG rated movie on that screen.  The truth is that if we want children to be raised with a Christian worldview – there are some good movies out there – but we need to be careful and we need to be talking to them about what they are seeing and hearing.  

Many of the more recent “G” and “PG” movies do not promote respect for parents or almost any authority figure.  They promote unbiblical thinking about marriage, divorce, sexuality, and beauty.  A person’s worth is based on what others think and if God’s name is used – it is usually as an exclamation – what the Bible calls “taking the Lord’s name in vain.”  

There are so many things a child needs to learn and we have so little time to influence them and train them in the way that will please God.  All of us spend a lot of time in our cars these days.  Why would we not want that time to bring glory to God?  When their mouths start to move in that car we become the captive audience, able to hear and respond to everything they say.  

In Matthew 12:36-37 Jesus said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  In the car kids get careless with their words.  They speak whatever is on their minds.  We are given an opportunity to teach them the full import of this verse for them in the way we respond and teach them about the words they use with us as the captive audience.  One of the things we can convey to them is that they need to be aware of the audience of One that will be watching and listening to all they ever say, do, or see.